Lawns often look weedy with bare, worn patches in spring, but the grass is easily renovated with a few simple steps to restore its vigour and coverage.
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In this video guide, head of gardens at Mounton House Tim Stretton follows a comprehensive lawn renovation process using organic and environmentally friendly methods, and demonstrates a step-by-step approach to transform a problematic small patch of lawn back into a healthy, green sward in time for summer.
His process includes initial assessment of the grass, mowing it short, manually removing the weeds, scarifying using a springbok rake, aeration with a garden fork, top dressing with clean washed sharp sand, and finally seeding with a hard-wearing grass mix.
How to renovate your lawn
Step 1: Lawn preparation and mowing
The first step involves cutting the lawn short and strimming the edges, to achieve an optimal working height of grass for the subsequent renovation steps.
Step 2: Weeding
Tim demonstrates the careful hand removal of broadleaf weeds using a penknife, and explains the the importance of extracting the taproot while minimising damage to surrounding grass areas so you don't create large holes in the lawn.
Step 3: Scarifying
Next comes the scarification stage - here Tim uses a springbok rake to rake out the moss and thatch layer (dead grass), creating a crosshatch pattern at 90-degree angles. He is aiming to create vertical cuts through the top soil layer and grass to encourage strong even regrowth.
Step 4: Aeration via tining
Tim aerates the lawn using a garden fork to create holes to improve drainage. This process prepares the lawn for effective top dressing.
Step 5: Top dressing
Then Tim applies a thick layer of clean washed sharp sand with a large spade across the whole space - a cost-effective top dressing material. He demonstrates proper spreading technique and brushes in the sand with a rubber rake, using it to fill the holes he made via tining and to raise the levels of divets and dips in the lawn.
Step 6: Final Seeding and Completion
He finishes the renovation by oversowing the area by hand with hard-wearing grass seed mix (containing ryegrass and fescues). The guide ends with instructions for post-seeding care, including watering the lawn if it doesn't rain in a few days.
Throughout the guide, Tim offers top professional tips including the amount of seed to use per metre squared plus how often to push in the garden fork, and to what depth.
Looking for more tips on how to have a lush lawn with minimal effort?