Winter turns a once lush green lawn into a sad, brownish and in many places bare sight. The sensitive grasses suffer from winter cold, a possible snow load or simply excessive moisture. Moss and felt are often the result of the bare season, so that maintenance measures in spring such as fertilizing and scarifying are essential. But when is the right time for it?
Time and optimal order
So that care measures such as fertilizing and scarifying can develop their full effectiveness and the lawn then how If you want it appears in lush green, the most important thing is the optimal time for each measure and the right one Order.
Limescale
The first important measure for a balanced fertilization is the liming of the lawn. Limescale the lawn by the beginning of March at the latest and bring its pH value to the correct range. If the soil is too acidic, the grasses grow poorly and cannot absorb sufficient nutrients (and therefore turn yellow), mosses and weeds such as wood sorrel quickly take over overhand. Use a simple one for this
Lawn lime, which simply consists of ground sedimentary rock. Apply this evenly on the lawn, measuring the amount depending on the acidity of the soil. For a strongly acidic subsurface, plan about half a kilogram of lime per square meter of surface. If, on the other hand, the pH value is merely to be maintained, 200 grams are sufficient for the same area. Then a heavy rain should wash the lime into the earth.Tip: Mosses and weeds are a striking sign of a soil that is too acidic, which is why it is best to combat this unwanted growth with lime.
mowing
Now let the lawn rest until April, because on the one hand lime takes a long time to take effect and on the other hand, the maintenance work that follows now only makes sense at temperatures of at least ten degrees Celsius. The first lawn cut, for example, takes place in April at the earliest, when the subsoil is warm enough for new growth to begin. The grasses then drift through and develop stronger roots - which is also the main reason for the spring pruning. After all, healthy grass only grows on healthy ones
and strong roots, which ensure that the above-ground parts of the plant are adequately supplied with water and nutrients.
So that the mowing has the desired results, please pay attention to these tips:
- mow only when the ground temperature is at least ten degrees Celsius
- Do not set the lawn mower deeper than four centimeters
- do not mow when it is raining, allow the lawn to dry off first
- water after mowing if it is dry
- do not mulch or Remove grass clippings with a rake
Fertilize
Immediately after the first mowing, fertilize the lawn so that the grasses receive the necessary nutrients for their growth. Use a fast-acting, long-term mineral fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. This releases its nutrients continuously over a period of three to four months and thus ensures an even supply of the grass. Make sure you only fertilize in damp weather or shortly before rain is announced - on dry ground Firstly, the highly concentrated nutrients do not get to the roots and secondly they burn the sensitive ones Grasses. If there is no rain in sight, we recommend artificial irrigation of the lawn afterwards.
Tip: Every year, before the first fertilization, have some soil samples examined in a specialized laboratory. Together with the analysis of the soil composition, you will receive recommendations for optimal fertilization. So the soil analysis helps to avoid over-fertilization or undersupply.
Scarifying
About ten to 14 days after the
scarifying the lawn makes sense for the first time. The lawn needs this time to regain its strength and growth after winter. The scarifying resp. Aerating the soil is a great burden for the grasses, as the sward is perforated and numerous roots are cut off. However, this measure is not necessary in every case, because you only have to take or remove the scarifier from the shed in these cases. borrow at the garden center:- The lawn has a lot of moss
- Grasses grow only weakly
- Soil is impermeable, puddles form after downpours
If, on the other hand, the lawn shows healthy growth in spring and there is little or no moss to be seen, you can save yourself the need to aerate the lawn.
The best time for this measure is after the second lawn cut from the end of April / beginning of May, as the lawn can then grow back vigorously. If the lawn still looks unhealthy despite all your efforts, you should apply fertilizer again after scarifying.
Overseeding
Only at the very end, when all spring maintenance work has been completed, do you re-sow any bare spots in the lawn. Use the same seed mixture as for the rest of the lawn - or distribute the seeds not only on the sparsely vegetated areas, but also around the lawn. Otherwise, the re-sown spot could be clearly visible later because the grass types were mixed differently and therefore have a different shade of green. With a wider distribution of the seeds, you'll blur the lines and make the stain less noticeable.
