Advice
Lawn Doc’s qualified and experienced team who have decades of experience in the field are always on hand to answer your questions and give advice about lawn care. From the moment you call we’ll be able to confirm a date for your free consultation where our advisors can give bespoke advice and recommendations for your lawn. In the meantime though, here are a few frequently asked questions when it comes to looking after your lawn.
Frequently asked questions
Red thread?
Red thread is a disease in lawns that turns the tips of grass red in colour. Feeding the lawn with a high nitrogen feed will help with any red thread in the lawn. We offer this during the autumn months as this is when red thread mainly appears.
What length should I cut my lawn?
This is completely down to your preference. Our experts normally not recommending cutting the lawn the lowest the mower goes. The length of the lawn also should be considered within the different seasons. During the spring and summer, the lawns are actively growing so can be mowed shorter. A rule of thumb is to cut only a third of the length off of the lawn.
What type of mower is best?
There are many different types of lawn mowers on the market.
Cylinder mowers are good for flat level lawns and for cutting the lawn short. The rotate vertically and cut with a fixed blade at the bottom.
Rotary mowers have a blade on the bottom that spins horizontally. These sorts of mowers are good for any type of grass and can deal with longer and tougher lawns.
Depending on the garden size can depend on what type of mower you have. Some people will buy a ride-on mower if they have a larger lawn. Although, most of the time a smaller cylinder or rotary mower will do the job.
How often should I water my lawn?
Lawns need water like other plants do. During the growing months, lawns should be watered regularly. If the lawn has been established well it should be watered at least once a week during the growing months. If new turf or grass seed has been laid or applied, the lawn should be watered 2-3 times a week until it is established.
What should I do about leatherjackets?
Leather jackets are a pest in lawns that will eat the roots of the lawn. Signs of leatherjackets in a lawn include, yellowing grass and the lawn going bare. If there seems to be a lot more birds on the lawn, there’s a good chance that they are after the grubs under the lawn. We can use nematodes to control leatherjackets as these will take out the host which will lead to the rest dying. Nematodes are a biological control and they are like small worms. They will go into the soil and find the leatherjackets and take them out. Nematodes work best in warm moist soil, so timing is key when applying nematodes.
Aeration and scarification are also recommended for helping to prevent leatherjackets as these will help remove eggs and larvae and also disturb the soil which the grubs don’t like.
Why do I have bare patches?
There are many different reasons that the lawn could have bare patches. There could be a chemical like petrol or oil on a lawn after mowing. This could be cause by leaks or spillages. Another cause of bare patches could be a lack of water in the soil and on the lawn. There could also be compacted soil or rubble under the lawn that is causing the lawn to go bare.
There are many other reasons for the lawn to go bare. This can always be solved by breaking up the soil below, and making a good bed for seed to germinate in. then water is key to help bring these areas back.
If you are unsure of the problem and want to seek professional guidance, feel free to ask us to come out and take a look at the patches.