Lawn care: How to keep your lawn healthy, thick and permanently green
A well-tended lawn is the centrepiece of many gardens. It creates quiet areas, connects paths, frames flower beds and ensures a harmonious overall appearance. But a beautiful lawn doesn't just happen by itself. It needs regular care, coordinated measures in spring, summer and autumn, as well as an understanding of how grasses, soil, nutrients and irrigation work together. If you treat your lawn correctly, you will be rewarded with a dense, lush green carpet that enhances the entire garden.
At egli jona, we have many years of experience in garden design and maintenance and have compiled a comprehensive overview of the most important work and typical signs of problems. We also have some valuable tips for you on how to keep your lawn healthy all year round.
Lawn care in spring
Spring is the crucial phase of lawn care. As soon as the soil temperature is permanently above around ten degrees and there is no more snow, the lawn grasses start to grow. Now is the right time to thoroughly revitalise the lawn.
Mowing the lawn as a first step
Before any further work begins, the lawn is lightly mown. A moderate cutting height of around 4-5 cm is ideal to open up the turf and allow light to reach the blades of grass. A sharp lawn mower blade is crucial here, as blunt blades tear out the blades and weaken growth.
Scarifying the lawn in spring
The first cut is followed by scarifying. This removes the lawn felt consisting of dead blades, moss and organic residues. This layer prevents air, light and water from reaching the roots. Thorough scarifying ensures that the grass can breathe again and improves the soil structure.
Closing gaps
Scarifying often reveals gaps in the lawn. These are reseeded with high-quality lawn seed. It is crucial that the seeds have good soil contact. Rakes or rakes help to create a fine seedbed. The seed should then be lightly rolled or trodden down so that it is not washed away by the rain.
Fertilisation
A spring fertiliser with a high nitrogen content supports growth and ensures a vibrant green colour. Nitrogen promotes leaf formation, while potassium and phosphorus strengthen the roots. A deficiency is characterised by pale blades, which is a typical sign of nutrient deficiency.
Watering and lawn care in summer
In summer, proper watering takes centre stage. Lawns need sufficient water to survive heat and drought.
Water correctly:
- It is best to do this in the morning so that less water evaporates.
- Better rare, but penetrating: 15-20 litres per square metre.
- Even distribution via sprinklers or an automatic irrigation system.
- Too frequent, superficial watering leads to shallow roots that react sensitively to heat. Deep watering, on the other hand, promotes robust grasses.
The cutting height when mowing the lawn should now be higher, at around 5-6 cm, as longer blades of grass shade the ground, reduce evaporation and prevent the growth of weeds such as clover or millet.
Lawn cuttings can be used as mulch, provided they are not too long or wet. It protects the soil and provides additional nutrients.
Lawn care in autumn
Autumn is the second important phase of lawn care. This is when the lawn and other plants are prepared for winter, lower temperatures and snow.
- Remove autumn leaves
Leaves, fallen fruit and dead plant parts should be removed regularly as they encourage moss, fungi and rot. A rake or leaf blower makes the job easier. - Autumn fertilisation
A special autumn grass fertiliser contains less nitrogen but more potassium. This strengthens the cell structure of the grass and makes it more resistant to frost. - Combat weeds and moss
Moss and weeds are particularly easy to remove in autumn, as the grasses are still actively growing and can quickly close up any patches that have formed. - Levelling out unevenness
Small irregularities can be levelled out with sand or fine soil. Sanding improves the soil structure and prevents waterlogging.
Typical problems in the lawn and their causes
A healthy lawn is hardy, dense and lush green. But even with good care, problems can occur. However, many of these can be quickly remedied if you know the causes.
Moss - a sign of unfavourable site conditions
Moss is one of the most common troublemakers in lawns. It spreads mainly where the conditions for grasses are poor.
Typical causes:
- Too little light: Shade from trees, bushes or buildings weakens the sward.
- Compacted soil: If there is hardly any air in the soil, the roots cannot grow deep.
- Waterlogging: Water that does not drain away promotes moss formation.
- Cutting height too low: A lawn that is mowed too short loses vigour and leaves room for moss.
- Nutrient deficiency: Nitrogen deficiency in particular leads to weak growth.
Scarifying, sanding, fertilising, reducing shade and loosening the soil all help against moss. Moss is always a symptom, never the cause of the actual problem in the lawn.
Clover - an indication of nutrient deficiency
Clover looks harmless and nice, but is a clear indicator that the lawn is lacking something and that lawn care is being neglected.
Typical causes:
- Nitrogen deficiency: Clover can bind nitrogen itself, grasses cannot.
- Fertilisation too infrequent: The turf loses vigour and becomes patchy.
- Cutting height too short: Clover benefits from light that reaches the ground and therefore grows more vigorously.
Regular fertilisation, a higher cutting height and reseeding where there are large gaps will help against clover.
Millet - the heat and drought weed
Millet is a heat-loving weed that spreads especially in hot summers.
Typical causes:
- Gappy lawn: Millet utilises every open space.
- High temperatures: It germinates particularly well at soil temperatures of 20-25 °C.
- Dryness: Weak grasses make way for millet.
A dense sward by reseeding, deep watering and a higher cutting height helps against millet. Millet dies in autumn, but its seeds remain in the soil, which is why it can always come back in spring.
Lawn thatch - an invisible growth blocker
Lawn thatch is formed from dead blades, root debris and mulch, which is quite normal in any lawn, but should be removed with regular maintenance.
Typical causes:
- Too frequent mulching: Especially with wet grass clippings.
- Scarifying too infrequently: Felt accumulates over the years.
- Poor floor ventilation: Compacted soil promotes felt formation.
Regular scarifying, sanding and loosening the soil helps to prevent thatch.
Molehills - a sign of healthy soil
As annoying as molehills are, they show that the soil is full of earthworms and microorganisms. Loose, healthy soil is ideal for moles and lots of earthworms are a sign of good soil quality. In addition, moist areas mean that moles go there to look for food. Whilst these are of course good signs, a molehill is still a problem for some, as it can destroy an otherwise perfect lawn. You can remove the mound, smooth the area and possibly use deterrent methods to get the mole out of the garden. However, such measures should be discussed carefully with an expert.
Yellow or brown spots - a complex symptom
Discolouration can have many causes:
- Nutrient deficiency (especially nitrogen)
- Burns from dog urine
- Dryness
- Fungal diseases
- Mowing too low
- Poor soil structure
In the case of discolouration, it is important to identify the cause and then treat the problem in a targeted manner. In general, the soil should be improved and, if necessary, reseeding can also be useful.
Unevenness - a problem for pruning and irrigation
Unevenness is caused by frost heave, moles, root growth or subsidence. In the winter months, frost can lift the soil, trees and shrubs can change the surface due to root pressure and various animals, such as moles, ants or grubs, can also cause unevenness in the lawn due to their activity. This can be countered by sanding, filling in soil, levelling the surface and, if necessary, reseeding.
A healthy lawn is the result of continuous lawn care
A beautiful lawn is not created by chance. It is the result of well thought-out lawn care, coordinated measures in spring, summer and autumn, as well as a good understanding of soil, grasses, nutrients and irrigation. If you know what your lawn needs and follow the right sequence, you will be rewarded with a dense, even and permanently green lawn that enhances the entire garden.
If you need help with your lawn or garden maintenance, contact us. At egli jona, we create and maintain gardens that become living spaces to enjoy and feel good.
