A well-tended lawn enhances any garden. But there are a few things to consider when sowing and maintaining the green carpet. The right care is crucial for a lush green lawn. We explain which factors should be given special consideration and provide tips for a beautiful and healthy lawn.
Laying a new lawn - Preparing the ground
When sowing a new lawn, the preparation of the soil is particularly important. This requires temperatures between 14 and 25 degrees for optimum grass growth. The best time to establish a new lawn is therefore in late summer or early autumn. The soil then has sufficient residual heat and makes it easier for the grass seeds to grow. Heavy and clayey soil should be loosened before sowing.
The top layer of soil of around 15-20 centimetres should also be loose and water-permeable so that the lawn can root well. Incorporating a sand and gravel mixture, a soil activator and a starter fertiliser also helps to achieve optimum soil conditions. The result is a homogeneous, loose and water- and air-permeable vegetation layer that fulfils optimum conditions for the growth of the lawn. Before sowing, this vegetation layer should be levelled, cleared of large stones and pre-rolled.
Sowing the green carpet
Conventional grass for use and play consists mainly of three grasses:
- Red fescue (Festuca rubra): Forms dense clumps with very short and underground runners
- Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne): Forms dense clumps with short stolons
- Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis): Forms underground runners
The seed mixture is spread on the ground by hand or by machine. Depending on the seed mixture, approximately 30-35 grams of lawn seed are required per square metre. While using too little lawn seed will result in the lawn not growing with ground cover, using too much lawn seed will result in competition between the lawn grasses. The seed should then be lightly rolled and watered. The lawn seed will germinate after about 8-14 days. However, regular watering is particularly important during the first four to five weeks, as otherwise the seedling could dry out.
Re-seeding the lawn
Bare patches in the lawn not only look unsightly, but also provide space for unwanted weeds. The best time to reseed the lawn is late summer or early autumn - just like reseeding. Before reseeding, however, the lawn should be mowed, scarified and any dead blades of grass removed. After the usual incorporation of the lawn reseeding mixture, the reseeded lawn must also be watered regularly.
Turf - The alternative to seeding
A quick and high-quality alternative to seeding is rolled turf. The rolled turf provides a beautiful green carpet as soon as it is laid. However, rolled turf must also be watered regularly during the first few weeks. We recommend a first cut of the turf after about 6-8 days. In principle, turf can be laid at any time, but the warm season from spring to autumn is best suited to this. The lawn can grow sufficiently over the summer and start the winter in a robust condition.
Regular grass cutting
Regular cutting every 7-14 days during the vegetation period is generally recommended: this prevents the emergence of weeds and stimulates the growth of the blades of grass. As a general rule, the more often the lawn is cut, the thicker it will grow. A robotic mower makes the job easier fully automatically: it is in daily use and ensures a perfectly cut lawn at all times. The finely shredded clippings, which are distributed over the lawn by the Automower, fertilise the lawn at the same time.
Fertilising the lawn
The lawn needs sufficient nutrients for optimum growth. Regular fertilisation ensures a healthy lawn and prevents moss formation, disease and mould. We recommend a first fertilisation with a spring fertiliser in March and then two further fertilisations: in June or July with a slow-release fertiliser and at the end of October before the first night frost with an autumn fertiliser.
Extra treatment in autumn - scarifying the lawn
Scarifying the lawn is particularly suitable in autumn. The soil is roughened and moss and lawn thatch are removed, allowing more air and light as well as lawn fertiliser to reach the roots and enable better growth. By adding a special autumn fertiliser that contains a particularly high amount of potassium, the lawn grows back quickly and densely. At the same time, the lawn becomes more resistant to winter and can better withstand winter diseases such as snow mould.
Watering the lawn
During the dry months, the lawn often needs additional water. With an automatic irrigation system, the lawn is optimally and fully automatically watered and protected from drying out. Whether rainwater or mains water, a wide variety of irrigation solutions are now available that are suitable for watering both the lawn and the plants. Well concealed, an installed irrigation system takes care of the optimum water supply for the lawn fully automatically and ensures healthy greenery.
The most important tips for a healthy lawn - we summarise:
- Soil quality has a major influence on the healthy growth of the lawn.
- Freshly sown or resown lawns should be watered regularly for the first 4-5 weeks.
- Turf is a quick and high-quality alternative to laying a new lawn.
- A regular cut stimulates the growth of the lawn and suppresses weeds.
- Regular fertilisation ensures a healthy lawn and prevents moss formation, disease and mould.
- Scarifying in autumn removes weeds, moss and thatch.
- Special autumn fertilisers ensure that the lawn is more resistant to winter and prevent snow mould.
- An automatic watering system prevents the lawn from drying out during the summer months.
Do you need help maintaining your lawn?
Contact our maintenance team. We are very flexible and can also accept spontaneous appointments. We are happy to answer your questions by phone or email:
