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lawn tasks

Lawn tasks in March

Lawns always have a bad time over the December holidays. They are robustly used for playing on and some are also covered with portable plastic swimming pools or lawn toys. This often leaves a big yellow footprints after a week or two. Summer also brings heat and drought, thatch buildup, weed infestation and insects that attack a stressed lawn. Time to fix it with these lawn tasks!

Keep the surface clear

The first of our lawn tasks is to rake the surface with a lawn rake to loosen the thatch that may have built-up. This thatch builds-up if you often mow without a grass box. A thick thatch prevents rain from penetrating properly, inhibits the spreading of grass roots and encourages diseases. Autumn leaves will also start falling soon. It is okay for leaves to fall into beds but not on the lawn, so rake weekly to remove leaves that are more useful on the compost heap.

Aerate by spiking

As we know, spring is the main season to aerate and scarify runner lawns like kikuyu. But, early autumn is also a good time to spike a tired lawn with a fork and curb soil compaction and help with aeration. If you have sandy, dry spots that are water-repellent and difficult to hydrate, use can soil conditioners. You will find options like EcoBuz Humigro, Makhro Biosoil and Wonder Organic Vita-Boost Vermicompost.

Deal with weeds

Control broad-leaved weeds with selective herbicides, by either spot spraying or performing a full cover spray in severe cases.

READ MORE: Take a look at these stunning autumn-flowering plants

You have to fertilise now

To strengthen your lawn before the onset of cold weather and to help it recover from summer hardships, it should be fertilised now with a slow-release product like Atlantic Bio Ganic. A fertilisers that is high in potassium will promote strong cells, and phosphates for renewed root growth. Irrigate the lawn deeply before and after fertilising it, and try to keep everyone off it for a day or two.

Sow lawn seed if you need to

Lawn seed can be sown in autumn to establish a new lawn. You can start to prepare the soil in March. Start by digging over, removing old roots and rocks as you go along, and adding a layer of compost and bonemeal before raking as level as possible. Keep the area moist to encourage weed growth, which should be removed before sowing the seed next month. You can also spray emerging weeds with a broad-spectrum herbicide.

Curb termites

The last of our lawn tasks is to curb termites! Harvester termites can cause deterioration of lawns that have dry patches and dead material. This usually occurs if you have a dry summer and autumn. Prevent this by watering regularly, fertilising and mowing. Mowing more often with the blades set high can result in strong foliage growth and healthy coverage, which will suppress termite activities. But, if the problem arises, you can use a bait to control foraging harvester termites. Wood-eating termites can also attack plants or structures made of wood. Try to expose the tunnel entrances to their nests and use an organic insecticide to drench them.

READ MORE: Get some tips for what to prune in your garden in March or check out our list of March gardening tasks.

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The Gardener