Weeds thrive in certain soil conditions, making it challenging for some gardeners to maintain a healthy, lush lawn year round.
Luckily, by adjusting a key element in your soil, you can make your lawn less inviting to these unwelcome invaders.
This simple technique, shared by Head of Estates and Landscapes at Painshill Park Trust, Simon Akeroyd, with Yell, not only suppresses weed growth but also promotes stronger, healthier grass.
Applying lime to your lawn can help balance the pH levels of the soil, creating an environment that is less favourable for weeds, which typically thrive in more acidic conditions.
It’s best to apply lime during the winter months, spreading it evenly at a rate of about 50 grams per square meter.
By making the soil more alkaline, lime encourages grass to grow stronger and more vigorously, allowing it to outcompete and crowd out weeds.
This adjustment creates healthier conditions for grass, making it more resilient to weed invasions. In turn, you’ll have a greener, fuller lawn with fewer weeds to manage.
You may also try aerating and scarifying your lawn, which encourages stronger grass growth, making it harder for weeds to take hold.
“Feeding and aerating your lawn play key roles in promoting healthy growth,” Simon explained.
“One of the most effective ways of improving the quality of the lawn in autumn and part of the autumn lawn care maintenance programme, is to aerate it.”
Aeration is the process of making sure plant roots receive sufficient oxygen, which is essential for their growth and health.
“his can be accomplished by keeping the soil well-drained, preventing excess water from accumulating, or enhancing the soil’s structure with organic materials to promote better air circulation.
Simon added: “Aeration helps to relieve compaction, increases drainage, which will reduce moss problems and increases airflow in the soil, which promotes healthier roots system and therefore a better and denser sward of lawn on the surface.
“You can then brush top dressing into the holes left by the fork to improve the quality of the soil in the rootzone of the lawn.”
