A lawn is quite a major investment in both time and money especially if done correctly. Autumn is the ideal time to establish a lawn from seed while the soil is still warm and moist from the autumn rains.
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When digging or rotary hoeing the area, only turnover the top seven centimetres, as any deeper and you’ll bring up the nutrient-poor subsoil. Hand-hoeing may be needed to break up any clods. Compost and/or sand can be worked in at this point. Rake over the surface to remove any sticks, stones or weed plants.
Soak the area with water, especially in sandy soils to consolidate the surface.
Sow the lawn seed half in a north-south direction and half in an east-west direction. This will help prevent uneven germination patterns.
Fertilise the area with a lawn starter using the same method as for seed sowing. If you use a fertiliser-blended seed mix you will only require half the recommended rate of lawn starter. Don’t over fertilise. Lightly rake the area to cover a portion of the seed. A roll with a light roller can also help germination and flatten out the area.
Water, using a fine spray, for the first few days after sowing the seed. The soil must remain damp at all times until the grass has established. In really warm weather you may need to water three times a day.
The inevitable weeds that germinate must be taken out while they are young and defenseless. To spray with the correct weed killer is the easiest solution especially over a large area of lawn.
When your lawn is up and growing I would like to remind you of these wise words from John Gray, a highly regarded horticulturalist ... ‘We all mow our lawns in exactly the wrong way. We mow off as much as we can so that we leave it as long as possible before we mow again. We ought to do the opposite. We should mow as often as possible so that we take off as little leaf as possible. It’s consistency that keeps lawns presentable.’
Gertrude’s Garden
My favourite garden designer is the multi-talented British horticulturalist Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) who drew on her love of writing, music and painting as her inspiration to create and design more than 400 magnificent gardens.
Gertrude and Edwin Luytens, an outstanding architect, formed an amazing partnership which combined the talents of her vast knowledge of plants and his of hard landscapes and together they designed the gardens of many great houses.
Gertrude had exacting rules in designing to provide colour, form and interest in the garden throughout the year. Today her influence in existing plantings of perennials is still as popular as ever.
‘The best purpose of a garden is to give delight’, Gertrude penned, ‘and to give refreshment of mind, to soothe, to refine and to lift up the heart in a spirit of praise and thankfulness’.
DIARY
April 18: The Australian Plant Society meet at the Max Fry Hall on Gorge Rd, Trevallyn, Launceston at 7.30pm. Visitors are most welcome to attend the meeting to gain expert advice on gardening with native plants from the members over a cup of tea or coffee. For information on APS visit www.apstasnorth.org
April 19: The Launceston Horticultural Society meets at the Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston at 8pm.
April 20: The Launceston Orchid Society meets at the Newnham Uniting Church Hall, George Town Road, Launceston at 7pm.
Daily: The Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, 55 Breffay Road, Romaine, Burnie is open from 9am to 5pm.