Eventually, even freshly laid turf that started out weed/clover free, will start to have weeds/clover growing in it. Weeds are highly adaptable and aggressive. They can grow in the most adverse weather conditions and compete for water, nutrients and sunlight. If you have any areas of weak or thin grass coverage in our garden, weeds and/or moss will start to colonise that area and very quickly. Many traditional herbicides purchased by the public do not have the range of coverage required to effectively control weeds and clover.

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Before you try to control moss it is usually better to identify why moss is appearing in your lawn. Solving the reasons why moss develops in your lawn may help reduce the amount of moss that appears in subsequent years. Moss, which does not have roots, obtains its nutrients from moisture. Moss thrives in damp and shady areas. Moss will rapidly develop in lawns that have thatch. Damp thatch acts as a perfect environment for moss to develop. Compacted soil or poorly drained soil which can be a feature of heavy clay soils tends to have a damp surface that offers a perfect environment for moss spores to develop. Areas of lawn that have been scalped or areas that have thin growth will also be quickly colonised with moss.

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Thatch is a layer of dead grass cuttings, dried leaves and other organic debris that falls on the lawn. In most cases the bacteria in the soil will break this thatch down. In a number of lawns the bacteria cannot cope with the levels of debris and we get thatch building up. This acts as a barrier between the soil surface and the atmosphere.

Scarification is the process of removing thatch from the lawn. Although a certain amount of thatch is desirable in all lawns, an excessive level of thatch will cause severe problems. Thatch will form a barrier between the soil and air surface, blocking the flow of air moisture and even nutrients into the soil where it is required by the grass roots.

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Aeration is one of the single most important treatments you can perform on a lawn. All soils except for the very sandy will suffer from compaction. Compaction is the closing up of the air spaces between the particles of soil, reducing drainage and the exchange of gases between the root and the atmosphere. Compaction also makes it difficult for the roots of the grass to develop properly.

Hollow tine aeration removes a core about the size of a small finger from the soil allowing the earth to expand reducing compaction, increasing the flow of moisture and air to penetrate into the soil to the roots.

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Where the lawn has suffered grass mortality due to disease, insect attack, or thin growth from poor fertility of the soil and lack of feeding, it is sensible to sow seed onto the areas that are bare. Over seeding can be accompanied by top dressing which also helps to thicken up the grass sward. The seed used is a mixture of several different species. Over seeding can be carried out in the spring and autumn to use the natural rainfall as moisture. If you are prepared to water during the summer you can sow seed during the summer however results may not be as good as in autumn and spring.

The crane fly (daddy long legs) lays its eggs in the lawn in August / September depending on the soil temperature. Once the eggs hatch a maggot-like larvae (nicknamed leather jacket) emerges, it starts to eat the grass stem and roots of the grass just below the soil surface. The larvae have no legs, are cylindrical in shape and brown grey in colour with a set of jaw like mandibles at one end. The larvae start to feed from early autumn and depending on the level of infestation, significant damage usually starts to appear in November and December although they will continue to grow and do more damage through winter and early spring.

If left unattended the leather jackets can strip whole lawns. The grass turns brown as the roots are destroyed. Bare patches of lawn are usually quickly colonised by moss and weeds.

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There are numerous diseases than can affect grass. Below are some of the most common ones. Most diseases are spread by spores and relate to lawn and soil conditions.

Red Thread

This increasingly common disease usually occurs in the late summer after periods of warm weather with heavy rainfall producing conditions of high humidity. Lawns with poor fertility are highly susceptible to red thread disease. The grass will gradually show signs of browning off with brown patches of dying grass appearing and you will see red threads on the grass stalks. High humidity, poor fertility and or blunt lawn mower blades smashing the grass ends are usually the cause of red thread. Serious cases may require an application of fungicide to control the disease. The lawn usually recovers in 2/3 weeks after treatment.

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