Tell me about lawns. Is it really that hard??

[notjustamummythankyou]

We have a back lawn that is roughly 10m square. Dh has always done the mowing and I do the flower beds - just a habit we got in to.

Dh's work is keeping him away from home a lot at the mo and our lawn needs some TLC. This is our first garden (haven't been here long) and I'm ashamed to say I've never mown a lawn in my life, and my dh simply passes the mower over it from time to time but that's it.

So ... What do I do to look after it? Our garden is quite damp and the grass can feel pretty squelchy after rain. Can you mow it when its that wet? We seem to have a lawn that has jungle-like tendencies: its lush and green but grows so quickly and can look really untidy after just a couple of weeks in the growing season.

So this strimming, scarifying and mowing malarkey: tell me what I need to do!

Just a decent mower, preferably one that collects the cuttings, is all that is needed. The 'floating' Flymo type may not 'float' as well as adverts claim, so a wheeled mower may be better. 'Cylinder' mowers produce the smoothest cut, if they are accurately adjusted, but rotary ones are OK for a normal domestic lawn.

As you surmise, don't mow if grass is too wet, and don't cut it too short yet, as it is still early in the season. Some people mow two or even three times a week, so it will look untidy if left for two weeks. If it's an electric mower with a cable, have a RCD cut-out (residual current device) [Masterplug £9] so if the cable does get cut, you don't get electrocuted!

I don't like strimmers, and if you have much edging to do long-handled edging shears make a neater job. If you have areas of rougher, long grass I guess strimmer is easiest, or ordinary shears, and down on your knees on a mat if you can manage that. (We have Wolf shears, and they are the sharpest, easiest to use I've ever had.)

If you want to get 'thatch' (dead grass) and/or moss out, a lawn rake is cheapest, but hard work; Wolf do a wheeled scarifier that fits on their standard long handle, and is easy to use. You can also 'aerate' with a fork, or a hollow tine aerator, but only the keenest lawn enthusiasts go to those extremes.

But regular mowing is the most important thing.

Good luck, and come back if you need any more help.

Your lawn should only need scarified once a year if it has moss or thatch, usually about this time of year is a good time to do it. It's also good to apply feed to it three or four times a year.

I agree with ferguson, no need for a strimmer, a good pair of shears makes just a good a job if not better.

In the summer we need to cut our grass every 4 days or so, if we don't it looks like a jungle it grows that quick. you don't want to leave the grass to long then cut it short, it will leave it a little discoloured, it's better to trim it frequently, maybe once a week, than cut a lot off it every three weeks.

Mowing regularly is the key to keeping weeds out of the grass.

To mow: just plug in (you might need an extension to reach to the bottom of the garden) and walk fairly slowly up and down. Empty the grass cuttings box (in bin/compost heap) every few rows so that it doesn't bung up. Do it every week through the growing season when it's dry (Nowish to Oct).

Thank you all so much! I know my questions were very simple/obvious but I really don't have much of a clue. I shall be rolling up my sleeves and revving up the flymo forthwith!

Thank you all so much! I know my questions were very simple/obvious but I really don't have much of a clue. I shall be rolling up my sleeves and revving up the flymo forthwith!