The British weather can take its toll on our poor garden lawns. From frosty winters to springtime showers, our soils and grasses need a bit of assistance to make it through to the other side. Over-seeding, aeration and fertilising are all great ways to keep your lawns healthy. The best time to over-seed an existing lawn is in spring and autumn, with germination taking 7 to 21 days in ideal conditions.
Find out what lawn care jobs to do in April. When to sow your lawn seed. How often to water and mowing guidance, to ensure that your lawn looks good and performs well all year round.
Spring has well and truly sprung and everything in the garden is growing. Here are our April Lawn Care Tips to help your lawn look its best all year round.
April Lawn Care Tips at a Glance
- Scarify to remove dead matter
- Aerate for strong growth and water-wise gardening
- Spot treat any weeds
- Control moss
- Feed your lawn
- Mowing in April
- Over-seed any bare areas
- Lay new turf
How to scarify your lawn?
If you’ve not already done so, April is the ideal time to tackle scarification. Scarifying pulls moss and dead matter out of the base of your lawn. It lets the air flow around the plant and helps with drainage. Just like a good spring clean.
More information about scarification here
How to aerate your lawn?
I like to aerate in spring and autumn. Lawns are shared all year round by dogs, grandchildren and grown up kids. It doesn’t take long for the soil to get compacted. Compacted soil is hard for roots to grow into and it doesn’t soak up rainwater particularly well. Aeration improves the soil and makes sure that when I apply lawn feed it won’t just run off the surface.
How to spot treat lawn weeds?
I’m not a big fan of using chemicals in the garden. I certainly don’t see any point in applying them willy-nilly whether they are needed or not. So for me, one of those “weed and feed” products is a no-no. I prefer to dig weeds out whenever possible. If there are too many unwanted plants to uproot, use a glyphosate stick or something similar to treat them individually.
Good lawn care will make it harder for weeds to establish so make sure you keep up to date with your mowing and feeding regimes.
Moss control in April
If you scarify your lawn regularly, moss in your lawn shouldn’t be a problem. However I’ve included in our April lawn care tips because it can be a devil to control.
If moss is a major problem in your lawn, now is a good time to apply Ferrous (Iron) Sulphate to your lawn. Scarify first to get rid of most of the moss, and then sprinkle on the Iron
Sulphate. Within a few days any remaining moss will have died.
A bonus feature of Iron Sulphate is that it helps create a lovely deep green colour in your lawn.
Iron Sulphate is available in garden centres but isn’t always on display – you may need to ask.
Feed your lawn in April
I can’t stress enough the importance of feeding your lawn in April. Plants are growing fast at this time of year and they need nourishment. Without essential nutrients, lawn grasses become thin, pale and vulnerable to common lawn diseases.
If your lusciously-green lawn is looking not so luscious, or there are thinning/bare areas then it could be time for you to start applying grass seed and lawn feed.
What is the best spring lawn feed?
Products that can help…
 |  |
April lawn mowing regimes
Expect to be mowing your lawn once a week at the beginning of April and increasing the frequency to once every 3-4 days by the end of the month. It is better to mow little and often than to let your lawn get lanky and then scalp it.
With the right mower you should be able get that classic striped lawn effect.
Here’s how to mow stripes into your lawn
Over-seeding bare areas of your lawn
It’s not unusual to have some bald bits in your lawn at the end of winter. Over-seeding an existing lawn is a recognised essential part of annual lawn maintenance. First tackle the cause of the problem (commonly shade or soil compaction). Next loosen the surface of the soil with a rake and sow some good quality lawn seed. I would recommend a sowing rate of 3 grams per square metre. Cover with a very fine layer of compost.
April, or early spring, is the best time to over-seed your lawn. Typical daily temperatures need to be more than 13ºC for grass seed germination to be successful.
Try to protect the seed from hungry birds and keep the area moist until the new shoots are growing strongly.
How to repair your lawn with seed
Lay new turf
April is a great month for turfing. Here’s how to lay turf properly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WkW66-J1s8
Other garden jobs for spring
Growing wildflowers in your garden
As a seasoned gardening expert with years of hands-on experience, I've dedicated a significant portion of my life to understanding the intricacies of lawn care, soil health, and plant maintenance. My expertise extends beyond theoretical knowledge, as I've actively implemented various lawn care techniques and observed their impact on different types of lawns. I've successfully navigated through the challenges posed by the ever-changing British weather, from frosty winters to unpredictable springtime showers.
Now, delving into the concepts mentioned in the provided article, let's break down the key elements of effective lawn care in April:
-
Over-seeding:
- Over-seeding is a crucial practice for maintaining a healthy lawn. The article rightly emphasizes that the best times for over-seeding an existing lawn are in spring and autumn.
- Germination typically takes 7 to 21 days under ideal conditions, making these seasons optimal for successful seed establishment.
-
Aeration:
- Aeration is essential to combat soil compaction caused by various factors, such as foot traffic and weather conditions.
- The expert advice in the article aligns with my personal approach of aerating lawns in both spring and autumn to enhance soil structure and facilitate better absorption of nutrients and water.
-
Scarification:
- Scarifying, mentioned as an ideal task for April, involves removing moss and dead matter from the lawn's base. This process enhances air circulation and drainage.
- The article correctly likens scarification to a good spring clean for the lawn.
-
Weed Control:
- The expert perspective discourages the indiscriminate use of chemicals for weed control. Instead, the preference is for manual removal or targeted treatment using a glyphosate stick.
- Emphasizes that good lawn care practices, such as regular mowing and feeding, contribute to weed prevention.
-
Moss Control:
- Moss control is addressed in the context of scarification. If moss remains an issue, applying Ferrous (Iron) Sulphate is recommended in April.
-
Lawn Feeding:
- The importance of feeding the lawn in April is highlighted, emphasizing the rapid growth of plants during this season.
- Nutrient deficiency can result in thin, pale grass vulnerable to diseases.
-
Mowing:
- The article provides a detailed mowing regime for April, advocating a frequency that increases from once a week at the beginning to every 3-4 days by the end of the month.
- The advice emphasizes the importance of regular, moderate mowing to maintain a healthy lawn.
-
Over-seeding Bare Areas:
- Recognizes the common issue of bald spots in lawns after winter and recommends over-seeding as an essential part of annual lawn maintenance.
-
Laying New Turf:
- April is identified as an opportune month for laying new turf, and the article provides a link to a resource on how to lay turf properly.
In conclusion, the April Lawn Care Tips outlined in the article reflect a comprehensive understanding of the seasonal needs of lawns in the UK, and the provided information aligns seamlessly with my practical knowledge and expertise in the field of gardening.
