Basic Kit

The secret of success is not to aim for perfection.  Perfect bowling green lawns are possible only if you give up much of the rest of your life.  For a lush green garden lawn resistant to kids that will set off the rest of your garden to best effect, read on.

Lawn feed
When the grass is in full growth and there is plenty of moisture in the soil is the best time to feed with a high-nitrogen feed that will encourage desirable lush green growth.  Try a triple-action product like Evergreen Complete that additionally has a moss and weed killer.  Remember there is weed killer in the product so be careful near plants in borders.

Mowing
Avoid cheap mowers.  If you insist on using a £99 petrol mower “bargain” or a plastic thing the size of a kitchen whisk then you may as well give up now.  A quality mower will be more reliable, have a stronger motor, cut more cleanly, be easier manoeuvre, be quieter and last longer.  Go to a machinery specialist and make sure you get the correct mower.

Lawn rake
Early spring is the time to scarify your lawn by vigorously raking out dead grass and any build-up of thatch that stops air and moisture reaching the grass roots.  This is hard work, if you have a larger lawn consider buying a powered scarifyer.  Your lawn rake is useful for fluffing up longer bent over grass stems to make sure they reach the blade.  The Wolf multi-change lawn rake is probably the best available with a tine design that makes it easier to use.

Lawn seed
In spring most lawns will benefit from over-seeding, spreading lawn seed over the lawn to help thicken the sward.  You can sow seed all through the summer but in hot spells it is hard to stop the seed drying out and failing.  Johnsons All Weather is a good mix of seed for easy care and will withstand both sun and shade very well.  Always add a layer of lawn dressing when seeding to improve the soil and help the seed get a good start.

Weed killing
On sunny summer evenings I find it therapeutic to wander over the lawn with a bottle of beer and a daisy grubber.  Provided you have a reasonable coverage of grass, which stop weeds getting the upper hand, you can keep a large lawn relatively weed-free with little effort.  Alternatively, buy Verdone 3 selective weed killer and squirt away as required.

Edge shear
One of the horrors of suburban life on a Sunday afternoon is the noisy competition from garden trimmers all busy mutilating lawn edges.  Very fast and furious.   Why not try a good quality pair of edge shears which will be more accurate and help you retain clean edges between lawn and border far more effectively.

Little and often is the best way to keep on top of lawn care and quality equipment is essential.