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Daily Record
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Record
Gardening expert's key advice for making sure your lawn is green and lush all summer
A thick, lush lawn can sometimes seem out of reach, but there are ways to make your grass look greener than ever - and it will work not only this summer but for seasons to come Achieving a lush, green lawn can be quite the challenge, but it's not impossible, especially with some expert guidance. Figuring out what your grass requires to thrive can be complex, and sometimes hopes for a thick and beautiful lawn seem just a dream. However, gardening expert Fiona Jenkins from has shared her insights on how to get your grass looking more vibrant than ever before. She assures that with the right approach, you can enjoy a greener lawn not only this summer but in future seasons as well. Fiona advises: "A lush green lawn is something that all gardeners aspire to, particularly during the summer months when we will likely be spending more time outside. There is no quick shortcut to achieving this, but with a little time and effort your grass can become thicker and greener than ever." She shared her essential tips for cultivating that perfect lawn with Devon Live. Here's what she recommends: Feed your lawn Selecting a high-quality fertiliser is crucial for maintaining a healthy, green lawn throughout the year. Fiona cautions that you should only feed your lawn during its growth periods, which means applying fertiliser once in spring and again in autumn. She explains: "A quality spring fertiliser, if applied correctly, should encourage grass to grow thicker and greener. These specialised fertilisers are high in nitrate, which is key in stimulating the chlorophyll needed for photosynthesis. "Autumn fertilisers are designed to encourage the growth of grass roots and boost the overall health and resistance of your lawn. They may not show the same noticeable results as spring fertilisers in terms of growth and colour but are important for helping your grass to stay strong against cold and frosty conditions." Keep on top of mowing Fiona suggests regular lawn maintenance, saying: "We are currently in the midst of 'No Mow May', an initiative that encourages people to refrain from mowing their lawns during May to support pollinators such as bees and butterflies. On the whole, however, regular mowing is an important step in making your grass greener and thicker." She further explains the benefits of consistent mowing saying: "Regular mowing encourages grass to grow through a process known as the 'stimulation effect'. The principle works much the same as how we are advised to get our hair trimmed regularly to enable it to grow faster! "When you mow your lawn consistently to a good height you are removing the top portion of the grass blades, which prompts it to produce new shoots and leaves to compensate, resulting in a denser turf. It also has the additional benefit of removing any weeds which may be stealing sunlight, nutrients, and water from your grass." Don't mow too short The advice also includes a caution not to trim the grass too short. While regular mowing is crucial, it's just as vital not to cut our lawns too short. Fiona explains, "If you cut too much off your grass, you are putting excessive stress on the plants and inhibiting their ability to photosynthesise effectively by reducing the surface area of the leaves, making them weaker and more vulnerable. "Grass that has been cut too short also lacks the energy reserves necessary for developing a robust root system and will become thinner and less able to compete with weeds. For these reasons, in order to maintain lawn health and vitality, you should avoid cutting any more than one-third of the grass blade length with each mow." Sharpen mower blades Fiona points out the link between the condition of your mower blades and your lawn's health. She explains: "Dull blades can affect lawn quality by tearing the grass rather than making clean cuts. This leads to jagged, uneven edges on the leaves, which stresses them and leaves them looking brown and struggling to grow as they try desperately to repair the damage." To ensure your grass remains in top condition, Fiona advises, "If you want to keep your grass looking lush you should aim to sharpen the blades on your lawn mower at least once per growing season. Using a dedicated blade sharpening tool is highly recommended as this will offer the most effective results with the least amount of effort, as well as coming with all of the necessary safety features." Overseed sparser areas If your lawn is looking a little worse for wear with thinner patches or bald spots cropping up, you might need to consider overseeding these areas with quality grass seeds. Fiona advises: "Adding new seeds to your lawn's current grass will provide more coverage and give it a thicker, denser appearance." Lawn aeration Fiona says regular lawn care is essential, stating: "To achieve thicker, greener, and healthier grass you should be aiming to aerate your lawn every autumn. The process of aeration involves poking lots of small holes into the soil beneath your lawn. "This can be done with a manual aerator or garden fork or, if you have a larger garden, you may wish to invest in an electric aerator which can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. Over time your lawn's soil will become compacted due to factors such as foot traffic, heavy machinery, and natural settling, which will in turn restrict root growth and impede the penetration of water, air, and nutrients. Aerating your lawn relieves soil compaction, thus enhancing root development and allowing the grass to access nutrients more effectively." Tackle weeds and moss Additionally, it is important to combat common weeds and moss head-on. These unwelcome guests, including dandelions, daisies, and buttercups, along with moss, are commonplace on British lawns. They detract not only from the hue but also compete with your grass, hobbling its growth and sapping essential sustenance. The expert advises: " Whilst it may be a time-consuming process, pulling out weeds by hand is usually the safest method to avoid damaging your grass – just make sure that you pull them out from the root to prevent regrowth. Many autumn lawn feeds come with a built-in moss killer, and moss can then be raked away gently around 2 weeks after application." Maintain vigilance against thatch Fiona explains that thatch is a layer of dead grass clippings, roots, and organic matter that, over time, will build up between the soil surface and the actively growing grass. She said: "The more this builds up, the more it starts to act like a barrier, preventing water, air, and nutrients from getting to the soil. This restricts the grass's access to these essential resources, resulting in a thinner and weaker turf with a duller green colour. "Thankfully, dethatching is a very simple process that doesn't require any specialist tools! Simply going over your lawn with a sturdy garden rake should do the trick perfectly and promote a healthier, thicker, and greener lawn." Avoid excess shade where possible "You have probably already noticed that grass on shady lawns grows poorly in comparison to that on lawns that get access to full sun," says Fiona. "Grass needs sunlight to grow thick and healthy, so reducing garden objects that could block it out will leave your lawn thankful. "Of course, certain factors are out of our control, but the simplest steps like cutting back a large bush or tree could help your grass to receive those valuable extra couple of hours of sunlight a day!" Keep lawns watered In the UK, we're blessed with a fair amount of rain that usually reduces the need for regular watering of our lawns. However, Fiona advises that during any warmer spells, it's important to keep your lawn hydrated. She says: "If your grass is left looking yellow and sparse due to lack of water and too much hot sunlight, it is a good idea to water it once a day during this period – just be mindful of any current restrictions, such as hose pipe bans!"
Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Local authorities apparently didn't appreciate her natural look: 'I got a letter from the city saying that I had to mow it,' she said. Advertisement But then, a friend told her about No Mow Month signs, provided by the Cumberland River Compact, a local water conservation nonprofit. Soon she was signaling to the city that she's no derelict, but a participant in an international movement. These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property. While she keeps the growth shorter near the culvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grasses and plants up to her knees or waist. There's a decomposing tree trunk where scores of skinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularly finds fawns sleeping in the safety of the high grasses. Advertisement 'I have a lot of insects and bugs and that's protein, so the birds and the bird's nests are everywhere. Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds and robins,' she said. 'I wake up to them, especially during spring migration right now. It's just a cacophony in the morning and in the evening, especially when the mulberries come in.' The movement is popularized by groups such as Plantlife, a conservation organization based in England. American lawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as a wasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30% of a U.S. household's total water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to the EPA. Some criticize No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month. A guide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at Iowa State University, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints. The No Mow effort does encourage people to think more about biodiversity in their yards, and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking noninvasive plants that fit each region's climate and precipitation levels. Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowers to grow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, 'meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawns versus being generated as a runoff and entering into our stormwater system,' said Jason Sprouls, urban waters program manager for the Cumberland River Compact. Advertisement Beltramini Healan isn't just letting just anything grow — she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or not beneficial to the ecosystem and carefully prunes and weeds so the keepers have room to thrive. Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of mowing when he decided years ago wait and see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so many insects and pollinators all over his garden that the neighbors' kids come over to look for butterflies. It's about giving them the time 'to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,' said Griffith. He said he's never heard a complaint — in fact, some of his neighbors also stopped mowing for a month each spring. His four-year-old son catches lizards, digs for worms and hunts for bugs in the yard. 'I just enjoy coming out and walking around,' said Griffith. 'And looking at it, it's kind of peaceful. It's kinda relaxing.'
San Francisco Chronicle
22-05-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — No Mow May encourages homeowners to stash the lawnmower each spring and let flowers and grass grow for pollinators and water retention. And if your neighbor's lawn already looks like a wildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than passersby might assume. The movement has expanded to 'Let It Bloom June' and the fall version: 'Leave the leaves.' Conservation and horticulture groups say year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amounts of drinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes. When Amanda Beltranmini Healen moved into her Nashville ranch house in 2016, the yard had been manicured for sale: a walnut tree, roses from a home improvement store and short grass. So she experimented, first with a 10-by-10-foot patch where she dug up the grass and sowed native seeds. Then she planted goldenrods in the culvert near the street, and let more of her yard grow tall without mowing. Local authorities apparently didn't appreciate her natural look: 'I got a letter from the city saying that I had to mow it,' she said. But then, a friend told her about No Mow Month signs, provided by the Cumberland River Compact, a local water conservation nonprofit. Soon she was signaling to the city that she's no derelict, but a participant in an international movement. These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property. While she keeps the growth shorter near the culvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grasses and plants up to her knees or waist. There's a decomposing tree trunk where scores of skinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularly finds fawns sleeping in the safety of the high grasses. 'I have a lot of insects and bugs and that's protein, so the birds and the bird's nests are everywhere. Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds and robins,' she said. 'I wake up to them, especially during spring migration right now. It's just a cacophony in the morning and in the evening, especially when the mulberries come in.' American lawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as a wasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30 percent of a U.S. household's total water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to the EPA. Some criticize No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month. A guide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at the University of Iowa, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints. The No Mow effort does encourage people to think more about biodiversity in their yards, and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking non-invasive plants that fit each region's climate and precipitation levels. Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowers to grow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, 'meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawns versus being generated as a runoff and entering into our stormwater system,' said Jason Sprouls, urban waters program manager for the Cumberland River Compact. Beltranmini Healen isn't just letting just anything grow — she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or not beneficial to the ecosystem and carefully prunes and weeds so the keepers have room to thrive. Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of mowing when he decided years ago wait and see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so many insects and pollinators all over his garden that the neighbors' kids come over to look for butterflies. It's about giving them the time "to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,' said Griffith. He said he's never heard a complaint — in fact, some of his neighbors also stopped mowing for a month each spring. His four-year-old son catches lizards, digs for worms and hunts for bugs in the yard. 'I just enjoy coming out and walking around,' said Griffith. 'And looking at it, it's kind of peaceful. It's kinda relaxing.'
Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — No Mow May encourages homeowners to stash the lawnmower each spring and let flowers and grass grow for pollinators and water retention. And if your neighbor's lawn already looks like a wildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than passersby might assume. The movement has expanded to 'Let It Bloom June' and the fall version: 'Leave the leaves.' Conservation and horticulture groups say year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amounts of drinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes. When Amanda Beltranmini Healen moved into her Nashville ranch house in 2016, the yard had been manicured for sale: a walnut tree, roses from a home improvement store and short grass. So she experimented, first with a 10-by-10-foot patch where she dug up the grass and sowed native seeds. Then she planted goldenrods in the culvert near the street, and let more of her yard grow tall without mowing. Local authorities apparently didn't appreciate her natural look: 'I got a letter from the city saying that I had to mow it,' she said. But then, a friend told her about No Mow Month signs, provided by the Cumberland River Compact , a local water conservation nonprofit. Soon she was signaling to the city that she's no derelict, but a participant in an international movement. These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property. While she keeps the growth shorter near the culvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grasses and plants up to her knees or waist. There's a decomposing tree trunk where scores of skinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularly finds fawns sleeping in the safety of the high grasses. 'I have a lot of insects and bugs and that's protein, so the birds and the bird's nests are everywhere. Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds and robins,' she said. 'I wake up to them, especially during spring migration right now. It's just a cacophony in the morning and in the evening, especially when the mulberries come in.' The movement is popularized by groups such as Plantlife , a conservation organization based in England. American lawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as a wasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30 percent of a U.S. household's total water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to the EPA . Some criticize No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month. A guide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at the University of Iowa, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints. The No Mow effort does encourage people to think more about biodiversity in their yards, and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking non-invasive plants that fit each region's climate and precipitation levels. Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowers to grow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, 'meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawns versus being generated as a runoff and entering into our stormwater system,' said Jason Sprouls, urban waters program manager for the Cumberland River Compact. Beltranmini Healen isn't just letting just anything grow — she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or not beneficial to the ecosystem and carefully prunes and weeds so the keepers have room to thrive. Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of mowing when he decided years ago wait and see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so many insects and pollinators all over his garden that the neighbors' kids come over to look for butterflies. It's about giving them the time 'to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,' said Griffith. He said he's never heard a complaint — in fact, some of his neighbors also stopped mowing for a month each spring. His four-year-old son catches lizards, digs for worms and hunts for bugs in the yard. 'I just enjoy coming out and walking around,' said Griffith. 'And looking at it, it's kind of peaceful. It's kinda relaxing.'
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — No Mow May encourages homeowners to stash the lawnmower each spring and let flowers and grass grow for pollinators and water retention. And if your neighbor's lawn already looks like a wildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than passersby might assume. The movement has expanded to 'Let It Bloom June' and the fall version: 'Leave the leaves.' Conservation and horticulture groups say year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amounts of drinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes. When Amanda Beltranmini Healen moved into her Nashville ranch house in 2016, the yard had been manicured for sale: a walnut tree, roses from a home improvement store and short grass. So she experimented, first with a 10-by-10-foot patch where she dug up the grass and sowed native seeds. Then she planted goldenrods in the culvert near the street, and let more of her yard grow tall without mowing. Local authorities apparently didn't appreciate her natural look: 'I got a letter from the city saying that I had to mow it,' she said. But then, a friend told her about No Mow Month signs, provided by the Cumberland River Compact, a local water conservation nonprofit. Soon she was signaling to the city that she's no derelict, but a participant in an international movement. These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property. While she keeps the growth shorter near the culvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grasses and plants up to her knees or waist. There's a decomposing tree trunk where scores of skinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularly finds fawns sleeping in the safety of the high grasses. 'I have a lot of insects and bugs and that's protein, so the birds and the bird's nests are everywhere. Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds and robins,' she said. 'I wake up to them, especially during spring migration right now. It's just a cacophony in the morning and in the evening, especially when the mulberries come in.' The movement is popularized by groups such as Plantlife, a conservation organization based in England. American lawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as a wasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30 percent of a U.S. household's total water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to the EPA. Some criticize No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month. A guide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at the University of Iowa, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints. The No Mow effort does encourage people to think more about biodiversity in their yards, and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking non-invasive plants that fit each region's climate and precipitation levels. Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowers to grow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, 'meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawns versus being generated as a runoff and entering into our stormwater system,' said Jason Sprouls, urban waters program manager for the Cumberland River Compact. Beltranmini Healen isn't just letting just anything grow — she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or not beneficial to the ecosystem and carefully prunes and weeds so the keepers have room to thrive. Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of mowing when he decided years ago wait and see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so many insects and pollinators all over his garden that the neighbors' kids come over to look for butterflies. It's about giving them the time 'to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,' said Griffith. He said he's never heard a complaint — in fact, some of his neighbors also stopped mowing for a month each spring. His four-year-old son catches lizards, digs for worms and hunts for bugs in the yard. 'I just enjoy coming out and walking around,' said Griffith. 'And looking at it, it's kind of peaceful. It's kinda relaxing.'
