Common garden mistakes that could be 'recipe for disaster' for lawn

Make sure you avoid these three common mistakes (Stock photo)

As the UK is set to sizzle in its first mini heatwave of the year – it’s time to put your gloves on and finally get back into the garden.

You probably don’t need reminding about how miserable the winter was, bringing with it an onslaught of rain, gales, snow, and… yes, even more rain. But now the sun is starting to show itself (well, kind of) many Brits are dusting off their mowers and getting their lawns summer-ready.

However, a gardening ace has warned of three common mistakes that could be a ‘recipe for disaster’ when it comes to your lush green grass.

Oliver Johnson at HomeAdviceGuide.com advises holding back before you give your lawn a hose down, as overwatering grass can be ‘disastrous’. According to the Express, the pro says overwatering leads to ‘waterlogging, which stunts root development’.

Overwatering your lawn could also be encouraging moss to take over – as the pesky stuff loves damp environments and is actually a sign of poor drainage in gardens. So, during dry spells (aka when mother nature isn’t doing the watering herself) stick to just an inch of water each week to keep the grass quenched and healthy.

Johnson also warns against mowing your lawn too short – also known as scalping – branding it a ‘recipe for disaster’ as it ‘stresses the grass’ and makes it vulnerable to disease and pests. The pro says it is best to keep your grass with at least three inches of height to help it maintain its strength and health.

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If your garden has been savaged by the relentless winter weather, it can be tempting to throw a bunch of fertiliser on the lawn and hope for the best. However, fertiliser is only really effective when you have balance.

Johnson says there can be ‘detrimental’ effects for applying either too little or too much fertiliser. According to Rivulis, excess fertiliser can cause a whole host of issues including stunted growth, yellowing and wilting of plant leaves, and rotting roots. This is because there is too much fertilizer in the soil that plants and grass can’t take up the water. If you use too little, you’re not going to reap the effects – so make sure you properly read the instructions before adding to your lawn.

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