Getting started

Whether you are looking for a petrol or electric lawnmower, a small ride-on tractor to ease the burden of lawn cutting, or the power and performance of a larger machine, WG Gardencare Machinery have over 15 years of specialist expertise to draw from to make the process of buying and owning these machines much easier.

For many ordinary lawns a petrol or electric push mower or a self-propelled petrol model for larger, sloping lawns will do the job perfectly and but if your lawn is half an acre or larger a lawn tractor could be a better choice.

How to choose

1. Consider what you want your lawn mower or ride-on tractor to do. Most mowers have features that mulch, bag, or side-discharge the grass cuttings. It really depends what facilities you have to compost the waste you get after each cut.

2. Check the features and controls. Most ride-on tractors allow you to speed up or slow down with a convenient pedal or lever. With self-propelled mowers, some models let you vary your speed simply by pushing the handlebar, whilst others let you adjust the ground speed without removing your hands from the handlebar.

3. If your property is hilly then tractors with a zero-turn or rear-steering wheels will not suit a steep gradient as, although they are capable of doing tight turns, this makes them difficult to control on steep slopes. Exceptions to this include mowers that have steerable front wheels instead of the usual levers.

If you are considering buying a new lawn mower or ride-on tractor ready for spring and still don’t know where to start then contact Graham or Jeremy today or call 01403 700743 and we will be happy to help you decide which type of mower is right for you. And our servicing and free delivery makes it an even easier way to make the right choice.

Investing time in autumn lawn care will pay dividends next spring and summer. September/October is the perfect time to breath new life back into your lawn. With the warmth of the summer sun still held in the soil and the moisture in the air, it means changes and repairs made now have time to bed in before temperatures drop too low and the growth stops.

Not all lawns are equal and the soil type in your garden plays a big part in its ability to stay healthy and in good condition. Heavy clays are prone to compaction but will keep a lawn greener for longer in hot, dry weather. Grass on sandy, free-draining soil withstands more wear but without irrigation yellows more quickly in dry weather.

So before tackling autumn lawn repairs, cut the grass with lawnmower blades set low to expose areas of weak growth. If you need to top dress or oversow, mow your lawn twice in different directions to catch any grass blades laying flat on the soil.

Choose which maintenance jobs you need to do to your lawn as they are best done in logical order. Begin by dealing with mounds and low spots on your lawn, then scarify, aerate, top dress, feed, kill weeds and moss and, finally, edge.

Dealing with low and high spots

Bald patches that are created by the lawn mower catching mounds and dips in your lawn during the season need to be treated. Cut an ’X’ across the affected area and use a spade to slice under and fold back the turf. Fork over the exposed earth, add or remove more soil as necessary, then firm and check the grass level before closing the turf, tamping it down and watering well.

Scarifying (thatch removal) and aerating

Scarifying is the process of giving the lawn a vigorous comb with a spring-tined lawn rake as it removes dead grass and moss, breaks up the soil surface and divides the tufts of grass, encouraging fresh growth. For larger lawns an electric or petrol-powered scarifier will do all the hard work for you. Call us on 01403 700743 or email us for more information on electric or petrol-powered scarifiers.

Parts for your lawn will have had to deal with varying amounts of use. The soil on play areas, paths and direct routes across lawns often becomes compacted and airless with grass roots becoming shallow and then unable to find enough nutrients and moisture for good growth. Using a garden fork, push into the grass 15cm (6in) deep, spaced 15cm (6in) apart across the lawn to aerate the problem areas. For larger lawns contact us for advice on the best make and model to use to aerate your lawn.

Next month: advice on feeding, topdressing, overseeding and edging your lawn.