This Morning: 'UK’s best lawn-fluencer' shares his best mowing tips
At the height of summer, many Britons will be jetting off abroad or enjoying a staycation by the sea.
However, this does mean Britons will be leaving their gardens unattended for days if not weeks.
Before going on holiday, it’s important gardeners prepare their gardens, especially their lawns, for the time they’re away.
Matt Adams, lawn feed expert and founder of The Relentless Gardener, has shared some top tips exclusively with Express.co.uk on how to reduce the risk of causing any damage to lawns while on holiday.
Give lawns a light mow before you go
Matt recommends giving lawns a “light cut” the day before going away and once again after returning from holiday. However, he warned gardeners not to cut lawns too short before going away as this could leave grass “more vulnerable”.
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He said: “Don’t mow your lawn too short before your holiday, as it could leave your grass more vulnerable, especially if you’re expecting warmer weather at home.
“If you’re away for longer than two to three weeks, then you should probably get in contact with your local lawn care company and ask them to come in and mow your lawn for you.”
Don’t fertilise lawns
Lawn fertiliser keeps lawns in good condition and will ensure grass grows thick and healthy. However, Matt said it’s “best to avoid” fertilising lawns before going on holiday as lawns will likely have a growth spurt and need trimming.
Instead, fertilise lawns once you’ve returned from holiday. Or, alternatively, gardeners can always fertilise lawns two to three weeks before going away so the growth rate has slowed down by the time they leave.
He added: “Whether you’re heading off on holiday for a couple of days or weeks, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your lawn doesn’t suffer when you go on holiday.”
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Remove objects from the lawn
Before going away, have a look in the garden to make sure there’s nothing left on the lawn. Leaving objects on lawns for an extended period of time will remove that area’s access to sunlight which could lead to “dead, yellow/brown patches of grass”.
Matt continued: “If, like most, you’re only going away for one to two weeks, then you’ll probably find that your lawn won’t suffer too much.
“However, it’s always important to prepare for all eventualities, to reduce the risk of causing any damage to your lawn. It’s always easier to keep a healthy lawn alive than try and revive it once the damage has been done.”
Keep an eye on the weather
Hot weather can be a problem for lawns so it’s best to check the weather forecast before going away to see what measures need to be put in place.
If a heatwave is due, the lawn may need to be watered. Setting up a sprinkler system may be the best way to do this.
Apply a wetting agent
If there’s very little rain forecast while you’re away then applying a wetting agent before leaving may be a good idea.
This means when rain does fall, it will be absorbed more effectively and retained by the soil which will ensure grass doesn’t dry out as quickly.
Wetting Agents can be applied alongside a regular feeding programme so there’s no need to worry about overfeeding the lawn.
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