How to Get a Thick Luscious Lawn

Spring and Autumn are the best times to feed, thicken and over-seed your lawn.

Here are 5 easy steps to a thick, healthy, lush, weed free lawn:

Step 1 - Remove weeds and debris

If you remove any weeds by hand, make sure you pull out all the roots.  If you use a weed killer, such as LawnPro Turfclean or LawnPro Prickle and Hydrocotyle make sure you follow the instructions to know how much time to wait before sowing.

Also remove any debris, such as stones, branches or leaves from the lawn.

Step 2 - Mow lawn closely and rake

Mow the lawn closely; 1 notch lower on your mower than normal, making sure you mow the whole area to be sown.

For best possible soil to seed contact, rake the surface of your lawn to remove any thatch (dead grass, moss or lawn clippings). 

Step 3 - Aerate your lawn

If the soil is hard or compacted, aerate it using a garden fork. This will help water, air and nutrients penetrate to improve root development, resulting in a thicker lawn.

Spread soil or media to fill any shallow holes and to level-out the surface. This will also give the seed the best possible start. 

Step 4 - Sowing your lawn seed

Now the area is ready to sow. Shake the Kiwicare LawnPro Lawn Thickener or Smart Lawn Seed box to mix up the seeds.

When sowing the aim is to achieve an even coverage. For this, sprinkle LawnPro Lawn Thickener or Smart Lawn Seed in 2 passes at right angles to each other, paying special attention to the borders. Check the packaging instructions for the recommended rate of application.

Once this process is finished, lightly rake the surface to ensure all the seed reaches the soil surface.

Water thoroughly to start off germination. Use a fine-spray watering can or sprinkler, taking care not to wash the seeds away or create puddles. 

Step 5 - Taking care of your new lawn

Water daily until the seed is established, usually this takes 1-2 weeks.

In very hot conditions water late in the day once the sun has gone down. It is better to water thoroughly once, rather than several times lightly.

Mow for the first time with the highest setting when the grass is 5-8 cm tall. Make sure the grass is dry. 

More information on lawn care.

By David Brittain
Kiwicare