It's time to get your lawn shipshape for summer

A lovely lush lawn makes a marvellous garden centrepiece along with being a fantastic all-purpose space – to sit out on, stretch out and relax, or for children to play on. Our lawns generally take a pounding with regular wear and tear, but last winter made things worse with months of rain. Now’s the time to bring your lawn up to speed for the summer with some spring TLC.

Rake and remove debris

Before the first mow of the season, pick up winter debris like woody twigs that can get trodden into the lawn, and look for anything that could damage the mower blades. Rake lightly over the whole lawn to lift flattened grass and the runners of unwanted plants like buttercups, so they can be trimmed by the mower.

If your lawn has lots of dead grass or ‘thatch’, or moss that you don’t want, rake vigorously using a spring-tine lawn rake, then mow again to collect the debris. Leave moss in little heaps around in your borders – this will increase worm activity in the soil, as well as provide nesting material for garden birds.

Scatter worm casts

You may see these little mounds of earth on the surface of the lawn. Break them up using the rake or a stiff broom. If left, they’ll be flattened into little patches of earth that grass can struggle to grow through.

Make the first cut a high one

Adjust the mower blades so you’re just taking off a small amount of grass for the first cut, especially if the grass is damp. Remember you can easily take more off and make a second cut, even on the same day. Better to do that than risk scalping the lawn and creating bare patches.

Cut neat, crisp edges

Use a half-moon edging tool, or trim the edges with shears. This is a very satisfying job that will make your garden look super-smart.

Feed grass using a spring lawn feed

Use an organic fertiliser to boost nitrogen levels in the soil and encourage your lawn to grow green and lush. Follow the instructions on the packet. Avoid using fertiliser if you want a wildflower lawn, or the grass will out-grow the flowers.

Repair bare patches

Sow any bare (or thin) areas using a patch repair grass seed mix designed for speedy growth. Follow the instructions on the seed packet – you may need to pin horticultural fleece over the seeded area to stop birds eating the seed. Alternatively, use offcuts from edging the lawn and plant these into the bare areas. Water well.

Tackle winter wet spots

If, during winter, you noticed areas of lawn where rainwater formed puddles, now's the time to encourage it to drain better. Wait until the ground has dried and then use a garden fork to make rows of holes in the lawn, with 15cm between rows. While forking, gently lift the earth slightly to reduce any compaction. Brush sharp sand into the holes to finish off the job, so any further rain will drain into the ground more easily.