15 Questions About the Lawn (Part 2)
6. How can the damage caused by molehills and earthworms be repaired ?
The mounds of earth destroy the beauty of the lawn and gardeners are always looking for a magic solution to keep moles away. At present, pyrotechnical traps seem to be the best solution. These are equipped with cartridges which are set off by the mole when he inadvertantly evacuates soil from his burrow. But once this is done, you have to flatten the molehill and evacuate the earth, without spreading it on the lawn, so as to avoid suffocating the grass. This light, brittle earth can be used for repotting plants. Pack down the soil where the molehill was situated and sow the refilling or renovating seed and water generously. You can also refill with a slab of ready-made lawn.
Anthills, like molehills, must be evacuated. Many anti-ant products exist, the most efficient being the sugary gels sold in cans, which avoid all contact with the product. Only the ants can access the gel by the small openings in the trap. You can also dig up the anthill and water it with about twenty litres of boiling water. Brush away worm excrement also. The organically rich and fine soil which they eject encourages the growth of weeds. Spread these little mounds out over the lawn with a garden brush. Always do so before mowing to avoid blunting the lawnmower blade.
7. When is the best time to sow a lawn ?
The best time is in autumn, between mid-September and mid-October, as the young lawn is less hampered by weeds. In fact, annual weeds are at the end of their lives and will thus disappear. On top of this, germinaion of weeds whose grains have been transported by the wind or by birds doesn’t happen at this period (this is not the case in spring). By sowing a lawn in autumn, the gardener can benefit from an already well installed lawn in spring.
Germination of the lawn takes place quicker at the end of summer, benefitting from a well heated soil. The young lawn thrives on the autumn rains and roots deeply, as opposed to the lawn planted in spring, which has to confront the dry summer which follows. This being said, a lawn can be sown all year round, except in periods of extreme cold or hot weather.
8. If a lawn is damaged, covered with weeds or moss, are we obliged to replant it entirely ?
Not necessarily. The most radical method, of course, consists of digging up the whole surface to create a new lawn. But it is possible to renovate. This consists of sowing the renovating lawn after having carried out the following proceedure :
Clean the lawn to be renovated by applying a specialized weedkiller or an anti-moss product. Allow this to agitate for 15 days, then mow by setting the blade as low as possible. Get rid of the mosses, the felt, the stubble and the weeds killed by the product, by scarifying. Collect them carefully by mowing with a lawnmower, equipped with a collection container, which also has the advantage of cutting the exposed roots, thus making the general aspect of the lawn uniform. Sow the renovating grass and cover the seeds with compost. Roll the lawn so that the seeds have a good contact with the soil, thus helping germination. Water abundantly. The lawn should gradually rediscover its healthy aspect.
9. When is the best time to mow the lawn ?
To guarantee perfect lawn maintenance, you should mow the lawn once a week on average from April to October. It is essential that the lawn is dry. Avoid the morning dew and rainy periods, so that the lawnmower doesn’t “cram” and mash up the blades of grass, rather than cut them cleanly.
Mow more often in spring and in rainy periods (every 4 or 5 days), less often and less short in hot summer periods (every 10 or 15 days). Regular mowing helps tillering (the thickening of the tufts of grass), thus producing a denser lawn growth.
Set the height of the lawnmower so that it cuts at most a third of the blade – this avoids weakening the tufts of grass.