No matter how weed-infested or bald an existing lawn has become, it will take less effort to improve it than to create a new lawn altogether. However, if you prefer quick results, or if you have no lawn to begin with, you will have to start from scratch.Laying cultivated turf is the quickest way to create a lawn, but it is relatively expensive. Turf will thrive anywhere except in heavy shade or on poor soil. Turf is grown in huge paddocks and can contain weeds, although the better producers will make every effort to prevent this. The price of turf varies with the type of grass wanted and it should be laid in spring or autumn when the soil is warm and moist.
The cheapest way to create a new lawn is to sow seed. But you will have to wait several months after sowing before you can use it. Sow cool-season grasses in early autumn, warm-season grasses in spring -both will be established and ready to use by summer. Choose the right seed for your situation and buy from a reputable supplier. If you can, ask some local gardeners for advice about which grasses are ideally suited to your area.
Holiday tips
- Do cut the grass shortly before you leave home.
- Do arrange for your grass to be cut while you are away, especially if you are gone for more than two weeks.
- Do 'top' long grass on your return with a line trimmer or rotary mower. If you cut long grass down to its lowest level in one go, it turns yellow, so make sure that you set the blades as high as possible for the first cut, then mow again a few days later. Don't apply fertilizer for six weeks before you go on holiday.
- Don't water the lawn in summer because it will suffer even more if the weather is dry when you are away.
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