You can save time on regular jobs, such as lawn edging, by investing in the right equipment, jobs such as spiking the lawn, which require special equipment, can be made easier by hiring the equipment or employing a contractor to do them.
Cutting the grass
If you have a small lawn and want a fine finish, and don't mind a little gentle exercise, then consider a hand-pushed mower. Electric machines are an easier option, but their range is limited by the length of cable. Battery-powered mowers are suitable for small and medium-sized lawns, but will need recharging for a large lawn. Petrol-driven machines are more powerful, but expensive. They are the time-saver's choice for longer grass and for medium to large lawns. If you allow the grass to grow by more than 2cm between mowings, a mulch mower will save time. It has no grass catcher to empty, and chops the grass finely so it can be left on the lawn.
De-thatching
Thatch is a layer of dead grass that builds up beneath the surface, making lawns spongy and hard to mow. De-thatching machines can be hired, or you can use a rotary mower at its lowest setting. This severely scalps the lawn and so should be done in spring when regrowth is fast. Scalping only works on grasses that grow from runners, and is hard on the mower, so you may prefer to hire one.
Clearing leaves
Fallen leaves that are left on the ground smother the grass and turn the lawn yellow. In small gardens, a garden vacuum is handy for leaf collection. To clear up leaves on a larger lawn, use a rotary mower with the blades set high. The blades will cut the leaves into small pieces so they can be sucked back into the grass catcher, making a mulch that you can later use on the garden.
Spreading fertilizer
Save time feeding large lawns by buying or hiring a lawn fertilizer spreader. For fast, easy application to a small area, choose a fertilizer that comes in a shaker pack. For an even spread, mark the lawn into strips with canes or string and work out how much fertilizer to use in each strip.
Improving drainage
Aerating the soil will boost growing conditions by allowing air, food and water to get in and make surface drainage swifter. This is especially important for soil compacted at the surface of a lawn that gets heavy wear. For quick results, hire a powered spiker or coring machine to make the holes. If you are doing the job by hand, use a spiker that you push or a hollow-tined fork. Small areas can be aerated by pushing a garden fork about 8cm into the turf, spacing holes 5cm apart, but this takes a lot of time and hard work. Rake away the cores of soil that you have removed and, if you are aiming to improve the drainage or condition of the soil, you can pour river sand, gypsum, lime or lawn food into the holes.
Cutting the grass
If you have a small lawn and want a fine finish, and don't mind a little gentle exercise, then consider a hand-pushed mower. Electric machines are an easier option, but their range is limited by the length of cable. Battery-powered mowers are suitable for small and medium-sized lawns, but will need recharging for a large lawn. Petrol-driven machines are more powerful, but expensive. They are the time-saver's choice for longer grass and for medium to large lawns. If you allow the grass to grow by more than 2cm between mowings, a mulch mower will save time. It has no grass catcher to empty, and chops the grass finely so it can be left on the lawn.
De-thatching
Thatch is a layer of dead grass that builds up beneath the surface, making lawns spongy and hard to mow. De-thatching machines can be hired, or you can use a rotary mower at its lowest setting. This severely scalps the lawn and so should be done in spring when regrowth is fast. Scalping only works on grasses that grow from runners, and is hard on the mower, so you may prefer to hire one.
Clearing leaves
Fallen leaves that are left on the ground smother the grass and turn the lawn yellow. In small gardens, a garden vacuum is handy for leaf collection. To clear up leaves on a larger lawn, use a rotary mower with the blades set high. The blades will cut the leaves into small pieces so they can be sucked back into the grass catcher, making a mulch that you can later use on the garden.
Spreading fertilizer
Save time feeding large lawns by buying or hiring a lawn fertilizer spreader. For fast, easy application to a small area, choose a fertilizer that comes in a shaker pack. For an even spread, mark the lawn into strips with canes or string and work out how much fertilizer to use in each strip.
Improving drainage
Aerating the soil will boost growing conditions by allowing air, food and water to get in and make surface drainage swifter. This is especially important for soil compacted at the surface of a lawn that gets heavy wear. For quick results, hire a powered spiker or coring machine to make the holes. If you are doing the job by hand, use a spiker that you push or a hollow-tined fork. Small areas can be aerated by pushing a garden fork about 8cm into the turf, spacing holes 5cm apart, but this takes a lot of time and hard work. Rake away the cores of soil that you have removed and, if you are aiming to improve the drainage or condition of the soil, you can pour river sand, gypsum, lime or lawn food into the holes.
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