Frosty lawns in Winter
As the 2020/2021 winter season approaches the temperature is dropping and in recent weeks, most of the UK has experienced quite unsettled weather. Many regions have experienced heavy rainfall and as the clouds part, the temperature falls sharply – especially at night. If you’re waking up to a frost-covered lawn this winter, you’ll need to […]
Have you Noticed Red or Brown Patches in your Lawn?
From the East of England to the West of Wales, with Scotland and Northern Ireland too, many lawns are sprouting mysterious reddish-brown patches amongst the grass. Have you noticed this in your lawn? If so, the issue might be Red Thread. In this short video, one of the UK Lawn Care Association’s members gives a […]
Keeping your lawn green this summer
This past week has seen the highest temperatures so far in 2020. Combined with an exceptionally dry spring for almost every region of the UK, lawns throughout the United Kingdom have been turning brown, leaving many homeowners wondering ‘how do I get my grass to look green again?’. One of the easiest and most important […]
Wondering what’s wrong with your lawn?
Have no fear, the UKLCA members are here. Take a look at our new handy visual guide “Does your lawn look this?” to see if you have a similar problem with your lawn. Click here to see the guide!
The UK LCA 2020 Conference
The committee are busy preparing for the annual UK LCA Conference. Every year the we hold a 2 day conference for our members (all whom you’ll find in the UK Lawncare Association directory). With a host of seminars across a broad range of topics, its a great opportunity for our member lawn care providers to […]
A lawn back in time
Ever wondered where the word lawn came from? Well, you’re in luck! Continue reading to dip your toes in the history of all things ‘launde’. The word lawn is derived from the Middle English word Launde (or old French “Land” originally referred to as an open space in a wood or a glade but later […]
Scarification – scarify the lawn
As we enter the season for lawn scarification’s (Aug – Sep) we have to decide if ours is due for a thorough renovation ? You can pull at the grass above the subsoil easily to get a feel for how much ‘thatch’ is there; thatch is the term used for the layer of dead material […]
Parched Earth and Dry Lawns
Many parts of the country are still suffering from a severe shortage of rainfall; rainfall that brings not only moisture but nitrogen to help plant life. So if you are able to water lawns it will help immensely but there is another trick you can try which is to apply a wetting agent. Wetting agents, […]
Easter 2019 beckons…
The weather forecast looks fantastic for this coming weekend but it’s not all good news for our lawns! The combination of low nighttime temperatures and the obvious lack of moisture (not only in the leaf but in general) means germination and growth rate development are both struggling. So the only real answer is to pray […]
Our Lawns
As we ventured outside during the recent spell of premature spring weather the sorry state of most of our lawns has been revealed. Now we are paying for last summer’s extensive drought and we can all see the outcome; let’s face it our lawns are stressed out. Our Association recommends you research solutions, but this […]
The UK LCA Conference 2019
In the spirit of keeping our Members (your suppliers) at the forefront of industry developments, over 50 companies attended a 2 day Conference last week in the splendid surroundings of Wyboston Lakes. We heard from a soil scientist, how last summer’s drought impacted your lawns and the latest health and safety legislation. Foremost in our […]
Look out for Moss on lawns NOW!
There are thousands of species of moss and algae, and over 50 of these are found to affect grass. Mosses are primitive non-flowering plants that have no root structure and rely on a sufficient moisture environment being present for reproduction and survival. The majority of them are tolerant of acidic conditions and are stimulated by […]
Chafer Grub and Leather-Jacket Control
Dear Lawnowner, if you have been unfortunate enough to be blighted with an attack of the dreaded chafer grub, or even leather-jackets then you will know from the advice given by your local lawn care specialist that there is no chemical solution as all such products have been banned! Nematoids under strict […]
The UK Lawn Care Association at Saltex
As a homeowner you wouldn’t need to know about this exhibition, but in a nutshell it’s the biggest ‘turf management’ event in Europe with over 300 exhibitors and 125 educational seminars; it runs over 2 days and is held at the NEC in Birmingham. The Committee of the UK Lawn Care Association held a meeting […]
History will reveal 2018 was a very tough year for lawns..
Lawn owners and professional lawn care operators alike will be glad to see the back of 2018! Think back to the coldest, longest and wettest winter running into early spring, then the sudden improvement in May when gardens and lawns finally sprung into life and growth. Who could have thought that the driest summer since almost […]
Ever wondered why grass thrives under benches and trampolines?
The answer is a phenomenon known as etiolation. The stems elongate more rapidly in their search for light; the stem is thinner and more pale in comparison to healthy grass due to the lack of chlorophyll.
The coldest March…since records began?
I’m sure the met office will tell us soon but we could be heading for the coldest March ever recorded! Lawn care statisticians monitor plant and insect growth using data known as ‘growth degree days’. GDD tracks the impact of temperature on growth of plant life and we are currently 75% down on March of […]
Thatch is a lawns BIGGEST enemy!
Thatch is a layer of debris formed from decaying roots and turf and it lies below the green grass and above the root structures. It does its damage by not allowing the lawn to ‘breathe’ effectively. Nutrients, water and oxygen cannot penetrate thatch to get where it needs to go, so every Spring professionals recommend a […]
Autumn Leaves
No not leaves on line, that great rail operators curse, leaves on lawn that great gardeners curse! Mowing becomes a huge challenge and the mere presence of autumn leaves reduces grass growth opportunity and encourages moss and disease. So do try and keep them away; rake or a combination of blowing and raking should do […]
Autumn Lawn Pests
Our Members’ are reporting a large increase in lawn pests in their customer’s lawns; typically chafer grubs and leather-jackets and if you have them in your lawn then that’s really bad luck and we are presented with a problem. Since EU pesticide legislation withdrew the tested and proven insecticide treatments we are left with only […]
Nature’s Watering System
Last Friday the 22nd September we had the heaviest dew; the cool clear night, followed by a warm clear day was the perfect combination for condensation to create droplets of water on the high end of the grass stem. Some say these droplets of water is nature’s way of saying it’s not going to rain […]
What a difference a year makes!
Yesterday, last year, the country delighted in balmy temperatures that peaked at 34° Celsius. Yesterday, this year, we endured gale force winds, intermittent rain and let’s just say it was lower, a lot lower than 34! So there was no need to water lawns, rather a case of batten down the hatches. The whole year […]
Britain’s Best Lawn 2017
Britain’s Best Lawn Competition
September/October Lawn Care Tips
LAWN CARE IN LATE SUMMER TO AUTUMN Scarification: is another word for renovation and activity should begin now so the lawn will recover enough to enjoy before winter sets in. Thatch and compaction will not allow your lawn to breathe so eliminate them now. Over seeding: Remove the thatch, the dead and the weak grass, […]
YOUR LAWN NEEDS YOU!
Not wishing to state the obvious……but your lawn will only look at it’s best if you give it some help by way of H2O! Yes, wait till dusk comes and dowse areas thoroughly for as long as you can. It does impact the water bill true, but it complements what you invest in the lawn by way […]
Cometh the rain, cometh the ants!
This county (Cambs) saw 40mm of rain on May the 17th and the earth sucked it all up; but anyone mowing the following day will probably have seen surface ant activity. Since the insecticide chlorpyrifos is no longer permitted, all we can do is use an off-the-shelf product to treat them. As you can tell from the […]
Watering Your Lawns
The 2016/17 UK winter, in general, has been really dry. Although there was good growth potential in March, growth slowed in April due to those Northerly winds and even the first half of May looks unseasonably dry. We do suggest you begin weekly watering now; it may cost a few pounds but it’s a good investment […]
Spring?
Spring beckons and this is the time to turn your attention to the garden; give the borders a good thinning out so new growth can breathe and develop as the days get longer. Likewise with lawns; hopefully you won’t have too much moss or it has already been treated with a liquid iron solution to […]
A record December, with the combination…
… of rainfall, higher than average temperatures and enough light extended the grass growing season to a record high in 2015! The growth potential for this December was 12 on the GDD scale, which compares with 4 for the previous year and it’s not only grass that’s confused, there are buds on trees, shrubs are active, Hellebores […]
Japanese Knotweed – Know the Law
Japanese Knotweed can cost you £2,500! The Times carried a story this week warning homeowners to clean up their act when it comes to Japanese Knotweed! This invasive plant can cause serious damage even to concrete infrastructures including foundations, brick work, roads, forestry, agriculture and river banks and the Home Office state the maximum fine […]
Weather Blog – Predicts !
Are you interested in predicting the weather? Mark Hunt of agronomic supplier Headland Amenity keeps a sharp eye on the jetstream and predicts weather up to but no further than 10 days in advance; Mark believes that any predictions beyond 10 days is speculation! Click here to take a look at Mark’s weather blog.
Moss, glorious Moss!
About Moss There are over 12,000 species of moss and algae, of which over 50 species are found to affect grass. Mosses are primitive non-flowering plants that have no root structure and rely on a sufficient moisture environment being present for reproduction and survival. The majority of them are tolerant of acidic conditions and are […]
November Lawn Care Tips
Aeration Soil compaction is a frequent cause of turf deterioration and moss invasion. For optimal effectiveness the lawn needs aerating in autumn/winter. Fallen Leaves Leaves should be cleared away as they fall. If left for more than a few days, then grass may become damaged. Compost the leaves and then use on borders etc. Worm […]
Autumn Lawn Care Tips
OCTOBER LAWN CARE Following the summer, which has been a dry one, lawns need a feed with a fertiliser high in Phosphate and Potassium with additional Iron for that dark green look. Soil compaction is a frequent cause of turf deterioration and moss invasion so we recommend aerating in Autumn/Winter; over sow with seed to […]
Using Pesticides
CPA leaflet The Crop Protection Association advisory document on best practice for using pesticides.
Using Pesticides
CPA leaflet The Crop Protection Association advisory document on best practice for using pesticides.
Spring is Just Around the Corner
That would be right after the 80% chance of snow forecast for Thursday the 21st March…..no little irony that this is the start of the Spring Equinox!! Snow snow go away, come again another season.
Snow and Lawn Diseases
Watch out for Disease in your lawn when the snow melts !! Fusarium Patch This is a cool weather disease and enjoys persistent drizzle, foggy, misty and damp conditions. Symptoms appear as small, circular, yellow patches often with a white mould around the outside, which spread up to about 30cm in diameter. Once established, […]
Wettest April in 100 Years!
All that fertiliser applied in March will have helped from April’s rain, but have our lawns had enough for now? How is it in your region?
Action to prevent drought
With all the talk of a warm dry summer ahead we need to act to prevent the effects of drought on our lawns.
Lawncare in Spring
– Aeration
– Feeding
– Weed control
– Regular mowing
Now is the time to get you lawn back in shape so you can enjoy the long hot summer days to come, we hope!
If your lawn is looking in poor health don’t despair its surprising how quickly it can respond to some attention.
Your lawn care experiences
We are committed to raising the standards of lawn care services available in the UK. If you have a lawn care experience (good or bad) that you want to share with us then tell us your story by emailing us or completing our enquiry form.
Mowing your lawn
With the weather finally turning after a long period of snow and frozen lawns we will soon see soil tempratures starting to rise and the grass starting to grow. The following mowing regime provides a guide to mowing your lawn throughout the year but if you don’t have the time to mow as frequently as suggested it is important that when you do mow you get the blade height correct. Do not cut too low!
What to do with a compacted lawn
The problem starts when particles of soil in the top 4 inches are compressed, reducing pore space between them and impeding the movement of air, water and nutrients through the soil profile. This in turn leads to poor grass growth, weed invasion and moss colonisation.
Generally all lawns are compacted, as you can imagine, they’re walked on, rolled, and played on. All this contributes to consolidation then the solution is simple: Aerate. This is the practice of physically punching holes in the surface 4-6 inches deep.
Home of the UK’s Lawn Care Network
Welcome to the UK Lawn Care Association, the website for Independent Lawn Care Specialists who are committed to the highest standards of lawn care and aim to provide a knowledgeable, efficient, taylor made and friendly service to UK homeowners. If you are a homeowner thinking about working with a lawn care company, this site has […]
