Features of Lawn Care

One of the things which can be done to beautify the garden is to finish the edges off really well. Many gardeners like to see their gardens neatly and properly trimmed.

It makes all the difference between a first class and an average lawn. lf this is done fairly frequently before the grass gets too long, there is no need to pick up the clippings, as they will soon wither and become one with the soil. In few cases, they can be cut at the same time as the lawn is mown.

If the lawn is edged by a paved path, the mower can be run partly along the path. Where there is a flower border at the side of the lawn, the mower can be used along the edge of the border so that it projects over by a few inches. But do not let it overhang too much, otherwise it will over balance. It would be well advised to make sure that the edges are firm and have not been undermined by moles.

Where it is not possible to use a mower, there are quite a few tools that can be used for edging, like the standard long-handled side shears, clippers mounted on wheels, also long handled edging tools which tidy up crumbling edges. The tools include the half moon edging iron, the spiked edging iron which is pushed along the edge and rotates as it goes, and a rectangular cutting iron mounted at an angle on a long handle. To save time, an alternative to these is to use one of the chemical growth retardants for the grass, which is mixed with water and sprayed on to the edges.

It is not really a good idea to use these on the whole lawn, where the grass is fine. The appearance of the lawn is very important. However, where only a narrow strip is in question, the grass needs to be kept short. It needs to be prevented from creeping on to flower beds. General lawn care involves regular monitoring and implementation of techniques that allow the optimum use of the space available. It is in no way a process that will make do with a haphazard approach. General lawn care is a full time indulgence.