A day at the UK Lawncare Association regional conference at Mount
Pleasant Golf Club, Bedfordshire. A chance to see and try out the latest aerators, scarifiers, over seeders and top dressing machines and to speak to one of the leading seed suppliers
This sold out event allowed us to talk to other independent lawncare companies about renovation techniques and how the changing climate is impacting how we need to approach our work, well worth braving the M25 for the learnings.
 

Its raining its pouring!
​Last Autumn, when the rains disrupted our Lawncare schedules, at least we were seeing groundwater levels recharging after the long dry periods of the last several year’s.
We hoped for a calm winter with some frosts to reduce pest and disease levels and to allow a normal run in to Spring. It was not to be as the graph below from Southern Water Shows:

​Usually, in February we can get our machines onto the Lawns to core aerate and scarify in preparation for spring growth, this year we managed to aerate a handful of lawns with the predominantly clay soil in this area far too soft to risk damage by the machines and that disruption continues into March.
So, what does it mean for Lawns and Lawn Care in West Sussex and East Hampshire apart from a scheduling chalenge for me!

Winter Die Back

Every Winter some lawns will die back a little, as growth slows or stops, sunlight levels reduce so grass plants can struggle, this year many lawns, particularly on clay soils have been waterlogged since the autumn and that is unusual as we normally have sufficient dry periods when the soil can recover. 

A sudden sporadic downpour will rarely harm your lawn but these prolonged periods of saturated soils can and are causing damage.
 
Waterlogging means that water is filling the spaces in the soil, which as well as potentially leaching out nutrients, can drive out air which limits the oxygen supply to the plants roots. It also stops more harmful gases escaping.
The result of these extended periods of saturation is that grass roots struggle and may even die which leads to decay and further deterioration in the sub soil.

As a result, the lawn may well thin out, creating an environment where moss will fill in the new gaps and do well in the continued damp conditions which it loves.

Spring will bring longer days and higher temperatures and with increased evapotranspiration that should see ground conditions improve relatively quickly once the heavy rain does one.

Some lawns close to the sea, in the likes of Bosham Hoe (see picture) or the Wittering’s, where the water table is higher may take a little longer to dry but they will get there.

The good news is that the majority of saturated lawns naturally recover as conditions start to dry but, it may be, in some cases that repairs are needed. This will likely involve aeration to improve soil conditions and reduce compaction, moss control and feed application to add back the nutrition that has leached away, some areas may need seeding or renovation but soil temperatures need to raise a good deal before you can be confident of good gemination.

We started our Spring Lawn treatments this week around Emsworth, Aldwick, Chichester and Bosham, thats when the weather has allowed us to. This means we are replenishing nutrients with a good balance of slow and quick release feed to help the lawns recover and strengthen over the next several months, we are also applying a moss control and separate weed control when they are needed.
Our Treatments in Detail

Lawn Disease
 
The damp and mild winter and absence of any significant periods of frost mean some fungus activity continues, particularly “Red Thread”, this should hopefully grow out with drier, warmer weather and a good feed.   

​There is some more detail on our website Advice

Lawn Pests

We have started to see a number of lawns that have been damaged by “Leatherjackets” they seem have copped well this winter, if you have patches developing in your lawn then have a little dig and see if you find these pests at work, if your lawn is waterlogged you may find them on the surface or on your patio.
 
There is advice on these pests on our web site.Advice

Lawn Mowing

“If the lawn is growing then continue mowing” that’s good advice and, if conditions allow, it should be followed. Never take more than a third off with each cut and keep the mower blade sharp, once we are in full spring growth regular mowing is essential.

Irrigation

There is plenty of water about right now but a dry period will come, if you want to understand the cost of watering your lawn, check out the calculaltor on our website Watering Tool   

Learning
When the weather is not great we do get the chance to work on machine maintenance, research product and regulatory developments in our market, we also attend trade conferences including the UK Lawncare Association www.uklawncare.net/ annual conference which is always a great forum to refresh knowledge and learn from other like-minded Independent Lawncare Companies.
So here’s hoping Spring shows its face soon.
As always if you have any questions just call or email
Take Care
Annie
​X

We have spent the last month or so completing lawn renovations, makeovers and repairs across West Sussex and East Hampshire, that’s lawn’s in West & East Wittering, Aldwick, Itchenor, Midhurst, Hambrook, Emsworth, Barnham, Chichester, Porchester, Bosham, Southbourne, Havant, Portsmouth & Selsey that have needed help to get back to their best, most needing the work following damage in the extremes of last summer.

So we have been moving tonnes of top dressing and seed, applying wetting agents, scarifying, aerating and providing advice on how to ensure the best results, moisture being key to germination and establishment of new seed.
Now the weather has been kind in allowing us to complete this heavy work with little disruption but that means rainfall has been in short supply so that ground moisture levels are struggling in some areas.

The low overnight temperatures for most of the last month mean growth has been a little slower than expected and seed germination is taking that little bit longer, but keep the seed moist and it will come.
 
The flip side of those low temperatures is that moisture loss is reduced so there is still time to prevent soils drying out fully before the heat of summer and as many learned last year its much easier to maintain moisture then to try to wet a soil once its dry.
There is advice on my website about watering the lawn.
https://www.lawnritechichester.co.uk/advice.html
​

​As the soils warm up and consistent growth kicks in then regular mowing is essential to keeping your lawn in good condition, mowing encourages the lawn to naturally thicken, so:-

1. Mow at least once a week
2. Never take more then 1/3 of the leaf in one cut.
3. Change the direction of cut each mowing
4. Ensure your mower blade is sharp
5. Don’t mow when it’s very dry or excessively hot , if you do then water well afterwards.
6. Mow to the correct height for the grass types in your lawn.

​I am taking a well-earned short holiday before we start our Early Summer Lawn Treatments in Chichester in a weeks’ time.
As always, if you have any questions or need help with your lawn.
 
Take Care
Annie@lawnrite

At this time of year I am often called for advice from potential customers who are concerned that their lawn may be affected by typical lawn pests, they may be seeing birds or other animals picking at areas of the lawn or unexplained patches or thinning grass.

The first thing to do is to get a trowel and have a little dig in and around the area you are concerned with, birds are often picking at ants or worms which may be near the surface as its been so wet this spring. The birds also pick at moss and thatch that may be present to help with nest building often providing a very effective "scarification" but only in small areas.

There are other critters that are actually a concern and if the population of them is high can be bad for the lawn. The two main lawn pests that we come across for customers in West Sussex, Chichester, Emsworth, Bognor Regis and the surrounding areas are Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs

The main methods of control are biological and cultural, as members of the U.K. Lawncare Association we are able to share best practice and learnings from Independent Lawncare experts from across the UK and apply these to the grass types and soils around Chichester, Pulborough, Emsworth and the surrounding areas. Earlier this year, at the Association's conference, we had a very informative presentation from one of the lead scientists at BASF who manufacture the Nematodes that are used to control these problems. I find it's always best to listen and learn from the people who make and field trial products as understanding how they work and creating the environment for successful application is the key to achieving control

Leatherjackets
* what are they?
* How do I recognise them?
* How do I control them?

What are Leatherjackets?
* Leatherjackets are the larvae of the Crane fly (Daddy long legs)

Leatherjacket Facts:
* The adult Crane Fly has long legs with a body about 25mm long.
* Commonly active in the late summer to autumn period with each female laying 200-300 eggs. There can be a smaller amount of activity around May.
* The eggs hatch into larvae, called leatherjackets within about 14 days and remain in the soil for about 9 months before pupating into next season's Crane Fly.
* The Leatherjacket exists in the soil from the autumn to the following spring in your lawn, by eating the stems of your grass plants. This results in the lawn beginning to turn yellow and die back in areas.
* Damage generally becomes noticeable during the spring caused by the feeding that occurred the previous autumn and winter.
* Secondary damage from birds, badgers, foxes, moles and other small mammals searching and pecking for larvae may become evident.

Solution
* Keep a look out for Crane Fly activity throughout the late summer. The time to act is two to three weeks after that activity when the young leatherjackets are most vulnerable to control.
* Monitor your lawn in the autumn for larvae activity and secondary damage.
* Call Lawnrite for advice or follow the control methods below.

Control
* There is a manual way which you can use to try to catch and remove the pests, this involves covering the lawn area with a black plastic sheet or damp hessian sacks at night in damp conditions. Peel back the sheet slowly in the morning and collect up the surfaced leatherjackets. Make sure that you peel back the sheet slowly, for if you just peel it right back, some of the leatherjackets will escape back down into the lawn to get away from the daylight.
* There is also a biological treatment available for controlling leatherjackets in lawns, flower beds and vegetable plots. This is a pathogenic nematode, which is watered into the turf or soil. The nematodes enter the bodies of leatherjackets and infect them with a bacterial disease. To be effective, the nematode requires soil that is well drained but moist and with a minimum temperature of 12°C (54°F). The turf around the edge of affected areas should be targeted to deal with larvae spreading out from infestation “hot spots” in the lawn. However, by the time areas of infestation become apparent, the soil may be too cold for nematodes to be effective.
* As a preventive measure, you can apply nematodes in September to early October. It’s important that Nematodes are applied as soon as possible after purchase; make sure you follow the suppliers’ instructions for use. You may find you need to water the lawn before and for two, three even four weeks after application to ensure the soil is sufficiently moist for nematode activity and for them to survive.
* The product also needs to applied when there is no direct sunlight so early morning or evening is best as the Nematodes are susceptible to sunlight.
* Aeration and / or scarification before application can help as surface and sub surface thatch can hinder the passage of the product down to the area where the pest is to be found.
* Application of Nematodes does not need a licence and they are readily available from various suppliers and as there is a continued need to keep the ground moist following application there is little need to ask a professional to apply the product, thats why we advise our customers it's better and most effective to apply this product themselves so long as they follow the instructions
Once the grub population controls are in place we can help bring the lawn back to life.
* Currently no pesticide's are licenced for use for the control of these pests on lawns

After a tough winter and a late spring its only been over the last few weeks that temperatures have been consistently at a level which means that the grass will grow and it amazing how quickly this wonderful plant can spring back to life.

We have been busy putting down our organic based spring lawn feed which is balanced to provide a great boost to the grass plant. The feed also contain humic acid and seaweed meal great for the soil.

The long, wet and cool winter and early spring has meant in some cases moss has been able to out compete the slow grass growth, in those cases we apply moss control along with our spring lawn treatment and some over seeding if needed.

As the grass grows so do the weeds so our Selective Herbicides are being applied to those pesky weeds across Selsey,, Emsworth, Bosham,, Bognor Regis and Chichester

Some lawns that we care for in places like West Wittering are still drying out as the water table has been so high there and likewise some clay soils around Bognor Regis and Barnham have been slow to dry.

​This tme last year on the lovely South Coast the grass was growing from February and by mid April we had completed our spring lawn scarifications and lawn aerations. This year, as we won't complete the work unless the grass is growing and ground conditions are right, we will be continuing with this until early May.

We have also started our Lawn Renovations and Lawn Makeovers, thats where we effectively rejuvenate an exisiting lawn with a proven process using professional machinery, high grade grass seeds and organic top dressings. We have lawn renovations in Midhurst, Emsworth, Chichester, Bosham, Bognor Regis, Waterlooville and Barnham in the coming weeks.

For many customers the process of reducing moss in the lawn involves scarification for others, if its appropriate, we use an organic based product thats high in potassium that slowly degrades the moss and it contains a composting bacteria that converts this to additional nutrients in the lawn. We need soil temperatures above 10C to apply this product.

Spring is a great time to overseed just remember its better to lightly dress then and keep them moist through germination and whilst the new grass establishs also raise your mower blade the let the new grass root and branch.

Its so important to make sure that a annual feeding programme in West Sussex is balanced across the whole year and reflects the conditions the lawn faces. For instance lawn science tells us a lawn that is predominantly rye grass will need more Nitrogen then a finer ornamental lawn, if you put two much Nitrogen on that ornamental lawn it will probably generate excessive thatch and thats why we vary our feeds and amount we put down dependent on the lawn. If you currently use a large franchise lawn care operation why not ask the operative how much Nitrogen he will be putting down across the season, that will be the same feed thats applied in Devon, Yorkshire, Sussex regardless of any difference in prevailing soils, weather conditions etc.

As we are family operated and Independent we have access to a full spectrum of products which lets us offer a more bespoke lawn treatment service based on lawn science in West Sussex and Hampshire and, centred round Chichester.

I have seen a lot of Chafer Grub activity in the Sandy soils around West Chiltington and Pulborough if you think you have a lawn grub problem call us for advice. The only controls are now organic and you do not need a lawncare comoany to apply them but you do need to get the timing and aftercare right to get control of the problem.

As always if you have any questions or need help just get in touch.

Take Care

Annie

​

So it’s been a little while since I have had time to update my blog, it’s been so hectic over the winter period.

The weather caused by “The Beast from the East” means its frozen grass and ground so we won’t be putting any products down until the conditions improve which won't be before next week and that means I have a little admin time to catch up.

Just a quick reminder that with the amount of frost and snow forecast for this week its best to stay off the grass until its a little warmer as this reduces the potential for damage when the grass is a little brittle.
​
I am just finalising our Spring Lawn Treatment programme and booking in those essential scarification and aerations and filling our limited slots for full lawn makeovers / lawn renovations., Take a look at our lawn renovation page on the website for before and after photos of some of the fantastic renovation / makeover results we had last year across West Sussex and Hampshire including Chichester, Rowlands Castle, Bognor Regis and Aldwick

https://www.lawnritechichester.co.uk/lawn-makeover.html

​The early part of the year is full of conferences and seminars, I try to get to as many as possible as its important I am up to speed with what’s new and how my industry is changing whether through, new products, new ways of working or the impact of legislation on what we can do, when and how. 
​
In January I was at the Annual Conference of the UK Lawn Care Association, it is always a great opportunity to network with other Independent Lawn care Companies from across the UK and to meet with all the major suppliers of the products and machines we need to deliver the best results for our customers. I always learn at these events and come away better prepared for each new season.
​
I have commented before on the withdrawal of the chemical controls for pests like Chafer Grubs and Leatherjackets and this year we had a presentation from BASF who are the main manufacturers of Nematodes, the remaining biological control. Listening to their expert explain how to get the best result from this natural product just reinforced what a challenge we have and why being able to properly explain each step and why it’s important is essential. Everyone in our industry talks about how difficult it is to get customers to irrigate lawns when its dry, whether that’s to keep them green or help new seed, well the simple truth with Nematodes is, if the rainfall is not plentiful, if you don’t water then don’t waste your money on them as you won’t get the result your looking for.  

Every year regulatory change seems to remove a product or two from the market and this year is no different and in the summer of 2018 we will lose the last contact fungicide able to deal with diseases such as Red Thread so we will need to be ever more vigilant and work harder on cultural practice and customer education

It’s therefore more essential than ever that we make sure we manage health of the plant but also the condition of the soil that supports it

That’s one of the reasons why Lawnrite’s Spring Lawn Treatment will be an Organic based feed for all our customers in West Sussex and East Hampshire, as well as being a balanced feed its great for the  good organisms in the soil.

We know how important scarification and aeration can be for the health of the plant and soil and to help further we are adding some additional products to help with the soil nutrition, structure and health, these are particularly useful in the clay soils that dominate across much of West Sussex and Hampshire.
The new products and learning are all additions to our tool box to help give customers the luxurious lawns that they are looking to us for. 

The ability to be flexible in our use of products and being able to learn from such  a wide range of contacts is what is so healthy about being an Independent Lawncare / Lawn Treatment company and not part of a franchise with the potential organisational limitations that brings.     

Hopefully Spring is just a couple of weeks away………………!

Take Care
​
Anne
x

So last night we had the first decent rainfall for weeks which should see a little more green on most lawns. Sadly the forecast for the next couple of weeks shows little sign of any more water falling from the heavens to help with the thirsty grass, so remember, if you are able, to give the lawn a heavy drenching at least once a week and keep that mower blade high until the dry spell breaks.   

Despite the lack of rainfall its still possible to make a difference as this lawn in Pulborough illustrates after just one treatment and some good irrigation, lush green and thickening up.

It may be dry and in the middle of summer but so long as you follow the rules you can still bring tired and sad areas back to life.

Last month we were asked if we could renovate a lawn in Chichester which had been decimated whilst builders completed a renovation of a barn conversion, we could see from google earth how pristine it used to look but the house owner was delighted when we said we could revive it. We got to work controlling weeds before spending a day, preparing, aerating, scarifying, feeding, seeding and top dressing. The bottom image shows the lawn 18 days after that work and that's despite the hottest June days on record. Its all about helping the grass with good preparation, good irrigation and follow up care. 

And here's another lawn renovation also completed in June, this time in Portsmouth.

It's not just the lack of rainfall that is a challenge, the hot and humid weather is loved by fungus and we have seen lots of red thread and the one below, brand new turf , is under attack by fusarium which we controlled using a fungicide spray. As I always say if you see something not quite right with the lawn get in touch its always better to tackle something early.  

So tomorrow we are working a little out of our area in Henfield tackling a clover problem across a housing estate, that's about a hectare of weed spraying so bubble bath tomorrow night but then we are waiting for the boiler man to come to restore our hot water....................................! 

Take Care

Annie
​x

Wow, the Great British weather, a few days of much needed rain, then fantastic weather and both for the bank holiday!
I love, hot, sunny day’s and evenings, getting home from treating lawns across West Sussex, sitting out in the garden or entertaining friends and family with a BBQ. I think relaxing on or by a lush green weed free lawn makes it all even nicer and brings out the colour of the rest of the garden.

This is a picture of my own small garden, it’s so vibrant at the moment.
​These long hot and dry periods can be very stressful for a lawn and like us, in this heat, your lawn gets thirsty; so remember to water deeply once a week, deeper watering encourages the plants roots to extend further and if you can, its best to water before the sun is on the lawn. Raising the mower cutting height a little also helps the grass cope with the high temperatures.  
The grass is growing like mad after the recent rain, so we are topping up the nutrient levels with our early summer feeds; these are designed for the higher temperatures that the season brings.
​

Its so gratifying when a customer takes the trouble to send a picture of their lawn because they are happy, this one near Porchester gets a lot of use, was full of weeds and very thin when we started treating it.

As a small business it often seems we are constantly writing cheques and paying invoices and, as the accounts team is me, the pain of the money going out feels personal!! There is an exception and that's when we are rewarding customers for recommending our services. 

We have spent a few hours this morning writing letters and envelopes to send out some M & S gift cards to customers who have recommended us to their friends or family.  Its fantastic that they have such confidence in us, so the least we can do is give a little reward that can get a bottle of bubbles to enjoy in the garden when the weather is good.

I love it when its warm and dry, there is no better job when the sun is shining and  we have had some fantastic weather on the south coast these past few weeks. I spent Easter with the "in laws" in Leeds and because we work outside and are a little tanned already this year the first question on arrival "have we been away on holiday", the answer  "you might not recognise it, but we get something called the sun on the south coast" !      

Whilst the sun shining is good and makes me happy, its mid March since many areas have seen any significant rainfall and that means many lawns are starting to show signs of stress. If you can get the sprinkler or hosepipe out to give the grass a good drenching once a week it will help and if the dry spell keeps up raise the blade on the mower a little to help reduce evaporation.

The variable temperatures gradients are causing  a number of lawn fungus outbreaks so if you see anything amiss with the lawn please pick up the phone and let us know, it far easier to deal with a an outbreak early and before any serious damage has occurred.     

Soil temperatures are now perfect for our "Ultimate Lawn Moss Control" treatment and the visible results as the moss breaks down and the grass spreads to dominate is so much gentler, then blackening and the stress of scarification and raking.

As always if you have a question or concern about your lawn, get in touch by email or phone.

Take Care
​
​Annie
​x