About us

Mike Simmonds is the owner and operator of TruGreen Professional Lawn Care covering Cheltenham, providing bespoke lawn care solutions to residents and businesses across Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Stroud and the surrounding areas.

Mike has a keen interest in the development and maintenance of a green and weed free lawn.  He has received full training from Steve Welch, TruGreen’s Brand Operations Manager and former Wembley Stadium Head Groundsman.  Mike holds City & Guilds PA1 and PA6, (Safe Use of Pesticides).

Born and bred in Gloucestershire Mike lives in the local area – working across Gloucestershire is like working in his own back garden. Mike has worked with many Gloucestershire people and businesses and decided the time was right to go into business for himself. Mike’s aim is to ensure green grass, no weeds throughout the region.

Our Lawn Care Services

At TruGreen we understand that every lawn is different.  That’s why we provide a FREE 14-Point Lawn Analysis to ensure that your lawn gets the best possible bespoke lawn care package.

Our services include:

Aeration

Modern living means that lawns become compacted very easily and benefit from aerating twice a year. Aeration involves piercing the lawn to allow water, oxygen, fertilisers and other nutrients to penetrate the soil more effectively and reach the roots. There are two main types of aeration which benefit the lawn; solid tine aeration, which aids the development of the grass plant, and hollow core aeration which facilitates the application of a top dressing and improves drainage.

 Scarification

Scarification is a mechanical operation which helps to remove all unwanted organic matter from around the base of the grass plant (thatch) and tidy up any straggly lateral growth from your lawn. The process will also remove moss that will otherwise choke the grass plant and restrict growth.

Your lawn may need scarification to prevent the build up of debris which could lead to other problems. Thatch will naturally build up over a period of time resulting in an inferior grass quality and appearance, so it is vital that this layer is kept to a minimum. Scarification will also aid fresh grass growth giving an increase in grass density. Thatch and moss infested lawns will not wear well or cope with drought conditions, giving further reasons to support a regular scarification.

Fertilisation

Grass plants need on-going nutrition, and absorb their nutrients through their root system. Therefore a good soil rich in nutrients is essential for a healthy lawn. Fertilisation is a lawn treatment that provides, or supplements, the natural nutrients needed to become a healthy lawn. The market leading fertilisers we use are changed depending on the time of year and lawn requirements to ensure the correct level of Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Pottasium (K) are maintained.

Weed Control

Unfortunately, even the best kept lawns are susceptible to weeds. There are hundreds of different weeds which will need to be kept in check with various professional strength weed killers. Different weeds will require a different weed killer for the treatment to be effective. We help to remove them and keep them at bay by using herbicides to destroy the weed plant. It is worth noting that weed control is an ongoing process, and it may take several treatments before your weeds disappear. However, it is well worth persevering so that your lawn can be weed free and healthy.

Moss Control

Moss is something that every lawn suffers from at one time or another. Unless treated and removed, moss will continue to choke out the grass plants. You’ll typically find moss growth in lawns that have poor drainage. In order to eradicate moss, we need to eradicate the conditions in which it grows, followed by our professional moss control treatments. We do not use over the counter treatments, but specially designed moss control treatments that are only available to professionals such as TruGreen.

Pest Control

There are a number of grass pests that are common in the UK.  A grass pest is a creature that lives within the soil and feeds on the grass plant.  Many grass pests feed on the root of the plant which causes a rapid deterioration in the condition of your lawn, causing large areas of discoloured grass and potentially a dead lawn.  The most common/destructive pests are Leather Jackets and Chafer Grubs.  Watch out for Crane Flies (Daddy Long Legs) landing on your lawns at the end of Summer/Autumn as this is when they lay their eggs. It’s best to contact a lawn pest control specialist such as Trugreen, as soon as possible to avoid damage to the lawn.

Fungus & Disease Control

The development of most diseases are usually dependent upon weather conditions, so recent weather conditions are to be considered during any diagnosis. Most diseases will have certain characteristics such as discolouration of the grasses, brown, dry patches or signs of fungi (mushroom type growth).

Re-seeding and Turfing

TruGreen have specialised equipment which plants the seed at the correct depth, enabling the seed to germinate quicker and more successfully. The correct seed will be chosen for your lawn to ensure good establishment of a robust lawn.

Our turf supplier is of the highest quality, and can supply turf for hard wearing lawns for children and pets to ornamental or shady areas.

Wish you didn’t have to mow your lawn so often?

We offer a professional growth regulator treatment, so that you can mow your lawn less regularly.

If all of this has gone over your head, call in TruGreen Gloucestershire and let us do the hard work! Call us today for your Free 14-Point Lawn Analysis on 01452 223329.

Sowing Grass Seed

Ground preparation are important in allowing for good germination and plant establishment

• Assess the ground conditions before over sowing is completed.
• Decide on whether we need to sow isolated areas or the complete lawn.
• Is there an application of top dressing required in aiding germination
• Make sure that the soil is not too compacted as this will restrict seed germination and growth. (Aeration may be required)

Choice of grass seed

• Make sure that we choose the correct grass seed for the location.
• Ryegrass grows in most conditions and soil types, and a high percentage of this type of grass seed is recommended.
• We only use commercial grass seed suppliers, guaranteeing quality and establishment.

Pre seed fertiliser application

• A pre-seeder fertiliser is vital in allowing for good germination and plant establishment.

Sowing

• It is important that the seed makes contact with the soil in allowing for good germination. (Scarification may be required in removing thatch)
• We sow grass seed either by hand or by using a seed drill, dependent upon the location and ground conditions.

Aftercare

The following aftercare applies when grass seed has been broadcast or drilled over the complete lawn

• Irrigate regularly after seeding to allow for good germination.

Grass seed needs to be watered regularly after sowing as water is essential in allowing for germination. It is best to apply water through a sprinkler to allow for a consistent application, as an open hosepipe may wash the seed and give an uneven growth once germination has taken place.

On smaller areas and where a sprinkler is not appropriate, then a watering can with a rose is the best option.

• Roll the new grass when at the two leaf stage to assist in the process of thickening the grass plant.

It is best to roll the new seedlings using the roller on the mower prior to mowing for the first time. Be sure to not engage the cutters during this process. Rolling should commence once the leaf is 15mm tall and will assist in the development of the grass plant, increasing density through encouraging lateral growth and additional leaves to form.

• Do not mow the new grass to short.(no lower than 25mm)

Once you start to mow the new grass, remember that little and often are the best way of increasing density and plant establishment. Change directions every cut, as this will maintain the grass density and even growth.

• When good germination and  grass establishment has been achieved (approximately after 5-6 weeks) there may be a need for the application of further grass seed to weaker areas.

This is more likely after the grass seed has been broadcast, but even where great care has been taken in applying the grass seed it is still likely that some additional over seeding will be necessary

Aftercare when spot seeding

The following additional aftercare applies where over sowing has been completed to smaller areas

• Do not cut the over sown patches

Where over sowing of smaller patches has been completed, it is important to maintain a mowing programme over the remainder of the lawn. Only start the mowing process on the over sown patches once the grass leaf has reached 15mm in height, and after initial rolling.

• Watering of these patches is important

Where over sowing of small patches has taken place it is important to apply water on a regular basis if germination is to be achieved. Where patches are of an isolated nature it is recommended that you use a watering can to direct the water to the specific area that has been over sown. Be careful not to wash the grass seed by over application as this will increase the chances of uneven germination and growth.

Top Dressing

What is a top dressing

Top dressing is a sand or prepared sand/soil mix applied to the surface of the lawn. The term top dressing can also be used for the process of applying the material to the lawn.

Top dressing materials are evenly applied over the lawn surface, with the amount generally dictated by length of the grass. Top dressings can be used to assist in levelling the surface of the lawn, which additionally reduces thatch buildup by encouraging decomposition. It can be used in conjunction with over sowing, in protecting the seed and allowing for good germination and grass establishment.

What type of top dressing

Top dressings should closely match the composition of the soil profile where ever possible in preventing a layering of materials, as this will cause lateral root development and poor grass quality. Ideally we would recommend the following top dressings

• 70/30 Sand and soil mix in improving drainage
• Sand and soil mix containing a wetting agent and peat in managing surface levelling

Benefits of applying a top dressing after aeration

When applied following aeration, the top dressing material filters into the holes opened by the aeration process, improving the flow of air and moisture to the roots of the grass plant, through increased pore space. This balance of air and moisture will allow for a healthier plant, as it will allow for an increased uptake of nutrients. Other advantages include an increase in root depth, that will allow for the plant to be more resistant to drought conditions, and less prone to disease.

When to top dress

Top dressing should only be completed during the growing season, generally late spring to early summer, as it is important that the grass grows through the top dressing application in preventing plant deterioration. No top dressing should be undertaken during drought conditions or when the lawn surface is saturated.

Areas We Cover

TruGreen working across Cheltenham covers a wide area, such as Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Stroud, along with the smaller villages and hamlets across the county.  Please give us a call 01452 223329 and we will check when we are next in your area.

Seasonal Advice

You too can have a perfect lawn with these tips from the TruGreen experts. Here’s what you need to do to your lawn and when in each season.

Spring

Moss is something that every lawn will have to deal with at some point. Moss will manifest itself and choke out healthy grasses, as well as starving the grass plant of the all-important nutrients applied through fertiliser. There are various reasons for the build-up of moss in a lawn, but very damp and shaded areas are at most risk and combined with limited hours of daylight and increased rainfall during the winter months, the ideal conditions are produced for moss to develop and take over the lawn.

The application of a quality commercial product, based on sulphate of iron, followed by a programme of scarification will keep the moss at bay and allow for the grasses to grow and thicken. Scarification will also reduce the thatch layer which if left to build-up will become an ideal growing medium for mosses, and it is additionally important to introduce aeration in improving drainage, along with the application of a balanced fertiliser in achieving a strong and healthy lawn.

TruGreen tips to achieving a great lawn!

• Moss treatment using Ferrous Sulphate
• Scarification to remove mosses and thatch
• Aeration to improve drainage and fertiliser efficiency
• Balanced of fertiliser to allow for healthy grass growth

Summer

Red Thread is one of the most common turf diseases found in the UK, resulting in irregular red patches on the lawn. It can occur at any time of year, but more commonly during the summer months and will favour damp, shady, poorly aerated and compacted soils that are lacking in nitrogen. Red Thread will not generally kill the grass plant, but does give an unsightly appearance to the leaf, spoiling the appearance of the lawn.

Dependent upon the severity of the red thread the damage can be treated by applying a high nitrogen fertiliser or more commonly by the use of a contact fungicide.

TruGreen tips to achieving a great lawn this summer!

• Apply the correct fertiliser in managing warm weather conditions
• Maintain the grass height between 25-30mm
• Apply a fungicide at the first signs of disease
• Apply irrigation when necessary during the cooler part of the day to prevent evaporation

Autumn

Good lawn care in Autumn will leave your lawn better prepared for the Winter.

When maintaining lawn quality and health, it is crucial to apply the correct autumn fertiliser. Controlling the level of potassium will raise the turf’s tolerance to disease, wear and soft growth as well as helping it to withstand low temperature during the winter months.

Additional benefits of our controlled release autumn fertilisers include the retention of colour and a healthy root structure, important factors if the lawn is to survive possible frost and snow.

Prepare your lawn for winter

All lawns benefit from having any remaining thatch that has accumulated over the summer months removed before the onset of winter, and it is equally important to maintain drainage if moss is to be controlled.

Maximise your lawn’s ability to overcome the winter by speaking with your local TruGreen operator about the level of scarification and aeration that may be required. Combining these mechanical services with an autumn fertiliser will allow for a more healthy lawn come the end of the winter.

Winter

TruGreen’s lawn care expert Steve Welch is advising garden owners to be prepared to protect their lawns this winter against a repeat of last year’s blight of snow mould.

As snow mould occurs under a blanket of snow it is often not until the snow has melted and winter is over that you may know if you have been affected or not. The disease manifests itself as a white or pink patch where the lawn has literally gone mouldy. Prevention is key with this particular lawn disease and there are several factors to take into consideration which may affect its likelihood:

• Shade and high moisture, accompanied by cool temperatures
• Inadequate circulation of air above the lawn
• Rapid, forced and weak growth of grass in autumn
• Alkaline soil pH, between 7 and 14
• Weak turf, perhaps due to wear or irregular mowing
• Blunt mower blades causing a poor cut
• Compacted soil and poor drainage

If you feel your lawn may be susceptible to any of these conditions, then an outbreak can be reduced by a number of means, including the following:

• Regular aeration and scarification
• Regular mowing
• Alternating the direction of the cut helps the grass to stand upright and will help air move between the plants
• Lowering nitrogen applications at the end of the summer / early autumn period
• The most enthusiastic gardeners can play a role by removing dew with a rake in the mornings