Seasonal Information.

Keeping your lawn healthy throughout the Summer 

Don’t allow Red Thread to spoil your lawn

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.

Reducing the chances of lawn disease in the summer

The best way of reducing the chances of common lawn diseases throughout the summer months is by adopting a regular treatment programme. Aeration combined with a balanced application of fertiliser throughout the summer, plus a fungicide application at the first signs of a disease will maintain you a quality lawn, and your local TruGreen expert will only be too pleased to offer you a no obligation analysis and a summer treatment programme to meet your specific lawn requirements.

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.

We will identify diseases whilst they are still small and treat them before they cause serious damage. Our extensive experience has shown that a lawn thrives after regular treatment and by offering our bespoke service, we will customise these treatments to the individual lawn.

Achieve a great lawn this summer by consulting your local TruGreen lawn expert.

Good Autumn lawncare will prepare your lawn for the Winter.

The application of the correct autumn fertiliser is important in maintaining lawn quality and health. Most importantly by 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.

Controlling lawn pests

The summer may well have provided a mixture of long hot days and at times heavy downpours, and it is such weather that gives ideal conditions for chafer grubs and leather jackets to survive and prosper.

Chafer grubs and leatherjackets are the most common lawn pests which feed on the roots of all grasses which can cause the plants to die back and have a straw coloured appearance. It is important that any infestations are treated immediately, preferably at the larvae stage, to achieve the most efficient pest control. The autumn months is the ideal time to treat the larvae as later treatments, when the development of the pest is more advanced, may be less effective or require more than one treatment, resulting in major damage to the lawn.

We can all be guilty at times of leaving things for tomorrow, but when it involves nature, putting off something today can lead to an expensive tomorrow. Through offering our bespoke services throughout the autumn, we can manage both your lawn conditions and budget by individually tailoring your treatment programme.

Make that call today and prepare your lawn for a stress free winter.

Winter lawncare

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 or fusarium, to use its correct term, 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 better than cure with this particular lawn disease and luckily there are several factors that can make it easier to predict the likelihood of incidence.

• 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.

If the worst comes to the worst and you find that you have been affected, encourage recovery by raking the infected area to encourage air circulation. If your lawn is beyond repair you may need to re-seed the area and ensure you follow the recommended practices.

Most lawn diseases can be prevented by good cultural practices alongside an integrated disease management plan. A professional fungicide may have to be applied to control the most damaging lawn diseases. As these products are not available in DIY stores you may need to consult your local TruGreen lawn care technician for an accurate diagnosis and the appropriate lawn treatment. Call 0800 021 3074 or find your local for further information.