Spring feeding
Feeding annually in late March - April will maintain grass vigour. If the lawn is not fed vigour declines. Weeds and moss can then rapidly establish. Use a proprietary spring / summer lawn fertiliser at the manufacturer's recommended rates.
Summer feeding
If grass loses its vigour and freshness during May - August, carefully apply 15g per sq. m ( ? oz per sq. yd ) sulphate of ammonia, mixed with 4 times its weight dry soil to ensure even distribution and avoid scorching. Apply in cool, moist conditions and lightly water in. Repeat if needed after 6 - 8 weeks. Alternatively use a proprietary spring / summer lawn fertiliser. Do not apply these fertilisers after August as summer feeds have too much nitrogen for autumn use.
Mowing
Frequency and cutting height depend on lawn quality and time of year. A summer height of 1 - 2? cm ( ? - 1in) is satisfactory for a general purpose lawn, mown weekly. High quality, well managed turf can be mown to ? cm ( ? in) when mown every 2 - 3 days.
Watering
Grass has good drought resistance but becomes limp, then brown, in prolonged dry conditions. When necessary water in the evening to minimise evaporation loss. Steady sprinkling for 25 - 30 minutes once every 7 days should be adequate for most lawns during drought. Frequent but light watering encourages shallow rooting.
