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When to mow

Little and often is the recipe for success. Regular cutting keeps the lawn thick, tidy and deters weeds. For most lawns, at the start of the year set the mower blades to 3cm (1.25in) and cut the lawn about once a week.

When the grass grows faster during the spring and summer, lower the blades to 2cm (1in) and you may need to cut up to twice a week.

During long dry spells, mow less frequently, let grass grow longer and don't use summer feeds that will make lots of new growth. If you are in a drought area your lawn may turn brown in summer, but learn to live with this rather than using a sprinkler and it will soon recover when it rains in autumn.

Tidying edges

• Tidying lawn edges keeps the grass looking neat and prevents it from spreading into borders. After mowing, trim any grass that overhangs the edges with long-handled edging shears or a rotary trimmer.
• Re-cut edges each spring using a half-moon edging tool. For straight edges, cut against a plank of wood and for curves, trim along an old hosepipe laid on the ground - leave a vertical edge about 7cm deep.
• Parts of an edge that have been severely damaged are easy to repair. Use a spade to slice through the turf, cutting out a small rectangular piece from around the damaged area.
• Lift from the ground with the spade and turn it around, so the damaged part now faces the lawn.
• Press down firmly and fill the damaged area with compost. Sow grass seed over the compost and water.

Feeding

• Feeding regularly with a lawn fertiliser will make it greener and thicker, which helps it resist weeds and moss. There are different formulations depending on the time of the year you are feeding, and there are also feed and weed products, which will kill moss, while providing nutrients to the grass.

Removing weeds

• Learn to tolerate a few weeds in the lawn, but if small patches or single weeds need to be removed, pull up by hand with the help of a daisy grubber tool or similar device. This helps to get the deeper roots of perennial weeds out.
• Alternatively spot-treat with a dab-on weed killer that can be bought in tubes. Use a selective weed killer on lawns with large colonies of weeds, such as creeping buttercup.

Repairing patches

• If your lawn has a sunken patch, repair by making an H-shaped spade cut across it with a half-moon edging tool and then peel back the two flaps of turf over the hollow. Add some topsoil, level and firm down the flaps. Fill in the gaps left by the cuts with more topsoil.
• If part of the lawn is used regularly as a path, prevent it from becoming worn away by laying stepping-stones. Dig out paving-slab slices of turf and set these just beneath the surface of the lawn so a lawn mower can pass over them safely.