How to get rid of patches in the lawn

Choosing the right grass

There are a few things to consider before you begin the journey of achieving the perfect lawn, including the amount of sunlight it will receive, your soil type, the climate, potential heavy foot traffic, and access to water for the lawn. These are some of the choices of grass seed we have as South African gardeners:

• Cynodon grasses are one of the most versatile grasses as they are drought- and heat-tolerant, and they can withstand high traffic. These are sun-loving grasses with a fine texture that does not do well in shade and are not frost-tolerant. Examples include Princess and Bermuda.
• Buffalo grass is popular in salty coastal regions. It has a coarse texture and will go dormant in winter. This grass is for full sun but will also tolerate some partial shade.
• Kikuyu is a vigorous grass that needs regular mowing and tends to build up thatch, requiring the annual spring treatment. Despite not being a low-maintenance grass, Kikuyu is a popular choice for sunny gardens.
• LM Berea grass can grow in sun and partial shade and is a good choice for high-humidity areas like KwaZulu-Natal and the Lowveld. It likes a lot of water and will require regular mowing.
• Cold-season grasses are great for areas with frost and will remain green through winter. They don’t require scarifying or top dressing and grow in both sun and shade. Some varieties, like the evergreen sun lawn, will be better in more sunny gardens, while the evergreen shade lawn is best for planting under trees.

Site prep and sowing

To sow a lawn, you first need to prepare the area well before sowing so that the seed has the best start possible.

• Prepare the planting area by turning over the soil with a garden fork. Rake the surface to a fine tilth, removing stones, roots or rocks.
• Add plenty of compost to the soil surface along with a root builder as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Dig in the compost thoroughly and rake the surface again.
• Mix your chosen grass seed with some fine, dry sand to bulk up the sowing mixture. This helps to spread the seed evenly over the surface area. Scatter the seed based on the instructions on the packet per square meter.
• Rake in extremely lightly so that a thin layer of soil covers the seeds. Roll the surface with a garden roller or pat down with the back of a spade.
• Water thoroughly with a garden hose or sprinkler, ensuring that no large puddles form. Keep moist until the seeds have germinated and the grass is growing well. It will only take a couple of weeks for the seed to germinate to a good size.

After care

Once the seed has germinated and the grass is about 60 mm tall, it can be mown for the first time with the mower on the highest setting (about 40 mm). Continue mowing once or twice a week. In the sun, keep the lawn at around 30 mm and in the shade 50 mm. Keep watering regularly to establish properly. Feed the lawn at least four times a year with a slow-release fertiliser.

All the products mentioned are available in-store and online at builders.co.za.