Is your lawn looking a bit sparse? Do you have a constant uphill battle with weeds in your lawn? Find out here why a thicker lawn means less weeds and how to achieve a thicker lawn.
Why can a thicker lawn block out weeds?
A thicker lawn is able to block out weeds better as there is less space in the profile for the weed to grow. When your lawn is thick and healthy, there is also an increased competition for resources, including soil, nutrients, and sunlight. Without the weed having access to these resources, it becomes challenging for weeds to grow.
How can I help thicken up my lawn?
Mowing
Mowing is an important factor to help keep your lawn thick. When incorrect mowing techniques are used or you don’t mow frequently enough, you can stress your lawn, which results in it being thin and sparse and ultimately more susceptible to weed infiltrations.
Regularly mowing your lawn promotes lateral growth. It is this lateral growth that helps your lawn become thicker. Mowing regularly at the same height will allow for consistent nutrients within the grass, keeping it healthy. We recommend mowing regularly enough so that only removing one-third of the leaf with each mow.
Mowing your lawn in different directions will also help keep your lawn thick. If you always mow your lawn in the same direction, the grass tends to stay pointed in that direction. By mowing in different directions, you will help the leaf grow straight up, leaving more room for the blades to grow in next to it.
Fertilising
Applying fertiliser will help give your lawn a boost in growth. By providing the lawn with the nutrients it needs, you will help with the overall health of the lawn.
When it comes to using fertiliser, it is best to use a well-rounded fertiliser that contains all the nutrients your lawn needs. Something like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser or Exceed Liquid Fertiliser is ideal to help thicken your lawn to block out weeds.
Aerating
When soil is compacted and hard, it can be difficult for air, nutrients, and water to reach down to your lawns roots. By aerating your soil and decompacting the soil base, your lawn will be able to grow its roots deep into the soil to produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn. Aeration is also advantageous as it can help prevent many compaction-related problems including drainage issues, bare patches, fungal disease, dryness and more.
You can easily aerate your lawn with a sturdy garden fork – simply insert the fork into the lawn and wriggle it back and forth to fracture the soil profile. If you have a larger area, consider using a spiked roller or hiring out a motorised lawn aerator.
Increasing sunlight to shaded areas
Is your lawn struggling to thicken up in highly shaded areas? Turf is like any other plant; it needs sunlight to photosynthesise and grow. Shade-tolerant turf types like buffalo, usually need a minimum of 3-4 hours of direct light. Other turf types like couch and kikuyu will usually require more sunlight, usually 5-6 hours minimum to thrive. If your lawn is struggling due to insufficient light, we recommend improving light to the area where possible by pruning back some of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
In the end, maintaining a healthy lawn with regular mowing, fertilising and watering is best to keep weeds at bay.
Find out more lawn tips and advice here or get in touch with our friendly lawn consultants.
