Spring season lawn care with VIKING

Lightly raking a lawn before the season's first cut will remove any leaves or debris left by winter weather, plus stones or worm casts which can blunt mower blades.

If the lawn's looking tired or densely matted, a more serious scarifying will remove moss, thatch or dead grass that may have built up over winter and will stifle new growth. Use a manual rake or make life easy with a powered scarifier, and remember to scarify the lawn in at least two directions to ensure the maximum debris is removed. If the lawn has become compacted, spring is also a good time to aerate the lawn, helping it literally breathe more easily.

Applying a proprietary spring fertiliser will get every lawn off to a good start, prompting vigorous new growth to help prevent moss or weeds establishing. Apply fertiliser on a warm day when the soil is moist or rain due.   

If the lawn has been vigorously scarified and aerated, it may be necessary to apply a light layer of seed and top dress the lawn with a soil/sharp sand mix. Sweep with a brush to ensure the dressing and seed go into the lawn. Put debris onto the compost heap after scarifying.

When it comes to mowing the lawn, make the first cut of the season on a mild day. Take advantage of the simple height adjustment on a VIKING mower, and select the highest setting for the first few cuts, trying not to remove more than the top quarter of grass. Drop the height with each cut until you reach your preferred setting - around 2.5cm will give you a luxurious summer lawn. 

Mow the grass once a week in early spring, increasing to twice as necessary from late spring onwards.  Regular cutting stimulates a healthy lawn, so choose a lawn mower that's easy, reliable and pleasurable to use.