1. What should I do if there’s a considerable amount of moss growing in my lawn?

Moss in lawns is a clear sign that the grass is weak. Moss growth can be triggered by shade, soil compaction, poor drainage, low fertility, unsuitable pH levels or even poor air circulation.

It is advisable to check the pH levels using a simple pH tester, which can be bought at your local garden centre for around €20. If the soil test reveals an acidic soil, Edmund would recommend adding limestone. Otherwise avoid adding limestone as this will increase the problem.

Another option which Edmund often finds to be a quick fix is the application of sulphate iron. This will very quickly kill and loosen the moss. Then you come along with a scarifying rake machine, which will root out the moss. A hand-held rake would also be perfectly viable depending on the area being catered for.

A contributor to moss growth, and something often overlooked, is the overcutting of lawns. Lawns that are cut too low are prone to being dominated by moss. It weakens the grass. Lawns should only be cut as low as one third of the leaf blade remaining. Poor air circulation can also contribute to moss growth.

2. If grass growth on my lawn is patchy and dull in spots, what should I do?

Firstly, I would ask are the blades on the lawnmower sharp? The blades should be sharpened annually. If not, this will often make the lawn look patchy.

This may be a sign that the lawn is lacking in nutrients. To rectify this, the soil should be tested to see what nutrients are lacking. Fertiliser can be applied from around March onwards. It is vital that people follow the recommended guidelines when adding fertiliser.

3. I have a lot of weeds such as creeping buttercups and daisies growing in my lawn, how would I be able to get rid of them?

Spring is a great time to get rid of these weeds before they establish. Before you start mowing your lawn you could use a wire tooth rake. The idea of these rakes is to lift any developing runners off the surface for the lawnmower to cut and collect.

In autumn time, I would recommend trying to improve the drainage of the soil by spiking it. These weeds will naturally be in flower boarders so it’s best if people dig them out. There are also a number of herbicides available for use – however, when choosing herbicides, be careful if it’s selective or non-selective as this is vital.

4. I didn’t rake up my leaves and, as a result, they have smothered the grass underneath. What’s the best thing to do in order to revitalise this area of grass?

This isn’t a bad thing because letting the leaves decompose improves the soil quality, fertility and water retention.

Once the grass is gone yellow from something covering it such as leaves or wood, it should come back naturally. If you give it a little rake and add some grass seed, this would help. However, this wouldn’t be advised in the winter months as the seeds won’t germinate in the cold weather. The best solution is just to get out in the garden in the autumn time and rake them up.

5. My lawn is very wet at times, is there anything I could do to rectify this?

The best method is to repeatedly prick the wet areas of the lawn with a fork or a trowel. Another option are lawn aerator shoes. These are similar to sandals that you slip on but they have a number of spikes underneath that penetrate the surface. If you really want to improve the quality of your lawn, you can fill in the indents with lawn-top dressing or horticultural drainage sand. This will help with the water flow, thus improving drainage.

6. Should I apply any fertiliser to my lawn? If so what type?

The first thing to do before you apply any fertiliser is to carry out a soil test. This will portray whether your soil is alkaline or acidic.

The key is to ensure that the pH level is above six before applying fertiliser. If so, a slow-releasing fertiliser is best. Some people use fast-growing fertilisers like 10-10-20, but you will be constantly mowing the lawn. I would recommend a spring lawn feed which contains nitrogen, phosphorous and potash and a similar feed again in autumn.

When applying fertiliser, make sure the ground is relatively moist and that rain is forecasted the following day. Don’t apply fertiliser when it’s hot and dry because this will scorch the grass. Fertiliser should be applied sparingly as it is an expensive product.

7. What’s the best thing to do with the grass clippings from my lawn?

Clippings make great mulch. It can be placed around flower beds and plants because it’s brilliant at blocking weeds from growing. However, don’t completely smoother the flowers in the mulch. It’s effective and doesn’t look so bad either. It’s a cheaper option to avoiding weed growth and can be used instead of bark mulch.