insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 05 - July 2015 | Page 71

Lawn growth slows down in late summer. Raise
the cutting height slightly as the month pr gresses,
o
to help the grass better resist the wear it suffers
in summer.

Remove dead foliage and blooms from waterlilies
and other aquatic plants. Cut back any marginal
plants that are getting out of hand. Continue to
skim blanket and floating weeds.

Troubleshooting
Inspect any yellow patches on the lawn: if they
contain small pinkish-red strands, then you may
have red-thread in the lawn. This is a fungal
disease, common on light soils after heavy rain,
when the nitrogen is washed out of the soil. A
nitrogen-rich fertiliser should remedy the situation,
and the damage is rarely long lived.

Troubleshooting
Cover ponds with nets or safety grills in gardens
where young children play; these have the
additional advantage of preventing leaves falling
into the pond.

By mid-summer, some lawns may be heavily
infested by ants. Brushing out the nests on a dry
day is the best method of control, and should
be done prior to mowing. Isolated weeds can be
dug out or spot-treated with a paint-on
weed killer.
Don’t worry unduly about brown patches on the
lawn – they will recover quickly when the autumn
rains arrive.
If a completely green lawn is necessary, then use
a sprinkler once a week. Place an open jam jar
on the lawn and leave the sprinkler running for
sufficient time for 13mm (0.5in) of water to collect
in the bottom of the jar; this is the optimum
amount to avoid wasting water, while still wetting
the roots sufficiently.
New areas of grass, sown or turfed in the spring,
will need extra watering to keep them going
through their first summer.

Clean out debris lurking in the depths of the
pond. This will improve the water quality and
prevent excess debris from promoting the growth
of weeds, algae or marginal plantings, and from
releasing toxins that could harm fish or wildlife.

When mowing, take time to inspect the lawn.
You may notice areas that could benefit from
more radical renovation in the autumn.

PONDS
Top up ponds and water features if necessary –
a spray attachment on the hose will aerate the
water, and help the fish.

The RHS is a UK charity established to share
the best in gardening. Its work is driven by a
simple love of plants and the belief that
gardeners make the world a better place.

Any pumps on water features should be left on
during sultry nights, as oxygen levels are lower
in such conditions.

For more information, visit www.rhs.org.uk.

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