Lawns

A decent lawn comes down to three habits: mow often, feed at the right time and deal with the causes of moss rather than just the moss itself.

Mowing

Take off no more than a third of the grass height at a time. In the peak growing months that can mean mowing twice a week. Raise the blades in dry spells and in shade, where longer grass copes better with stress.

Feeding

A spring feed higher in nitrogen encourages green growth; an autumn feed higher in potassium toughens the grass for winter. Apply to damp grass when rain is forecast, and follow the rate on the pack. Uneven spreading causes striping and scorch.

Moss and weeds

Moss is a symptom of shade, compaction, poor drainage or low fertility. Killing it without fixing the cause brings it back within a year. Scarify out the dead moss, aerate compacted areas with a fork or hollow-tiner, and overseed thin patches in early autumn.

Repairing patches

Loosen the surface, sprinkle seed at the recommended rate, rake it in lightly and keep it moist until it establishes. Early autumn and mid-spring give the best germination in most of the UK.