Lawn Care

Quick Answer: Getting Rid of Chafer Grubs How do you get rid of chafer grubs? Water in nematodes of the species Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, sold as chafer grub killer, between late July and September while soil sits above 12°C. Keep the lawn moist for a fortnight afterwards. No chemical treatment is available to UK gardeners, so […]

Quick Answer: Getting Rid of Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs What kills leatherjackets and chafer grubs in lawns? Nematodes are the only effective control left to UK gardeners, but the two pests need different species. Leatherjackets are killed by Steinernema feltiae applied from September to October. Chafer grubs need Heterorhabditis bacteriophora applied from late July to […]

Quick Answer Lawn care changes with the seasons. Feed and aerate in spring, mow weekly through summer without cutting too short, scarify and feed again in autumn, then let the grass rest from November to January. Follow this month by month planner and your lawn will stay thick, green and far less work than the […]

Quick Answer No, don’t water an established lawn during a heatwave or hosepipe ban. Browning grass is dormant, not dead, and recovers naturally once rain returns. With nine water companies under Temporary Use Bans across England in the summer of 2026 and more than half the country in drought, save your watering can for containers, […]

Quick Answer Yes, spent compost can be reused. Sieve out old roots, mix with fresh compost or well-rotted manure to boost nutrients, then use it to mulch borders, top dress lawns, help lawn seed germinate, boost a compost heap, or refill pots for a second season. Avoid reuse only if the previous plants showed disease. […]

Quick Answer An established wildflower meadow needs cutting three times a year. Cut it short in March before growth gets going, cut it again in August once the flowers have set and dropped their seed, and give it a final tidy in October before winter. Always remove the cuttings rather than leaving them to rot […]

BBC Garden Rescue designer Lee Burkhill explains how to get rid of garden weeds organically — which tools work, why homemade remedies fail, and how to stop weeds coming back.

Quick Answer Kill moss with an iron sulphate based moss killer applied in spring or autumn, wait seven to fourteen days for it to blacken, then scarify to remove the dead material and overseed any bare patches. Moss only thrives where grass is struggling, so the treatment will not last unless you also fix the […]

Quick Answer The most effective way to remove lawn weeds is to combine hand weeding with a purpose-made tool such as a hori hori knife or dandelion weeder to remove the full root, then overseed the bare patch immediately. For large infestations, a selective lawn weedkiller applied during active growth in late spring gives the […]

Quick Answer The most effective organic way to get rid of moles is to make your garden less appealing to them rather than trying to kill them, since another mole will simply move into a vacant territory within weeks. Plant strong-scented bulbs like daffodils and alliums, use coffee grounds, castor oil or garlic granules along […]