Creating a vibrant, healthy lawn in Exeter's unique climate demands more than just regular mowing. Our comprehensive guide reveals professional techniques that will transform your grass into the envy of the neighbourhood.
Why Exeter Lawns Need Special Care
Devon's coastal location brings distinct challenges that impact lawn health. The combination of salt-laden winds, heavy rainfall patterns, and clay-rich soil means your turf requires targeted attention. Understanding these factors is your first step toward achieving that perfect green carpet.
The region's 900mm+ annual precipitation creates both opportunities and obstacles. While grass rarely suffers from drought, excess moisture encourages moss proliferation and fungal diseases. Your lawn care strategy must balance these competing factors.
Selecting Grass Varieties for Devon Gardens
Your grass species choice determines long-term success. Exeter's conditions favour specific cultivars that tolerate moisture while resisting disease.
Top performers for local conditions:
Perennial Ryegrass excels in high-traffic areas, establishing quickly and tolerating Devon's wet winters. Its deep green colour and fine texture create an attractive finish.
Chewings Fescue thrives in shadier spots common to Exeter gardens. This variety requires less maintenance and tolerates the acidic soils prevalent throughout Devon.
Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass offers exceptional cold tolerance and self-repairs through underground runners, perfect for family gardens with active children.
Mastering the Mowing Technique
Cutting height dramatically affects lawn health. Most Exeter homeowners mow too short, weakening grass and encouraging weed invasion.
Optimal cutting heights:
- Ornamental lawns: 15-20mm for fine appearance
- Family lawns: 25-35mm for durability
- Shaded areas: 35-40mm to maximize photosynthesis
Never remove more than one-third of the blade length in a single cut. This golden rule prevents stress and maintains vigorous growth.
Vary your mowing pattern weekly. Alternating directions prevents soil compaction and encourages upright growth rather than flat, matted grass.
Strategic Feeding Throughout the Year
Nutrient timing separates mediocre lawns from exceptional ones. Exeter's growing season typically runs from March through October, with feeding requirements changing as seasons progress.
March-April: Apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer as temperatures rise above 10°C. This kickstarts growth after winter dormancy and promotes dense, green coverage.
June: A balanced NPK feed maintains colour and vigour during peak growing season. Choose slow-release formulations to avoid excessive growth spurts.
September: Switch to autumn feeds with higher potassium content. This strengthens grass cells against winter frost and improves disease resistance.
Avoid feeding during drought conditions or when rain isn't forecast within 48 hours. Fertilizer burn damages grass and wastes money.
Combating Moss in Damp Conditions
Moss represents the primary challenge for Exeter lawns. Devon's humidity and shade create ideal conditions for this unwelcome invader.
Effective moss control strategy:
First, identify the underlying cause. Moss indicates poor drainage, soil compaction, low pH, or excessive shade. Treating symptoms without addressing causes guarantees recurrence.
Improve drainage through annual aeration. Hollow-tine aerators remove soil cores, allowing water penetration and root development. Schedule this task for September when grass actively grows.
Raise soil pH if testing reveals acidity below 6.0. Apply ground limestone at recommended rates, typically 200g per square metre for heavy correction.
Scarify vigorously in spring after moss treatment. Rake out dead moss to prevent thatch accumulation and allow grass to fill bare patches.
Irrigation Wisdom for Wet Climates
Despite high rainfall, Exeter lawns occasionally need supplementary watering during July and August dry spells.
Water deeply and infrequently rather than little and often. Deep watering encourages roots to penetrate soil, creating drought-resistant turf. Shallow watering produces weak, surface-level roots.
Apply 25mm of water weekly during dry periods. Place containers around your lawn to measure sprinkler output and ensure even coverage.
Water between 4am and 9am when evaporation rates are lowest and grass blades dry quickly, reducing disease risk.
Tackling Weeds Without Chemicals
Broadleaf weeds exploit lawn weaknesses. Dense, healthy grass naturally suppresses weed germination through competition for light and nutrients.
Organic weed management:
Hand-pull isolated weeds before they set seed. Remove entire root systems to prevent regrowth, particularly for deep-rooted species like dandelions.
Maintain cutting height above 25mm. Taller grass shades soil, preventing weed seed germination while supporting deeper root systems.
Overseed thin patches immediately. Bare soil invites weed colonization. Choose appropriate grass seed for your conditions and keep newly seeded areas moist.
For persistent problems, spot-treat with selective herbicides rather than blanket applications. Target individual weeds to minimize chemical use.
Soil Health: The Foundation of Great Lawns
Healthy soil produces healthy grass. Exeter's heavy clay soils benefit enormously from organic matter incorporation.
Top-dress annually with a mixture of loam, sand, and compost. This improves structure, drainage, and nutrient availability. Apply 10-15mm depth and work into the surface with a stiff brush.
Test soil pH every three years. Most grasses prefer slightly acidic to neutral conditions (pH 6.0-7.0). Adjust as needed with lime or sulphur.
Dealing with Common Lawn Diseases
Devon's humid climate encourages fungal diseases, particularly during mild, wet autumns.
Red thread appears as pink patches during cool, damp weather. Improve nitrogen levels and ensure good air circulation to combat this common issue.
Fusarium patch creates yellow-brown patches in autumn and winter. Avoid excessive nitrogen in late summer and improve drainage to reduce occurrence.
Dollar spot produces small, straw-coloured circles in summer. Adequate feeding and morning watering help prevent this disease.
Renovation Techniques for Tired Lawns
Even well-maintained lawns eventually need rejuvenation. September offers ideal conditions for renovation work in Exeter.
Complete renovation process:
Scarify heavily to remove thatch and moss, exposing soil surface. Multiple passes in different directions ensure thorough treatment.
Aerate to relieve compaction and improve drainage. Hollow-tine aeration provides best results, though solid-tine aerators suit smaller areas.
Overseed with quality grass seed matched to your conditions. Apply at 35g per square metre for overseeding, 50g for heavier renovation.
Top-dress with loam-based mixture to level surface and improve soil structure. Work dressing into aeration holes for maximum benefit.
Professional Turfing Solutions
Sometimes complete lawn replacement offers the best solution. New turf provides instant results and eliminates years of remedial work.
Quality turf establishes quickly in Exeter's climate. Spring and autumn provide optimal laying conditions, though summer installation succeeds with adequate irrigation.
Professional installation ensures proper ground preparation, correct laying technique, and appropriate aftercare advice. This investment pays dividends through decades of superior performance.
Year-Round Maintenance Calendar
January-February: Plan improvements, service equipment, apply winter lawn treatments if weather permits.
March: Begin regular mowing as growth resumes, apply spring fertilizer, repair winter damage.
April-May: Increase mowing frequency, treat weeds, edge borders, address bare patches.
June-August: Maintain weekly mowing schedule, water during dry spells, monitor for pests and diseases.
September: Scarify, aerate, overseed, apply autumn fertilizer, continue regular mowing.
October-November: Reduce mowing frequency, remove fallen leaves, final feed application.
December: Minimal intervention, avoid walking on frosted grass, brush off worm casts.
When to Call the Professionals
Certain situations benefit from expert intervention. Persistent problems, major renovation projects, or simply lack of time make professional services worthwhile.
Experienced landscapers bring specialist equipment, technical knowledge, and proven techniques that deliver superior results. From complete lawn installation to regular maintenance programs, professional care ensures your lawn reaches its full potential.
Transform your Exeter garden with expert lawn care. Contact us for professional turfing and maintenance services throughout Devon.
