Our lawn care tips
Effective lawn care
- Fertilize the lawn at least 3 times a year.
- Mow at least 1-2 times a week.
- The optimum lawn height after mowing is approx. 4 cm. In midsummer they can also be a little higher.
- Mowing too low promotes weed growth and moss infestation.
- Frequent mowing stimulates increased growth.
- Frequent pruning produces numerous new side shoots, resulting in a dense sward.
- Lawns that are too short cannot shade the ground, so the soil dries out more quickly.
- Water less often, but abundantly. The water must reach the roots, thus penetrating a few centimeters into the soil.
- Only water at certain times. In the morning or early afternoon, the lawn should be dry in the evening.
- Very important: scarify only after the 3. or 4th cut. Only then is the soil warm enough for the turf to grow back quickly and for reseeding to take place. Fertilize 3 weeks in advance so that the lawn can cope better with the stress.
Lay a new lawn
1. good soil preparation
Loosen (dig or mill to a depth of approx. 20 cm), remove coarse material when the soil has dried well. If the soil is waterlogged, install drainage if necessary.
2. determine soil pH value (lime condition)
Ideal pH value range = 5.5-6.5 If the pH value is below 5.5, we recommend liming with our Hack-Garten- und Rasenkalk pH-Perle.
3. improve soil quality
We recommend working Hack Soil Activator into the top 10 cm of the turf base layer. This improves soil life and the nutrients it contains promote the rooting of new grasses.
4. sowing
Level the soil surface and allow to settle for a few days. The seed is then sown on the prepared seedbed. For this purpose, we recommend our hack seed, which consists of high-quality and tested RSM grasses. Divide the seed quantity into two equal parts. One half is spread in one direction, the other perpendicular to the first direction.
5. rolls
Press the seed down lightly using a roller or boards attached to shoes. It is important to keep the new plant continuously moist (water carefully). The new seed must not dry out for at least 4 weeks.
6. mowing
First mowing preferably at a minimum lawn height of 8 – 10 cm. Mow max. one third of the existing lawn blade length so that the lawn plant can develop optimally. Important: Make sure that the knives are sharp.
7. first fertilization
The lawn should be fertilized for the first time after the third mowing. For this purpose, we recommend applying our hack lawn fertilizer Rasafit Spezial at a rate of approx. 40 g/sqm. This provides the lawn with the necessary nutrients and makes it dense and lush green.
Maintain and preserve
Fertilize
Nutrient deficiency is a major problem for many lawns in domestic gardens. If the lawn lacks nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K), there is little growth of new blades and the grass no longer grows densely. The green coloration fades and the grass turns slightly yellowish.
N = Nitrogen ensures growth and therefore dense turf P = Phosphorus promotes root growth K = Potassium makes the grass more drought-resistant in summer and more resilient in winter
When and how often to fertilize depends on the soil type and the fertilizer used. In general, a lawn should be fertilized two to three times a year. The first fertilization in spring stimulates sprouting, the second fertilization in early summer prepares the lawn for the rigours of summer. The third fertilization in autumn gets the lawn plants safely through the cold season.
Spring fertilization
The period between mid-March and mid-April is usually a good time for spring. However, this period can also shift depending on how long or short the winter has lasted and what the soil temperature is like. The soil should have a temperature of at least above 8 degrees. With earlier fertilization, e.g. at colder temperatures, the nutrients are stored in the roots, but no growth takes place.
As a spring fertilizer we recommend our hack lawn fertilizer Rasafit Mini NPK 13+3+7(+2)+0.1 Fe-Chelat
The organic-mineral NPK fertilizer ensures a rapid supply of nitrogen to the lawn and the iron chelate it contains ensures a deep green color. The organic components are purely plant-based, so the fertilizer does not cause any unpleasant odours and is quickly soluble thanks to its particularly fine granulation.
Other suitable fertilizers from our range:
Summer fertilization
During the summer months, grass growth is in full swing. It’s running at full speed, so to speak. It goes without saying that this also requires a lot of nutrients. If these nutrients are lacking, growth will inevitably suffer – and with it, of course, the overall appearance of the lawn. Basically, without the application of a summer fertilizer, the lawn goes into the dormant period in autumn and winter weakened. Especially in summer, the lawn needs a generous dose of potash. Potash regulates the water balance in the lawn and minimizes drought stress in the lawn.
For summer fertilization we recommend our hack lawn fertilizer Subtilis Aktiv NPK 10+4+12(+2)+Bacilus Subtilis
The organic-mineral NPK fertilizer not only supplies the lawn with nitrogen, but also with potash to regulate the water balance. It also contains a natural water reservoir that accumulates in the soil with continuous use and prevents drought stress. The Bacilis Subtilis microorganisms contained in the product help to convert lawn thatch into humus. The organic components are purely plant-based and therefore the fertilizer does not cause any unpleasant odours.
Other suitable fertilizers from our range:
Autumn fertilization
Over the winter, the lawn is exposed to frost and therefore disease. A cold winter without snow (frost) increases the likelihood that your lush green will turn brownish in spring.
In extremely cold winters with lots of snow, on the other hand, the lawn can contract diseases under the snow cover, which then become noticeable as bare, dead patches when the snow thaws. The organic-mineral NPK fertilizer has a high potash content and also contains iron chelate, which gives the lawn a deep green color even in winter.
For autumn fertilization we recommend our hack lawn fertilizer autumn NPK 8+4+16(+2)+0.1 Fe-Chelat
The organic-mineral NPK fertilizer has a high potash content and also contains iron chelate, which gives the lawn a deep green color even in winter.
Watering the lawn properly
In the dry summer months, moisture is the limiting factor for lawn growth. An optimally maintained lawn roots about 15 cm deep. This allows the grasses to survive short dry spells without additional watering. However, you will not be able to avoid watering during a longer dry period. Through the continuous addition of volcanic rock, such as the zeolite contained in our fertilizers, the amount of water can be reduced and thus water can be saved in an environmentally friendly way.
The right time
Only water when the grass has reached its wilting point. If you regularly sprinkle the lawn too early, it will become accustomed to this and will subsequently need moisture even during short dry spells. There is a simple trick to recognize the right time: the shoe print test. Walk across the lawn. If the stalks do not stand up again within 5 minutes, the wilting point has been reached.
The right amount of water
As a rule of thumb, it is better to water less often, but with sufficient quantity. You can expect 10 – 12 liters/sqm per pass. This ensures that the moisture penetrates the entire root area, which reaches up to 15 cm deep into the soil. At temperatures above 30 degrees every 3rd day. Below 30 degrees once a week. Place a rain gauge in the lawn to check the amount of water. If you do not have a measuring device, take an empty yogurt pot and place it on the lawn. As soon as the cup contains about 2 cm of water, the required amount has been reached.
The right time of day
Water preferably in the morning. Watering in the evening increases the risk of fungal diseases such as red tip as the lawn does not dry out overnight.
Lawn care when using a robot mower
Lawn care with robotic lawn mowers works differently than with conventional lawn mowers. Here are some important tips:
Correct fertilization for robotic lawn mowers
It is a misconception that lawns no longer need to be fertilized due to constant mulching. The robotic lawnmower also requires the same fertilizer supply as described in our “Fertilizing” section. However, we recommend our hack lawn fertilizer Subtilis Aktiv both in spring as a starter fertilizer and for summer fertilization. The fertilizer also contains Bacilus subtilis, which helps to convert thatch and dead grasses into humus, allowing the lawn to breathe again.
Liming for PH regulation
Special lawn care when using robotic lawnmowers includes checking the pH value. You know from composting that the decomposition of organic matter acidifies the soil. Additional lime applications are therefore necessary. Mulching does exactly the same thing. The decomposition of organic matter significantly lowers the pH value. You can counteract this over-acidification with our hack garden and lawn lime. The application rate and frequency depend on the measurement result.
Aerate the robot lawn mower
It is common practice to scarify a matted lawn. However, scarifying always means extreme stress for the lawn and large quantities of healthy roots are torn out. We therefore recommend scarifying every two years. It is better to aerate the lawn. We recommend aerating the robotic lawnmower regularly, but at least twice a year with a fan. This removes thatch that builds up over time and allows the lawn to breathe again. Most scarifiers are supplied with a so-called “aerator roller”. This roller is equipped with approximately 5-8 cm long spring tines and is replaced with the rigid scarifying roller. The effect is both astonishing and convincing: the aerator roller removes twice as much moss and loose material from the turf as the scarifier. And in “slow gear”! Aerating is a blessing for the lawn and does not stress it – unlike scarifying. Lawn aerators are also available on the market as small, stand-alone electrical appliances.
Scarifying and aerating
One step towards a dream lawn is to scarify and aerate it regularly. Two processes that are essential for a radiant garden. Aeration is necessary so that the lawn gets enough air to breathe again and can absorb sufficient nutrients. Scarifying is simply explained as intensive aeration, which also scorches the turf. This loosens the soil even more and allows it to regenerate wonderfully.
It is best to scarify your lawn in spring only after the 3. or 4th cut. Only then is the ground warm enough for the turf to grow back quickly. Airing, on the other hand, can be done all year round. We recommend at least 2 times a year. After scarifying or aerating, approx. 2 kg/sqm of lawn sand should be applied to the lawn. This makes the turf base layer more permeable to water and air.
We recommend the use of our chopped lawn sand here
Hack lawn sand is a quartz sand with a grain size of 0.3-1.5 mm. The sand is easy to apply and can be easily spread using a lawn rake, for example.
Close gaps in the lawn
If your lawn has gaps after scarifying or aerating, you should close the gaps quickly by using reseeding lawn mixtures. To do this, loosen up the affected areas or fill in deeper holes with turf soil, sprinkle on the lawn seed and cover the seed with a little turf soil to prevent birds from eating it. Then press down firmly and water well. It is important that the seeds are kept constantly moist.
After the maintenance and regeneration work mentioned above, we recommend fertilizing with one of our hack lawn fertilizers.
Moss and weeds in the lawn
We recommend our hack lawn fertilizer Subtilis Aktiv for fertilizing moss infestation and our hack weed killer + lawn fertilizer for very heavy weed infestation.
Wood-chip lawn fertilizer Subtilis Akiv NPK 10+4+12(+2)+Bacilus Subtilis
The organic-mineral NPK fertilizer supplies the lawn with all the important nutrients and also contains Bacilus Subtilis, which promotes the conversion of dead lawn thatch and moss into valuable humus.
Hoe weed killer + lawn fertilizer NPK 22+5+5 and 2.4 D
Mineral lawn fertilizer, combined with a weed killer, reliably eliminates dicotyledonous weeds in the lawn and also provides it with all the important nutrients.