Even if you have a relatively small garden, it's still important to keep your lawn in tip-top condition. Maybe even more important; after all, the smaller the space, the less room there is to hide imperfections!
An unkempt lawn can be very obvious in a modestly-sized garden - that's the bad news. The good news is that a confined space also means a smaller surface area to cover, making lawn maintenance considerably easier.
Better still, there are a few insider hacks for looking after a small lawn, making matters even simpler! Read on to discover our top 5 lawn care tips for a small garden.
Small Lawn Care Tips
When it comes to small garden lawns, there are a number of ways to get the most out of it without breaking the bank or your back. Here are our top tips to help your small garden lawn make a big impression.
Get some air
Aerating your lawn may be an alien concept to some British homeowners, yet it's also one that's well worth familiarising yourself with - especially if you own a small garden.
Small gardens are susceptible to waterlogging due to compacted soil. This can not only lead to unsightly boggy patches but can also cause your grass to wilt, yellow and potentially die if not treated. Luckily, the premature demise of your grass can be easily avoided by simple aeration.
But wait, "what is aeration?" we hear you ask.
Aeration is simply the act of ventilating your lawn and all that requires is a good old-fashioned forking! Simply drive a garden fork into your grass around 10cm deep and loosen the soil by rocking back and for. Repeat the process across the lawn for complete lawn aeration.
Path to glory
Tiles are a great way to make your garden look bigger. Call it an optical illusion, call it cheating, call it what you will - we call it effective and is the second lawn care tip we have for your small garden!
Installing a winding footpath with garden paving slabs can break up your garden design, creating designated space for feature areas, e.g. flower beds, ponds or even storage. Meanwhile, using light-coloured tiles can also help make your garden seem more spacious.
Patches of grass that receive regular footfall are also more likely to display signs of wear and tear, often becoming bare over time. The addition of a footpath can help sidestep this unsightly eventuality and keep your garden green on the right path.
Be smart
For modest gardens, space is precious and every metre counts. Unfortunately, storage areas can take up a lot of that space. If your garden is already 'fun-size' to begin with, a bulky shed could effectively monopolise your garden. Do not pass GO, do not collect 200 lawn points.
Luckily, there is a great way to kill two birds with one stone (not that we condone bird violence in your garden). If you need an outdoor container to keep your garden bits and bobs, it's well worth investing in space-saving storage.
Clever storage containers allow you to save space and increase the size of your lawn in the process. From benches that double up as storage chests to wall brackets for hanging your garden essentials, these ingenious solutions can extend your lawn considerably, giving your lawn more space to thrive.
Choose wisely
For many Brits, grass is grass - overlooked, undervalued and rarely given a second thought. However, choosing the right type of grass can make a big difference to your lawn, particularly if you have a small garden.
Small gardens are often situated in confined housing areas where lack of light and sun exposure can be an issue. If this sounds familiar, it's important to opt for a grass seed that can handle the conditions.
Speciality grass mix is available on the market specifically aimed at shaded lawns with limited sun exposure. Similarly, there are also seed varieties that are tailor-made for certain soils, and even grass designed for surfaces that receive a lot of wear and tear. So, ensuring you have the right type of grass is the lawn care tip for your small garden.
Shape up
Shaping your garden into a designated area can be a great way to separate the grass from the perimeter, providing a logical and aesthetically pleasing rim to your lawn. It can also present the perfect area for you to create a beautiful border with flowerbeds, hedges and plants.
Definition can not only make your lawn more attractive to look at from a presentation point of view, but it can also help from a practical standpoint as well. Awkward slivers of grass can be tough to trim, so don't feel the need to seed every square inch of your garden.
Garden shaping can be done simply by using a shovel or a half-moon edging spade to neatly trim the edges. This can instantly turn your lawn into a well-defined feature rather than an overlooked grassy base. Further definition can be achieved by adding a tiled or bricked border if desired; however, this can eat up valuable space.
And there we have it, our top lawn care tips for small gardens! Be sure to try and test out any of the above recommendations to keep your small patch of lawn in check and looking good all year round.
For more information on lawn maintenance and keeping your small garden looking its best, call Lawn & Weed Expert on 0800 111 4958. Alternatively, why not let our experts take a closer look? Request a FREE lawn survey today and find a solution that's exclusive to you.
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