1. Revive Tired Grass
Use a method called overseeding. Mow the grass to 20mm high, raking to remove clippings, old grass and thatch. Pull out weeds, rough up the soil with a rake and sprinkle on 10mm of topsoil or compost. Level the surface, rough it lightly to accept the seed, sowing over the area by hand. Water lightly, keepingthe lawn moist until seeds germinate.

2. Condition the Soil
Top-dress the lawn to condition the soil, encourage earthworm activity and release nutrients. Sprinkle a 10mm layer of screened, dry compost or well-rotted manure over the grass, spreading with the back of a rake and watering thoroughly.

3. Mowing for Growth
Leave the grass to grow to its optimum height and cut no more than a third of the blade at a time as the lawn scorches in the sun if it’s too short. Leave grass in shaded areas to grow slightly longer, and avoid mowing when wet. Let the clippings fall back into the lawn to encourage soil organisms to recycle it into nutrients.

3. Fertilising
Grass should be fertilised once or twice a year. A slow, steady supply of fertiliser with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium encourages top growth, root development and disease resistance. Organic fertilisers encourage breakdown of organic matter in the soil and won’t burn blades or make grass go brown with overdose.