As the soil begins to warm up this March, your grass is finally waking from Winter sleep and an hour or two of effort now could be the best investment you can make for a lush, green carpet come summer.
After the long, damp months of a British winter, the lawn is often the part of the garden that looks the most ‘weather-beaten.’ Here is our super-quick, step-by-step guide to the perfect spring revival.
The first clean up
Before you reach for the mower, give your lawn a bit of a tidy. Clear away any fallen branches, stones, or lingering autumn leaves that have matted down. If the ground is firm enough, give it a light raking with a spring-tine rake. This wakes up the grass and removes ‘thatch’ – the layer of dead organic matter that can suffocate new growth.
The first cut (The Golden Rule)
It’s tempting to shave the lawn short on the first dry day, but patience is key! For your first mow of 2026, set your mower blades to their highest setting. You only want to take the very tips off the grass (the top third at most). Cutting too short too early stresses the roots and allows moss to take hold.
Addressing the moss
If your lawn looks more like a sponge than a carpet, you likely have a moss problem—common after a wet winter in the Chilterns. March is the ideal time to apply a moss killer. Once the moss has turned black (usually after two weeks), you can vigorously rake it out. Don’t worry if the lawn looks a bit bald afterwards; this creates the space for healthy grass to spread.
Feeding and seeding
Once the moss is gone, your lawn will be hungry. Applying a high-nitrogen spring fertiliser will give the grass the nutrients it needs to grow thick and vibrant. If you have bare patches, March is the time to over-seed. Lightly rake the surface, scatter your grass seed, and keep it moist.
Edging for that professional finish
If you do nothing else, trim your edges. A crisp line between your lawn and your flowerbeds instantly makes the whole garden look well-kept. Use a half-moon edging iron or a pair of long-handled edging shears – it’s the secret weapon of every professional gardener.
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