Common gardening blunder can turn your lawn blue - how to avoid this autumn

Gardener Andrew Clarke has shared his top tips for applying fertiliser to your lawn, warning that overuse of lawn feed can lead to issues like burning and odd blue colouring

Overdoing lawn feed can lead to scorched turf, swift and patchy growth, or even a weird blue-green shade.

While it's well known that fertiliser is essential for a verdant lawn, Andrew Clarke from Lawnsmith sheds light on the negative impacts of misuse. The expert details: "Overfed grass takes on a bluey green colour and grows leaves often at the expense of good roots. It can quickly build a thatch layer too." Offering guidance on proper fertiliser use, Andrew underscores the need for a decent spreader, highlighting that: "Cheap spreaders often fail to achieve a consistent flow, which can cause some areas to be overfed while others get nothing." He adds: "With the amount you could then spend on trying to repair your lawn, it makes more sense to get a good spreader to begin with."

He recommends choosing fertiliser suited to your grass type to prevent overfeeding or underfeeding, reports Wales Online. Andrew further explains: "Rye or smooth-stalked meadow grass, common in most lawn mixtures, thrive with higher fertiliser rates. Fine bristle-like grasses, such as fescues, require leaner applications. If you're unsure, start with a lean application and monitor the lawn's response in terms of growth and colour. Increase the quantity or supplement with liquid fertiliser as needed for optimal results."

The recent weather patterns should be a key consideration when applying lawn feed, as rainfall can significantly influence how fertiliser works on your grass. "In wet conditions, apply fertiliser at the higher end of the recommended rate due to increased growth," says Andrew. "In dry conditions, use the lower end of the rate scale if there is still ground moisture. You should avoid applying fertiliser in very dry and warm conditions as this can lead to burnt grass and further lawn damage."

Andrew is not alone in dishing out top turf tips: the TikTok channel Grass Gains has earned plaudits for its straightforward five-step method to spruce up your garden. Their viral video instructs: "Do you want your lawn looking like this? Five simple steps. Cut your lawn short. Scarify in a criss-cross like a Union Jack. Rake up your debris.

"Mow again one last time. Apply your superseed. Six weeks to eight weeks later, if you keep watering your lawn, you'll get guaranteed results." Fans have been quick to praise the advice, with one user commenting: "I think you came into my work and I got a freebie my grass was horrendous with my dogs. Five weeks later, it looks like a different garden grass is lovely now." Another chimed in: "Will be next year's project now. Great advice though."