Lawns - Planning and Creating a Green Lawn

A green oasis, children’s playground, or visual link between disparate areas of a design – a lawn can be any or all of these things. While some people can become positively obsessive about tending their piece of turf, and would probably be happiest with a boundary-to-boundary lawn, even the most lawnmower-shy usually find it necessary to include at least one area of grass in a garden design.

Choosing A Lawn Style

Optimum lawn size is determined by the overall size of the garden, and how prominent or practical a feature it is to be. The style of the lawn will be decided by its shape, the mix of grasses that it is planted with, and how carefully it is maintained.

A formal high-quality lawn is usually sown with fine, ornamental grasses, and is laid in a symmetrical or straight-edged shape. This traditional lawn style takes a great deal of time and effort to maintain, with frequent mowing, so to earn its keep should form the focal point of the garden.

At the opposite end of the scale is the utility lawn. Functional rather than decorative, it is made up of a tough blend of grasses in which rye predominates. This type of lawn is the perfect choice for a family garden, where it will withstand regular hard use and need minimal care. It should be large enough to accommodate ball games, and perhaps a swing or slide.

An informal lawn is a compromise between the two extremes, sown with a blend of ornamental and utility gasses. It looks attractive but not perfect, requires a certain amount of maintenance, and may have bulbs or wildflowers planted into it.

Putting Plans into Practice

Whether you are starting a garden design from scratch or adapting an existing layout, you should give as much thought to the size, position, and planting of the lawn as you would to the creation of an ornamental flower bed.

The shape of a lawn is determined partly by the proportions of the garden, and partly by your choice of lawn style. The style you choose will influence whether you decide to lay sod or to grow the lawn from seed – formal lawns are usually laid from high quality sod – though price and convenience also play a part. Whether you decide on sod or seed, it is important to select varieties best suited to the position and function of the lawn. Not only should you choose a grass that will withstand the use it is likely to receive but, if your lawn is in shade, you need to select a special seed mix for shady places. Always sow or sod on well prepared ground to get your new lawn off to the best start.

If your garden already has a lawn, it may well need some renovation work. However, even if the basic condition is fine, you may want to alter the appearance by planting with bulbs or changing the whole shape and size of the area.

Carefully re-cutting edges will instantly improve the look of the lawn. Either follow the existing outline or subtly reshape it. Choose straight lines and sharp angles for a formal effect, or use curves to create a relaxed design - but don’t get too carried away if you decide on the latter, since tight curves are difficult to maintain.

Making Maintenance Easier

Apart from selecting the right grass type for your site, the best way to save time on aftercare is to install a mowing strip or edging. These make the edges of the lawn easier to mow, and prevent them from encroaching on the surrounding beds. It takes a lot more effort to restore a neglected lawn than to keep it in good shape from the start.