GardenBanter.co.uk - If I leave the grass uncut...

Jim [email protected] wrote in message
...
On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 15:27:52 +0100, "Spider"
wrote:

Jim [email protected] wrote in message
.. .
...for a couple of months (say) what are the long-term implications.
Of
course
it will be unsightly and could present the mower with an initial
problem
when
finally getting round to being cut but what about the long-term
implications for
the grass itself? Will it recover if subsequently given its due
attention.

thanks for any thoughts

Hello Jim,
I agree with the others, but would add that you will need to feed it
after
cutting it. If you just cut off all the *green* summer growth which has
been feeding your lawn, the remaining *yellow* grass will struggle to
photosynthesize. You will have starved your lawn on a grand scale, in
other
words. As it will be late summer/autumn by then, you will need to apply
an
autumn feed, which will feed and strengthen the grass ready for the
onslaught of winter. If you try to use up a spring feed, for example, it
will contain more nitrogen. This will produce lots of sappy growth which
will be damaged by the first frosts.
Spider

appreciated, good point. I'm in france where the brand names will
probably
differ so other than keeping a look-out for "nourriture d'automne pour une
pelouse" what would be the favoured chemical balance?

Hello Jim,
I assume that in France, as here, packaging will be marked N-P-K. The N is
for nitrogen, which you don't need in Autumn. You should be looking for
high P-K levels. Phosphate (P) will help the roots, and Potassium/Potash
(K) will ripen/harden off the grass to enable it to withstand the frost and
ice of winter.

Unfortunately, I don't have any autumn feed in stock, so I can't quote
typical N-P-K numbers. However, here in England the shops are full of
Autumn Lawn Feed from the end of summer, and I would imagine you will find
the same scenario in France. Hope that's the case.
Good luck with the lawn, and enjoy your trip.
Spider