Getting the perfect, bright green lawn without clumps, mossy bits or yellow patches is a dream for many gardeners, even when the weather has turned to Bank Holiday rain as it has done this past weekend (of course). But getting your lawn ready for summer can often be a tricky and expensive battle.
Either you're crawling around trying to weed it, or you're splashing the cash on pricey fertilisers and chemical boosters. That's why garden experts are recommending gardeners sprinkle sugar on their gardens this spring and summer. It's cheap, it's easy and it can completely revitalise a patchy or yellow lawn and make it thick, green and verdant in time for the summer.
According to garden experts, sugar on your lawn can break down thatch - the clumps of thick, dead grass layers that block up your lawn and stop grass growing. Sugar also enriches the nutrients in your grass and it blocks weeds, too. In short, a simple bag of white sugar can be a miracle cure for an ailing lawn.
Lindsey Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield, said: "Weeds tend to thrive in environments with access to sunlight and moisture, and by using sugar on your lawn, you can make it less hospitable for these weeds.
"Sugar will help break down thatch, the layer of dead grass, and other organic material that can accumulate on your lawn over time.
"This thatch can make it difficult for new grass to grow, but using sugar on your lawn can help break it down and improve the health of your lawn."
This is backed up by Bill Glaser, owner of Outstanding Foods, which makes plant-based foods - but he said to use the sugar sparingly, about once a month, rather than constantly.
He said: "[Sugar] allows the grass to overtake invasive plant species.
"Only use a sugar solution about once a month; some sources suggest replacing harsh fertilisers with rice water for more consistent application."
Tom Monson, of Monson Lawn & Landscaping, adds that the sugar can boost grass roots - but be careful not to encourage fungal growth, particularly if your lawn doesn't get much direct sun.
He added: "Sugar causes the grass's roots to intake more nitrogen from the soil, which can boost your lawn's greenness.
"Sugar also promotes fungal growth, so you'll want to inspect your lawn and ensure you do not have excess fungal growth."
To put sugar on your lawn, you need about 450g per 10 square feet of lawn. You can use regular granulated white sugar, the kind you buy in supermarkets.
