Maintaining a lush, green lawn can be a challenge, but the right fertiliser can ensure your grass remains thick and healthy. As we approach the end of May, it's crucial to feed your lawn with essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus to encourage robust growth before the summer months.

With the arrival of summer comes higher temperatures and potential droughts, so a well-nourished lawn is more likely to withstand the heat and maintain its vibrant green hue throughout the season. Andrew Huber, a gardening and lawncare expert from The Lawn Squad, has revealed that the most cost-effective way to achieve a “lush, deep green lawn” is by creating a homemade DIY fertiliser. He explained: “Fertiliser is not just about making your grass grow, it’s about nurturing a landscape that can withstand the tests of nature and time. A robust lawn is your first defence against pests, diseases, and environmental stresses.”

The key to an effective lawn fertiliser lies in its nutrient content — specifically, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, all of which are vital for maintaining a healthy lawn.

One of the best ways to reduce food waste and save money is to repurpose your kitchen scraps into fertiliser.

Andrew recommended: “Turning kitchen scraps and yard waste into composted material is both eco-friendly and garden-smart. It's an excellent way to reduce waste and benefit your lawn.”

He also shared his tip for a lush green turf, stating, “Coffee isn’t just my morning essential; it’s also great for my lawn.”

The lawn specialist then detailed how “Nitrogen-rich coffee grounds can be sprinkled on the lawn or mixed with water (about half a pound of coffee grounds to five gallons of water) to create a nutrient-packed lawn tonic.”

For those keen on cutting-edge lawn care, he adds that many kitchen leftovers could enhance your grass, with each household finding its unique blend through trial and error. Once gathered, simply steep these scraps in water, let them break down, and then apply the concoction to nourish the lawn.

To ensure optimal intake of this homemade infusion, cut your grass a few days before application, soak the soil for maximum nutrient absorption, and consult the weather forecast to prevent a washout of your efforts post-application.

Once you’ve concocted your homemade plant tonic, securing the right apparatus is key. Andrew shared that a backpack sprayer is his go-to for this.

Spritz the grass in a to-and-fro pattern to achieve a consistent spread of nutrients, then, with a light watering, help the infusion seep into the lawn.

Next, be sure to carry out frequent checks. Andrew emphasised: “Monitoring your lawn’s response is crucial for determining the effectiveness of your DIY fertiliser.

“I always keep a close eye on grass growth and colour changes. Additionally, conducting a soil test before starting my fertilisation regime ensures that I'm not overdoing or underdoing certain nutrients.”