This three-day course is designed to give an introduction to the maintenance activities needed through the year to produce and look after a high-quality ornamental lawn.

The first recorded lawns were in Europe in the middle ages; initially they were cut twice a year by scythe. These first lawns were filled with wild flowers, and low mounds of turf were created for seating, which were sometimes planted with aromatic herbs such as chamomile. In the early 17th century, lawns began to be mown more frequently. The 18th century brought the design of even more expansive parks and gardens in the estates of wealthy landowners.  The invention of the cylinder or reel mower in 1830 made lawn maintenance easier to achieve, but it wasn’t until the growth of the suburbs in the early 1900s that lawns became widespread outside of parks, golf courses, and large estates.

• History of the lawn
• Types of lawn
• A comparison of lawn establishment from turf and seed
• The turf care calendar - A comprehensive programme covering all seasonal maintenance activities
  • Autumn - use of a besom, autumn fertiliser application, scarification, spiking, topdressing, disease control, autumn lawn repair, autumn mowing techniques.
  • Spring - turfing, re-seeding, topdressing, spring fertilisers application, weed control, spring mowing techniques.
  • Summer - raking to control weed runners, weed killing, summer fertiliser application, irrigation, summer mowing techniques.
• Use of turf care equipment  to include rotary and cylinder lawn mowers, besom, switch, lawn rake, landscape rake, lute, fertiliser spreaders, edging iron, edging shears.
• Grass and turf weed identification

The course takes place on three separate Thursdays in spring, summer and autumn to cover the main periods of lawncare. This is predominantly a practical course with some background theory. There is no formal assessment  process but the tutor will give advice and feedback on your practical work.

Course dates:

• 12 March 2020, 3 September 2020, 10 September 2020
• 3 September 2020, 10 September 2020,  11 March 2021
• 10 September 2020, 11 March 2021,  10 June 2021
• 11 March 2021, 10 June 2021, 16  September 2021

On completion of the three separate sessions you will be given a course completion certificate from the Academy of Practical Horticulture.

The course takes place at the North Moreton Centre, starting in the Village Hall and carrying out practical work at The Filberts nearby.

Cost is £295.00 plus V.A.T. at £59.00 for the complete course of three sessions, total payable £354.00. 

Cick on the green ' Enrol for this course' button above and complete an enrolment form on line; please ensure you provide ALL of the details requested.

Payment options are through the website using a credit/debit card or PayPal.

This is predominantly a practical course with some theory underpinning knowledge; therefore you need to wear comfortable casual clothing which should include safety footwear. It is also advisable to be prepared for inclement weather by bringing waterproof clothing. You WILL NOT be applying commercial plant protection products at any point, however there are practicals involving the application of products (weed killers, fertilisers and fungicides) available to the amateur gardener. For those all necessary protective clothing will be provided.

You would be welcome to attend any of the short course or masterclasses that we offer, or perhaps (if not already studying one of them) one of the Royal Horticultural Society Courses at one of our centres.