Just because it’s green, it’s not necessarily grass. Grass consists of plant types which are referred to as a lawn. In Bermuda, warm season grasses consist of Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass and St Augustine including its variety Floratem. In winter, rye grass is used to overseed bare patches or start a new lawn area between December and April.

The end result of money spent on lawn maintenance is, I would suggest, a big negative as regards to a return on investment.

As with any exercise, planning and implementation is the key to success and this is so important when laying a lawn as, once complete, establishment is another element which behoves the former exercise to be carried out correctly.

Soil is a major player in lawn development. I would recommend a minimum depth of 12 inches with a broken up subbase of six inches, especially for lawns facing south — which have the sun beating down continuously during the summer.

Having a good depth of soil forces the root system to chase after moisture, especially during dry periods; a deep root system will survive longer during dry conditions. A shallow depth of soil will dry out quickly and encourage surface-growing root systems which, during drought conditions, will cause roots to “burn up” and allow the introduction of summer weeds which can be quite vigorous and overtake lawn grasses once rain falls.

The result is a weed-ridden lawn, which will need a great deal of attention to even resemble a grass lawn again. Soiling should be spread in layers of 3 to 4 four inches and rolled or firmed until desired height is attained. Plugging or seeding on a firm surface reduces the factor of settlement which can be a problem as time progresses with soils not firmed.

A uniform soil depth will create a lawn that is of good texture and uniform in colour. As long as correct procedures are carried out, it will make an immediate statement. The choice of grass is dictated by usage and function. St Augustine Floratem, the desired grass type for a carpet effect, will not tolerate heavy foot traffic and wears readily with constant use. Do not use common St Augustine as it is susceptible to attack by chinch bugs and a disease known as TARR, both being difficult to control; even the preferred Floratem type can be hit by TARR.

Installation is best using plugs planted 6 inches apart; they should fill in quickly in warm weather with weed control in place. Allowing weeds to grow removes moisture and nutrients from the soil which would benefit the grass and thus quicker infill. Irrigate as required, to keep grass roots active with enough uptake to encourage both top and root growth.

Bermuda grass lawns are best from seed, at a rate of 4lb per 1,000 sqft, applied in two directions. Taking wind direction into consideration, this gives a more uniform distribution. When sowing, walk backwards and “throw” seed upward so it floats in a wider arc on the soil.

Irrigate lightly to soak seed in to soil and encourage germination by regular applications. As germination takes place increase irrigation; a liquid fertiliser can be given once a good bloom can be seen. Once bloom is established to a sward, a gentle rolling will encourage tillering and establishment of root system.

Zoysia is invasive if not controlled. When maintained, it produces a really good lawn which, under normal weather conditions, looks reasonable even during the cooler months. During the growing season Zoysia is best mown at least once a week with a reel, not rotary-bladed, mower.