Seedheads

All grasses used for turf in the U.K. form seed heads and this is a natural process. Seeds are how grass plants propagate and spread, and the seeds are produced in a seed head.

When lawn turf is producing seedheads, you will notice that they do not mow off very neatly. The stem of a seedhead is tough and fibrous. This allows the seedheads to be held upright even in strong winds.

The period of time when seedheads form will differ for each grass type, but, in general, it will last for several weeks to a month. After that, the grass will resume growing leaves, and your mowing will look neater.

However, there is one particular grass weed (annual meadowgrass) that is very common throughout Britain, which will continue to form seedheads for most of the year. Always purchase high quality turf, to help avoid this weed.

To minimise the problem:

• Mow your lawn often and use a sharp mower blade.
• Fertilise your turf properly.
• Properly fertilised turf will grow out of the seedhead production stage rapidly, and the grass will be easier to mow neatly.
• Try to remove the weed grasses by hand, roots included. Do not lower the height of your mower.