Club partners STIHL are looking for the best #TigersTurf home gardener who will win the chance to look after the Leicester Tigers pitch on matchday and pick up some great gardening tools too.
Whether you are an experienced and skilled gardener or have decided to tackle your neglected lawns while self-isolating, this competition is for you.
TO enter, all you have to do is share pictures of your garden using the hashtag #TigersTurf on Twitter or Instagram and tag @STIHL_GB (Twitter) or @STIHLGB (Instagram).
STIHL have put together a fantastic prize for a garden-loving, Tigers supporter who will get the chance to spend a day shadowing Tigers head groundsperson Ed Mowe on a matchday at Welford Road for a money-can’t-buy pitchside experience and also receive a STIHL BGA 56 Cordless Blower, charger and battery, valued at £199 RRP to help them in their own garden.
Tips from the experts at STIHL:
Right now, your grass is probably growing like mad and your mower will be getting a good workout after a season of hibernation. But your mower is only as effective as the cutting attachment. Just like a blunt saw chain on a chainsaw won’t cut wood, a damaged or blunt mower blade isn’t going to do your grass any favours or give you that crisp, freshly cut look.
Over the course of a mowing season, blades can become bent, damaged or blunt, but, a sharp and un-damaged blade is essential to lift the grass, cut straight and direct the cuttings into the catcher box. A blunt blade can also make your grass more open to diseases as it frays the edges.
The same principles apply to your grass trimmer – a cutting attachment that is working properly is key to a good job. Make sure your cutting attachment has sufficient line in there if you’re using a line head, and that it’s correctly loaded and not tangled in the attachment. Another useful tip is to soak it in water for 24 hrs before using it so the line can absorb the water it may have lost whilst in storage. This makes the line less brittle so it doesn’t break off if it hits obstacles, like fence posts, for example.
Once your tools are ready, two main principles apply for a lush lawn. First, on a lawn area you should only ever cut one third of the grass length off at a time, gradually lowering down each cut to your desired length over the next few weeks. The optimum length for grass is around 3.5cm-5cm. Make sure you don’t scalp it as this can damage the grass and cause bare patches.
Second, make sure the lawn gets water and nutrients (either through mulching or using a nitrogen-rich grass fertiliser), as well as light and air – any leaves left on the lawn will suffocate it. Use a blower to remove any leaves, or go over it with a mower to suck them up.
Happy mowing!
Check out the STIHL YouTube channel for ideas or take a look at the STIHL Blog and website for inspiration.
