I don't have lawn - I have grass. This is stuff growing naturally on the hill where we built our house. There are two patches that I keep green and looked after all through summer. One patch began to improve when a large garden bed was constructed on the 'up' side and the nutrients from the manure began leaching down through the soil. It reqires less water and copes better with the heat than the unfertilized bits. I then started fertilizing with lawn fertilizer and the spray-on liquid type stuff. HUGE difference. A bit more mowing, but less watering. Give it a try - if it doesn't make any difference, give it up.

I guess it depends on how much work you want to put in, and how much water you can spare. Fortnightly feeding will use a lot of water, since you have to water it in each time, or use water-soluble stuff. Either way the tap is running. Also too much fertiliser just tends to leach off into the waterways.

I just do mine in early spring, early summer and early autumn and it does really well with just that (it really is the greenest in the street!) It gets a deep water each time, then that's it for the tap. Some people just do this in spring and autumn, with the lawn food designed for that. I used to do it more often than the bag said, but then I figured that they would never recommend you use LESS than you need - that would cut into their profits!

And if you are lucky enough to have rain forecast for a few days, spread the fertiliser during the first showers: frolic about in the rain like a complete nutter! It's good for the soul ...

If it is a small lawn and you can water it without using an extraordinary amount of water, then that's fine. If it is a large lawn it seems like a greedy extravagence, even if you are not on water restrictions, in a country where water is precious. Brown is OK for grass in summer.

My first application after winter is in two stages. I put half the recommended amount at the beginnig of September and two weeks later I apply the other half. I have noticed that the first application comes out very uneven if you do it in one go.

Great idea meggs! I have been having trouble getting it even, but can't quite be bothered enough to buy one of those spreading devices. I'll try your trick next time.