What lawn feed / renovater

[Random_Person]

I tend to rely on the generic Westland stuff you get on offer at the supermarket and have seen good results before, but this year, having done a whole box of the stuff, no result at all. Weeds still growing abundantly, no darkening of the grass / weeds, no renovation and a yellow tinge across the lawn that hasn't disappeared.

Is there a really good top of the range product that I can buy that will see good results? I have included a non touched up raw image I just took, not sure if I'm being pedantic and expecting too much or whether it is looking grimmer than usual for May.

[sherman]

Scarify with a grass rake and top dress with sand will sort you out.

[Random_Person]

What is it with the sand - heard that before - what does it do?

So should I just literally rake it to death and chuck sand all over it then?

[SCH]

I've used this once or twice every year for 8 years: https://www.pitchcare.com/products/icl-sportsmaste... .
It has transformed my lawn from a bed of moss to something I'm more than happy with.
Of course scarifying etc. will help also, but I recommend the Pitchcare stuff over anything you get in a garden centre.

If you do get this, make sure you get the right one - they do different types, some for autumn, others for different issues, but the Renovator Pro 14-0-5 +6%Fe +MCPA +Mecoprop-P - Fertiliser & Weed killer is a good place to start.

[AndyAudi]

Sometime “sand” refers to “lawn sand”. A chemically treated product for applying to your grass usually with a bit of nitrogen & iron sulphate. If you need a bit more than that there are things like this, that I’d to order for my old man.

https://elixirgardensupplies.co.uk/product/elixir-...

I think there’s a Ph lawn thread where you’d get a load of advice

[The Three D Mucketeer]

Don't confuse sand with lawn sand....
I was told by an agronomist that the root zone golf green needs to be 70% sand ....drainage and compaction.... but also encourages finer grass blades
Needs to be river grit sand (no salt) and not red builders sand ... I've used kiln dried sand in the past , easier to brush in , but expensive with the amount you need to do it properly. Ideally hollow or solid tine before applying and mix in some seed , then it falls in the holes.

Lawn Sand is a mix of sand , Iron sulphate and Ammonium Sulphate used for killing moss ( and everything else if not applied correctly)

[Wildfire]

Being a first time home owner I got a garden and lawn for the first time last year. It looked great when we viewed the house -doesn't everything.

By the time we got in and I looked at it closer, it was a state. Most of the green was moss and I completely underestimated how much work it would be to re-seed the play area and 15ft trampoline circle.

Last year I got one of the weed pullers and yanked out over 200 dandelions and weeds.

This year I have 1 come up

Anyhow this year I have:

Iron Sulphate the moss - waited 2 weeks and it went black
Scarified with a motorised scarifier.
Aerated with a roller spike
Aerated with a fork on the play area and trampoline area
Fertilised
Over seeded

It's hardly an ornamental lawn, but it is green adn looks so much better already.

[Simpo Two]

Random_Person said:

I tend to rely on the generic Westland stuff you get on offer at the supermarket and have seen good results before, but this year, having done a whole box of the stuff, no result at all. Weeds still growing abundantly, no darkening of the grass / weeds, no renovation and a yellow tinge across the lawn that hasn't disappeared.

What's in it?

Rain might have washed weedkiller off before it could be absorbed, but I'm surprised the fertiliser hasn't done anything.

[whimsical ninja]

I bought one of these aerators last year and it's been a game changer. Pricey for a lump of metal but worth it:
https://www.gardenimports.co.uk/product/swardman-h...

With feed/fertiliser be careful with quantities. Too much is far more harmful than too little

[Simpo Two]

whimsical ninja said:

I bought one of these aerators last year and it's been a game changer. Pricey for a lump of metal but worth it:
https://www.gardenimports.co.uk/product/swardman-h...

This is cheaper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/EEIEER-Aerating-T-Handle-...

[Timothy Bucktu]

Iron Sulfate (rust) to remove any moss.
For the bigger weeds, just hoik en out with a lawn weed tool.
Then spread this stuff over it...its like viagra for grass - it makes it grow like mad and the weeds and moss won't stand a chance!!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112791583769?mkcid=16&a...

[Cheib]

Timothy Bucktu said:

Iron Sulfate (rust) to remove any moss.
For the bigger weeds, just hoik en out with a lawn weed tool.
Then spread this stuff over it...its like viagra for grass - it makes it grow like mad and the weeds and moss won't stand a chance!!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112791583769?mkcid=16&a...

4kg for £20 ? That’s incredibly expensive. The ICL Sportmaster recommended above which I’ve used before is £45 for 25kg

[John87]

whimsical ninja said:

I bought one of these aerators last year and it's been a game changer. Pricey for a lump of metal but worth it:
https://www.gardenimports.co.uk/product/swardman-h...

I have the same one. Much more solid than the cheaper options I've had in the past which used to bend or snap tines at least once per year

[Black_S3]

I swapped to seaweed concentrate mixed into a pack back sprayer with a handful of ammonia sulphate and a handful of iron sulphate a few years back. Maybe cost 100 quid to buy the lot a few years back but it’ll last 10 years treating the grass multiple times a year and it works a treat. Def better than buying the boxed stuff out of b and q. There’s quite a few YouTube vids on it if you’re that bored.

[Simpo Two]

Timothy Bucktu said:

Iron Sulfate (rust) to remove any moss.

Rust is iron oxide not iron sulphate.

('sulfate' is US spelling)