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rasputin
Original Poster
1,431 posts
75 months
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This is the garden now:  I would like to plant some new grass seed, so the dogs don't trail mud into the house every time they're out! I want something cheap and easy! I started removing the bumpy/patchy top layer at the edge (bottom of pic) and my plan was to rake the ground smooth-ish, plop some seeds on, and rake in some fertiliser. But I'm not sure if I actually should be removing the top layer? Should I just use one of These things to "soften" up the top layer, and then rake, seed and fertilise? What's the fastest/cheapest/easiest way to do this?
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TheEnd
12,077 posts
57 months
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Fastest easiest way is to re-turf it, and after a few weeks, it'll all be as normal.
Your other options are to just keep seeding it, but that could take a couple of months before you get anything like normal grass on there, and even then, it'll be pretty sparse.
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rasputin
Original Poster
1,431 posts
75 months
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TheEnd said: Fastest easiest way is to re-turf it What does that mean and how would I do it?
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netherfield
1,157 posts
53 months
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And if those dogs keep peeing on it you are wasting your time.
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Munter
23,672 posts
110 months
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netherfield said: And if those dogs keep peeing on it you are wasting your time. I was thinking that. There is a reason it's gone all patchy. It's not weeds rather than grass. It's nothing rather than grass. Doesn't look like it gets lots of light either...
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rasputin
Original Poster
1,431 posts
75 months
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Lots of dog pee and very little light - not much we can do about either, unfortunately. That's why I'm after the cheap & easy option... No point investing in it! It took a few years for it to get this bad, so if I can get another couple of mud-less years before it needs done again it'll be a good job  .
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Crafty_
4,511 posts
69 months
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A mate just re-did his garden. Levelled it up, bought turf online, laid it in a day and blocked it off so the dogs couldn't get to it for a few weeks, looks really nice now - obviously the recent rain has helped!
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Munter
23,672 posts
110 months
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I'm no expert. But there are various grass seeds/mixes of seeds. Hopefully there is one that works well in shade and is quite tough! Loosen the surface a bit, and throw some of the seed around.
Cost of a bag or two of seed.
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jonno990
384 posts
47 months
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A workmate was telling me today about his neighbour's new astroturf and how it was indistinguishable for real grass. Not the cheapest option(£10ish sq/m for the permeable stuff) but will stand up to the dog pee and no more mowing.
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Jimboka
2,668 posts
73 months
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AstriTurf is good idea but hard work to do properly. Lots of prep + base aggregate so will end up more like £40 m2 to do properly. I just re-turfed my back garden, best turf I found locally was from Wyevale Garden Centre @ £3.99 m2, cheaper in bulk. Its arrives there Thurs so fresh for weekend...
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spikeyhead
7,497 posts
66 months
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Homebase do a grass called Canada Green that works much better than most in shade, however you'll still need to keep the dogs from peeing on it
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rasputin
Original Poster
1,431 posts
75 months
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So should I be removing the top layer with the patchy grass completely? Or just soften it up a bit and try to level it?
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spikeyhead
7,497 posts
66 months
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rasputin said: So should I be removing the top layer with the patchy grass completely? Or just soften it up a bit and try to level it? either would work ok if you can keep the dogs off it and use the right seed
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Simpo Two
54,202 posts
134 months
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If the grass is like it is because of the location and the dogs, then any new grass will end up the same - unless you remove the factors...
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jeff m2
955 posts
20 months
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OP, sorry but I think the dogs may be being unfairly blamed for the state of the grass. Your grass is sod that "didn't take". In the picture we can see the exposed edges. Recipe for disaster. My suggestion is. Pull up that old sod, I'm sure it will come up quite easily Grade the surface, throw down some granular fertiliser, lay new sod making sure they butt up to each other, no gaps. Edge with bricks so as not leave exposed edges. Lets the dogs out in the mornings, after they're done with their morning ablutions water the sod well. In the evening dogs can run on the grass but don't walk on it yourself (unneccesarally) after a couple of weeks you can cut it, not too short. Skip watering on the day you intend to cut it. Reduce watering, after two mowings, treat as normal. ETA Having dogs make it difficult to re seed, sod is your only (realistic) option once it gets in a poor state. Although if you get it back a bit by good lawn practices you could slit seed over the existing. I just slit seeded my lawn about a month ago, looking good now as the new seed is poking out above existing. Pic below. the different shades of green are the new grass. 
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rasputin
Original Poster
1,431 posts
75 months
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Update:  Ermmmm... OK maybe not  I've only had a couple of hours to work on it, and I have to admit it's more effort than I was expecting. The ground was very uneven & bumpy, so getting it level-ish is hard work. Here's the progress so far:  The bag of grass seed has arrived, and temporary fencing will go down soon to stop the dogs getting on it for a few weeks. So I just need to finish off the patch at the back, get some fertiliser and then I'll see if this was worth doing at all...
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