2015 Lawn thread
Discussion
Why is my newly-seeded bits not growing? I put down some top soil on these areas and seeded to raise the level (had hollows). I've done this previously in May and worked ok. But this time the grass is not growing see pics. Is it the wrong time of year? I did this about 3 weeks ago (maybe 4). The weather has been ok (NW london) not cold, quite bright, I've kept it watered; not cut grass short. Only a few sprouts have really come up.
There can be a variety of reasons - old seed, seed buried too deeply, not enough water, too much water, inadequate seed to soil contact, too cold, problems with the soil, etc. Sometimes it can be fickle, you think it's not going to germinate but then several weeks later up it comes.
The grass around those patches is starting to look poorly - I suspect over watering.
If you've got some seed left it may be worth mixing some into the soil and see if it does anything. If you can cover the areas to keep warmth in all the better - as Dr Mike recently suggested, bubble wrap would be ideal. Keep the patches moist rather than wet.
The grass around those patches is starting to look poorly - I suspect over watering.
If you've got some seed left it may be worth mixing some into the soil and see if it does anything. If you can cover the areas to keep warmth in all the better - as Dr Mike recently suggested, bubble wrap would be ideal. Keep the patches moist rather than wet.
CoolHands said:
Why is my newly-seeded bits not growing? I put down some top soil on these areas and seeded to raise the level (had hollows). I've done this previously in May and worked ok. But this time the grass is not growing see pics. Is it the wrong time of year? I did this about 3 weeks ago (maybe 4). The weather has been ok (NW london) not cold, quite bright, I've kept it watered; not cut grass short. Only a few sprouts have really come up.
You don't appear to actually have any seed down on those areas. Germination at this time of year shouldn't be a problem - 2 or 3 weeks max. There should still be enough warmth in the soil to promote germination. I wouldn't bother watering either, early morning dews at this time of year is enough.Here's a pic of mine, has picked up rather well over the past few weeks considering we've had a fairly dry autumn and its close proximity to the sea. Will probably give it a feed in the next few weeks when more guaranteed wet weather arrives.
We had a new lawn put down about 3 weeks or so ago...
It seems to have taken well (it's grown, it's not brown and it seems to have taken root) so i'm pretty relieved but i've got a couple of areas of funghi growing. Would I be right in thinking its due to how wet it's got in the last week?
Anything I can do to stop this happening?
It seems to have taken well (it's grown, it's not brown and it seems to have taken root) so i'm pretty relieved but i've got a couple of areas of funghi growing. Would I be right in thinking its due to how wet it's got in the last week?
Anything I can do to stop this happening?
If you're talking about mushrooms then it's quite normal to get them in the lawn occasionally. Just brush them off before mowing to avoid squashing them into the turf. The one troublesome mushroom to watch out for is Marasmius oreades or Fairy rings. Again, there's not much that you can do about that short of digging it out.
There are other fungi that give rise to turf diseases such as fusarium, anthracnose, red thread etc which can successfully be treated with fungicides, although often cultural methods will suffice and are preferable imho versus domestic fungicides which aren't as effective as the professional products.
There are other fungi that give rise to turf diseases such as fusarium, anthracnose, red thread etc which can successfully be treated with fungicides, although often cultural methods will suffice and are preferable imho versus domestic fungicides which aren't as effective as the professional products.
_bryan_ said:
Little update from me. Today was the first cut since seeding and possibly last until next year. There's the odd thin patch here and there that hopefully I can remedy with more seed in Spring, but overall very happy.
That's come up nicely 
The sward should continue to thicken over the winter as the grass responds to the lower light levels by tillering and sending out rhizomes/stolons.
leem5 said:
So just back after being out of the country for a few weeks, is it still ok to give the grass a high cut as even though it's only 3-4" there seems to be some flowering? I am up North but it does seem to have been wet rather than really cold so far.
It'll be fine. Set the mower on its highest setting so as not to take too much off in one go since it'll take longer for the grass to recover from being scalped at this time of year.JackP1 said:
Just a quick one to anyone, tell me its a crap idea to try and seed some fresh soil ( compost and soil mix onto of where i've just had some stumps removed ) before it gets frosty? Or will i still get away with it now before the end of the year?
Depending on where you are in the country it may well still germinate, particularly if you're using ryegrass. You could mix some seed in with some moist soil and keep it indoors overnight then sow it when you see the seeds start to develop a root, which should only take two or three days. Cover the seeds with 5 to 10mm of soil after sowing.Covering the sown patches with fleece or bubble wrap to keep the warmth in will also increase the chances of success.
Like last year, it's still quite mild with daytime temps forecast in the teens here which is plenty for some grasses to germinate.
Final update on my lawn this year. Things could definitely have gone better this autumn. As I've mentioned previously, the worm casting problem has been severe.
The casting worms have pretty much laughed in the face of all my non toxic deterrents and so I may well have to resort to a more lethal Carbendazim based 'final solution' in the spring which is something that I had hoped to avoid.
The new grass has also had to contend with the heavy traffic from our autumn clear up at the far end of the garden, with much pruning being carried out as well as the constant brushing of worm casts and raking/blowing of leaves.
Overall the velvet bentgrasses have taken well, the lawn just lacks the level of consistency and sward thickness that I would have hoped for by now had things gone a little more to plan. I am however very impressed with the colour, although the photo doesn't really do that justice. The height of cut is now at half an inch for the winter.
(Ignore the really thin area in the bottom left - I'll be resculpting that in the spring so didn't seed it this year.)
The new area of lawn where there was once the path also developed quite a case of iron chlorosis. Easily dealt with once diagnosed (I mistook it for fusarium initially) with several doses of seaweed + chelated iron, but clearly that's going to be something to keep an eye on in the future. That did mean that establishment was delayed plus receiving the heaviest of traffic, as was always going to be the case this time of year, there are bare patches evident.
On the positive side, thanks to the very high proportion of sand in the rootzone that area drains extremely well even in the heaviest of rain and remains nice and firm underfoot so there's no problem in that respect by continuing to use it as a path.
Come the spring, a further overseed over the whole lawn plus the use of edging offcuts as plugs from where I shape the border should have it looking a lot more satisfactory and much more like the thick green velvet carpet that it should.
All in all then, it could be better but it could also have been a lot worse given the amount that the new grasses have had to contend with so I shan't lose too much sleep over it whilst waiting for the spring
The casting worms have pretty much laughed in the face of all my non toxic deterrents and so I may well have to resort to a more lethal Carbendazim based 'final solution' in the spring which is something that I had hoped to avoid.
The new grass has also had to contend with the heavy traffic from our autumn clear up at the far end of the garden, with much pruning being carried out as well as the constant brushing of worm casts and raking/blowing of leaves.
Overall the velvet bentgrasses have taken well, the lawn just lacks the level of consistency and sward thickness that I would have hoped for by now had things gone a little more to plan. I am however very impressed with the colour, although the photo doesn't really do that justice. The height of cut is now at half an inch for the winter.
(Ignore the really thin area in the bottom left - I'll be resculpting that in the spring so didn't seed it this year.)
The new area of lawn where there was once the path also developed quite a case of iron chlorosis. Easily dealt with once diagnosed (I mistook it for fusarium initially) with several doses of seaweed + chelated iron, but clearly that's going to be something to keep an eye on in the future. That did mean that establishment was delayed plus receiving the heaviest of traffic, as was always going to be the case this time of year, there are bare patches evident.
On the positive side, thanks to the very high proportion of sand in the rootzone that area drains extremely well even in the heaviest of rain and remains nice and firm underfoot so there's no problem in that respect by continuing to use it as a path.
Come the spring, a further overseed over the whole lawn plus the use of edging offcuts as plugs from where I shape the border should have it looking a lot more satisfactory and much more like the thick green velvet carpet that it should.
All in all then, it could be better but it could also have been a lot worse given the amount that the new grasses have had to contend with so I shan't lose too much sleep over it whilst waiting for the spring
That's looking beautiful, Jag!
Here's mine after today's mow. Overall I'm fairly pleased; there's a fair few broad-leaved weeds, but I can deal with those in the spring when the grass is old enough to tolerate weedkiller.
I'm happy with the evenness of the colour and texture; previously the coarse grasses made it a patchwork of different shades.
Hopefully it'll continue to thicken, and perhaps I ought to buy myself a besom broom to break up some of the worm casts.
In the early spring I plan to use a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent any new coarse grasses germinating, except on the areas that are still a bit thin where I'll overseed later in the spring. Actually, I might soon spot-test the pre-emergent for compatibility with my grasses, because it does say it's not for use on bent grass for some reason, and there is about 20% bent in the mix I've used.
Here's a picture taken in failing light:
Note the boustrophedonic mowing, although one day I'll learn to do it straight.
Here's mine after today's mow. Overall I'm fairly pleased; there's a fair few broad-leaved weeds, but I can deal with those in the spring when the grass is old enough to tolerate weedkiller.
I'm happy with the evenness of the colour and texture; previously the coarse grasses made it a patchwork of different shades.
Hopefully it'll continue to thicken, and perhaps I ought to buy myself a besom broom to break up some of the worm casts.
In the early spring I plan to use a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent any new coarse grasses germinating, except on the areas that are still a bit thin where I'll overseed later in the spring. Actually, I might soon spot-test the pre-emergent for compatibility with my grasses, because it does say it's not for use on bent grass for some reason, and there is about 20% bent in the mix I've used.
Here's a picture taken in failing light:
Note the boustrophedonic mowing, although one day I'll learn to do it straight.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Saturday 21st November 17:48
That's taken really well, Dr Mike And what a lovely emerald green colour. Hopefully it's now putting paid to the doubtful looks from your neighbours after killing off your existing lawn 
I wonder if it's worth trying to contact the manufacturers of the pre emergent regarding use on bent grasses? It may simply be a case that it'll prevent them spreading via their rhizomes / stolons rather than harming the established grass, which I guess isn't too much of an issue temporarily whilst the pre emergent is active.
And what a lovely emerald green colour. Hopefully it's now putting paid to the doubtful looks from your neighbours after killing off your existing lawn I wonder if it's worth trying to contact the manufacturers of the pre emergent regarding use on bent grasses? It may simply be a case that it'll prevent them spreading via their rhizomes / stolons rather than harming the established grass, which I guess isn't too much of an issue temporarily whilst the pre emergent is active.
That's exactly what I'm hoping, that it might just slow bents down a bit rather than actually killing them. To be honest, I have more faith in my own practical experimentation than in what somebody in a call centre will tell me to keep me happy. I'll sprinkle some over a less conspicuous area and see what happens.
It's been great fun killing the lawn and recreating it, even though nobody else seems to understand. Only last weekend we visited a very good school friend of mine, and his wife just said: "Dave, your lawn... WHY??"
I guess that normal people - those who are not lawn geeks like the comrades who post on this thread - just don't see the faults that we see, and don't wish for the improvements that we see possible.
Sigh...
It's been great fun killing the lawn and recreating it, even though nobody else seems to understand. Only last weekend we visited a very good school friend of mine, and his wife just said: "Dave, your lawn... WHY??"
I guess that normal people - those who are not lawn geeks like the comrades who post on this thread - just don't see the faults that we see, and don't wish for the improvements that we see possible.
Sigh...
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
To be honest, I have more faith in my own practical experimentation than in what somebody in a call centre will tell me to keep me happy.
I can sympathise with that.Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
I guess that normal people - those who are not lawn geeks like the comrades who post on this thread - just don't see the faults that we see, and don't wish for the improvements that we see possible.
Sometimes I almost envy them; it'd certainly be a lot cheaper and less time consuming Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff