2015 Lawn thread
Discussion
CoolHands said:
Max M4X WW said:
So the broom, after watering works..
At some point you could replace those paving slabs with something nice, it would help the overall look of the garden IMO. They just look too flat, straight & boring - a bit like something you see in a corporate environment rather than a home garden.
replace with more grass, nicely edged. I'd shift the toilet nearer the house as well.popeyewhite said:
replace with more grass, nicely edged. I'd shift the toilet nearer the house as well.
t house? 
Have been working on redoing my lawn (currently a mud pit..) and have got the sprinkler system test laid today. Think I might need a second irrigation loop for the lawn due to lowish pressure. Gonna retest once the ground has dried after todays testing and work out what else is needed. Will also test first thing in the morning when mains water pressure should be at its highest. A pump might be all that is required to boost the pressure, but struggling to find one to fit the system. Currently using a Gardena system with 3/4 inch hosing.
CoolHands said:
Max M4X WW said:
So the broom, after watering works..
At some point you could replace those paving slabs with something nice, it would help the overall look of the garden IMO. They just look too flat, straight & boring - a bit like something you see in a corporate environment rather than a home garden.t house shed is staying and needs some sort of path laying to it as well.Happy with the grass, some more patches to sort but getting there.
Oh, I'll sort the fence too
Max M4X WW said:
The slabs will go at some point, the st house shed is staying and needs some sort of path laying to it as well.
Happy with the grass, some more patches to sort but getting there.
Oh, I'll sort the fence too
Isn't the fence your neighbours boundary? Round my way the left boundary is the home owners, not the right boundary...t house shed is staying and needs some sort of path laying to it as well.Happy with the grass, some more patches to sort but getting there.
Oh, I'll sort the fence too
RichB said:
R8VXF said:
Isn't the fence your neighbours boundary? Round my way the left boundary is the home owners, not the right boundary...
This question comes up frequently. There is no rule e.g. my mother's property has responsibility for all 3 of the boundaries (rear & both sides). Cactussed said:
Got a couple of questions.
We've just done some work on the back patio and as a result, the back garden has been a bit neglected.
Is there any reason I can't scarify out the weeds and moss then overseed at this time of year, so long as I keep it all well watered?
Grass will grow all summer or until temperatures drop.We've just done some work on the back patio and as a result, the back garden has been a bit neglected.
Is there any reason I can't scarify out the weeds and moss then overseed at this time of year, so long as I keep it all well watered?
The crucial thing about grass germination is not to let it dry out part-way through germination. If that happens, the embryo plant will die and cannot be revived by watering.
The only other major thing that matters is minimum soil temperature, and that box is well and truly ticked now so no problem on that score.
So if you're confident that you can keep it frequently watered (which probably means 2 or 3 times a day during the height of summer) then go for it! This is the one time when you can break the normal rule of watering (i.e. water infrequently but thoroughly) - for seed germination you want frequent light watering, perhaps with an occasional deeper soak.
A thin sprinkling of compost on top of the seed will help to prevent the seed itself drying out during the critical phase of germination, and will also help prevent the seed being washed around.
The only other major thing that matters is minimum soil temperature, and that box is well and truly ticked now so no problem on that score.
So if you're confident that you can keep it frequently watered (which probably means 2 or 3 times a day during the height of summer) then go for it! This is the one time when you can break the normal rule of watering (i.e. water infrequently but thoroughly) - for seed germination you want frequent light watering, perhaps with an occasional deeper soak.
A thin sprinkling of compost on top of the seed will help to prevent the seed itself drying out during the critical phase of germination, and will also help prevent the seed being washed around.
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
The crucial thing about grass germination is not to let it dry out part-way through germination. If that happens, the embryo plant will die and cannot be revived by watering.
The only other major thing that matters is minimum soil temperature, and that box is well and truly ticked now so no problem on that score.
So if you're confident that you can keep it frequently watered (which probably means 2 or 3 times a day during the height of summer) then go for it! This is the one time when you can break the normal rule of watering (i.e. water infrequently but thoroughly) - for seed germination you want frequent light watering, perhaps with an occasional deeper soak.
A thin sprinkling of compost on top of the seed will help to prevent the seed itself drying out during the critical phase of germination, and will also help prevent the seed being washed around.
Just planning my watering schedule for sowing my lawn this weekend. I have a timer for the sprinkler system, so would something like 10 minutes every 3-4 hours be ok for the first two weeks?The only other major thing that matters is minimum soil temperature, and that box is well and truly ticked now so no problem on that score.
So if you're confident that you can keep it frequently watered (which probably means 2 or 3 times a day during the height of summer) then go for it! This is the one time when you can break the normal rule of watering (i.e. water infrequently but thoroughly) - for seed germination you want frequent light watering, perhaps with an occasional deeper soak.
A thin sprinkling of compost on top of the seed will help to prevent the seed itself drying out during the critical phase of germination, and will also help prevent the seed being washed around.
R8VXF said:
Just planning my watering schedule for sowing my lawn this weekend. I have a timer for the sprinkler system, so would something like 10 minutes every 3-4 hours be ok for the first two weeks?
Sounds good to my amateur ears! 
Edited to add: In fact, I did something very similar after scarifying and overseeding last autumn. I had three water timers (actually two, but one is a dual jobby), and bought a couple of cheapo sprinklers from Tesco. I could just about cover the whole lawn with the three sprinklers, and programmed the timers to come on at staggered times - the water pressure couldn't run more than one at a time.
Using water timers definitely takes the pressure off you.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Friday 5th June 12:10
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
The crucial thing about grass germination is not to let it dry out part-way through germination. If that happens, the embryo plant will die and cannot be revived by watering.
The only other major thing that matters is minimum soil temperature, and that box is well and truly ticked now so no problem on that score.
So if you're confident that you can keep it frequently watered (which probably means 2 or 3 times a day during the height of summer) then go for it! This is the one time when you can break the normal rule of watering (i.e. water infrequently but thoroughly) - for seed germination you want frequent light watering, perhaps with an occasional deeper soak.
A thin sprinkling of compost on top of the seed will help to prevent the seed itself drying out during the critical phase of germination, and will also help prevent the seed being washed around.
I've just put down 150m2 od grass seed, I plenty on ( about 3 times the packet recommendation ) and raked it in then used a flat wooden board which I jumped up and down on to compact it down a bit, this was last Friday and it's been raining a lot since then so hopefully I'll see it coming up in the next few days. The only other major thing that matters is minimum soil temperature, and that box is well and truly ticked now so no problem on that score.
So if you're confident that you can keep it frequently watered (which probably means 2 or 3 times a day during the height of summer) then go for it! This is the one time when you can break the normal rule of watering (i.e. water infrequently but thoroughly) - for seed germination you want frequent light watering, perhaps with an occasional deeper soak.
A thin sprinkling of compost on top of the seed will help to prevent the seed itself drying out during the critical phase of germination, and will also help prevent the seed being washed around.
Do I need to water the grass once it's coming up? I assumed not, I mean out in the fields you just scatter the seed and let it get on with it.
C.A.R. said:
I'm replying to this thread on recommendation following my playhouse thread revealing how terrible the lawn is.
We rent property privately so I begrudge spending vast amounts of money on prettifying things, but have spent a lot of time in the garden lately and plan to be in this property for the next 5 years or so, so it makes sense to work at improving the lawn.
It's quite sizeable - the fence is about 30 meters from the house and the lawn stretches the full length of the garden. It's not really been looked after for a long time (if ever) and is incredibly un-even and full of weeds. There are patches missing, yellowed and just general tattyness.
Pictures below (excuse 2yr old) showing current state. Would appreciate any advice on the first steps towards creating something presentable whilst bearing in mind the constant use of the garden by my little family;
More weed than grass!!
Error 404: lawn not found
My suggestion for now would be a selective weedkiller, such as Verdone. Followed by fertiliser. Then for the next few months, water and regular cuts on a high setting. Then in September when the weather has cooled a bit try overseeding.We rent property privately so I begrudge spending vast amounts of money on prettifying things, but have spent a lot of time in the garden lately and plan to be in this property for the next 5 years or so, so it makes sense to work at improving the lawn.
It's quite sizeable - the fence is about 30 meters from the house and the lawn stretches the full length of the garden. It's not really been looked after for a long time (if ever) and is incredibly un-even and full of weeds. There are patches missing, yellowed and just general tattyness.
Pictures below (excuse 2yr old) showing current state. Would appreciate any advice on the first steps towards creating something presentable whilst bearing in mind the constant use of the garden by my little family;
More weed than grass!!
Error 404: lawn not found
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
The crucial thing about grass germination is not to let it dry out part-way through germination. If that happens, the embryo plant will die and cannot be revived by watering.
The only other major thing that matters is minimum soil temperature, and that box is well and truly ticked now so no problem on that score.
So if you're confident that you can keep it frequently watered (which probably means 2 or 3 times a day during the height of summer) then go for it! This is the one time when you can break the normal rule of watering (i.e. water infrequently but thoroughly) - for seed germination you want frequent light watering, perhaps with an occasional deeper soak.
A thin sprinkling of compost on top of the seed will help to prevent the seed itself drying out during the critical phase of germination, and will also help prevent the seed being washed around.
Agree with all that but would add that topsoil or a topsoil/compost mix holds a bit more water and therefore takes longer to dry out.The only other major thing that matters is minimum soil temperature, and that box is well and truly ticked now so no problem on that score.
So if you're confident that you can keep it frequently watered (which probably means 2 or 3 times a day during the height of summer) then go for it! This is the one time when you can break the normal rule of watering (i.e. water infrequently but thoroughly) - for seed germination you want frequent light watering, perhaps with an occasional deeper soak.
A thin sprinkling of compost on top of the seed will help to prevent the seed itself drying out during the critical phase of germination, and will also help prevent the seed being washed around.
I have done all sorts of brutal surgery to various lawns throughout the summer months and have always had good results. Warm soil + sun + water has always worked for me.
I haven'd used timers but have, for example, given the lawn a bit of water before going to work in the morning and again when I've returned in the evening.
Even better is to do any seeding just before the onset of wet weather - like the week we've just had. The wife thought I was nuts seeding and topsoiling the lawn late last Thursday evening but I was doing it with one eye on the weather - it's rained pretty much every day since.
The new grass is shooting nicely and I've had to do no more than and often less than one water per day - result.
AC43 said:
Even better is to do any seeding just before the onset of wet weather - like the week we've just had. The wife thought I was nuts seeding and topsoiling the lawn late last Thursday evening but I was doing it with one eye on the weather - it's rained pretty much every day since.
Being a farmer this is exactly what I always do. I seeded last weekend because wet was forecast and I've got 50m2 left to do and I'm waiting for the next decent rainy spell forecast for the 16th to seed that. No point scattering the seed now so it just sits there getting eaten by birds and mice. Me and the missus are moving into my parents home sooner rather than later (they are downsizing) and with it comes a massive garden including a large ish lawn. Our current house only has a small garden which we use to hang washing out in, with a few trees and plants but it has no definition, we are not green fingered! Hoping with this garden will bring out the gardener in us both.
Anyway he has a petrol mower plus a sit on he recently bought but it is a little daunting to have to look after this! Once we get settled in i will post some pictures and keep an eye on this thread for tips!
Welcome to the land of the lawn!
Anyway he has a petrol mower plus a sit on he recently bought but it is a little daunting to have to look after this! Once we get settled in i will post some pictures and keep an eye on this thread for tips!
Welcome to the land of the lawn!
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