2015 Lawn thread

[wjwren]

I would advise in buying a decent make. Ive got a non branded petrol - had it just over a year. It's now packed up and wont start. Tried everything and in the end took it to a place and they couldnt fix it and said as it was a Chinese piece of crap they would be unable to get parts. Bloke said if you buy anything make sure it's a known make. So id do as above and get a 2nd hand Honda or something with a Briggs & strat engine.

[RichB]

I got a Hayter similar to this, rear roller, Briggs & Stratton, self propelled - starts first pull every time. And... it's British Racing Green

[Willeh85]

I bought the push version of that this year for my smallish garden and I've been really happy with it.

[Burwood]

ukwill said:

Burwood said:

It's just a bit of fun for his kids. Not meant to be a challenge.

I think it's a great idea! Out of interest, does he maintain it or does he get someone in with knowledge of golf greens?

He is OCD and does all the work himself. Rollers and a special mower but the chemicals which cost hundreds per litre is the final key to keeping weeds out. Even worms cause a panic attack lol

[Richyboy]

My tiny patch of lawn looks a disgrace. All I do is cut it when it looks long with a bosch electric mower.

Is there a cheap way of getting it to a nice lush green?

[RichB]

Richyboy said:

Is there a cheap way of getting it to a nice lush green?

Yep, it's all pretty cheap, mostly just requires effort.

Cut some neat edges, scarify, top dress, feed, rake, occasionally attend to weeds & moss, cut frequently with a sharp mower, use edging shears every time you mow... and repeat week after week, year on year.

[Patch888]

My garden has the same dull area on it, I'm after a cheap fix too, sure you don't have a sinkhole behind that shed??

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Richyboy said:

Is there a cheap way of getting it to a nice lush green?

You need to feed it, water it, and don't mow it as short as you are - mow it frequently (at least once a week), but put your mower on a higher setting. A bag of granular lawn food will cost £25, but will treat 400 square metres so will last you a while if you keep it dry. If you use a feed-only product with no weedkiller or moss killer in it (looks like you don't need either), then you could weigh out the correct amount and scatter by hand - or get a drop spreader for about £30. A sprinkler needn't cost more than a tenner.

The other thing you can do is fork it to improve penetration of water and nutrients - stick a garden fork in every 6 inches and wiggle it about. Quite hard work, but will be easier if you do it after rain or watering.

All these things will cost only modest investment and will soon get that lawn looking great over the next month or two - and it's not looking too bad at the moment, just a bit under-fed, parched and mowed too short.

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Saturday 20th June 15:32

[RichB]

Personally I prefer liquid feed to granular and I swear by Maxicrop seaweed extract lawn tonic.

[hacksaw]

Quick picture of my lawn after a good few months work on it. Unfortunately I have no before pics.



At the beginning of the year it was a mass of moss, absolutely covered as the lawn is north facing and spends a lot of time in shade. Fortunately it's quite small so I can do most of the jobs it's needed by hand.

Around April time is was heavily scarified, then hollow tined, top dressed and fertilised. Now I use a monthly granular fertiliser and a weekly liquid fertiliser applied at a low rate. Cut either two or three times a week, weather and growth dependant. Still a lot to do but I am hopeful for next year now, this year really been about rebuilding.

[R8VXF]

Looking good there hacksaw

[hacksaw]

R8VXF said:

Looking good there hacksaw

Cheers, think the pic flatters it!

[tim0409]

Hi

Following a discussion on here I have decided to scarify my lawn; I know it's late in the season but it badly needs it. One of the franchise lawn companies came out and had a look at it but haven't bothered calling me back (for a second time) so I was planning on hiring a scarifier and then I saw this -

http://www.diy.com/departments/mac-allister-msrp18...

Given it will cost me circa. £30 to hire, can I go to far wrong at £72?

Tim

[jagnet]

tim0409 said:

http://www.diy.com/departments/mac-allister-msrp18...

Given it will cost me circa. £30 to hire, can I go to far wrong at £72?

That's more glorified rake than scarifier tbh. It'll do for raking out moss but I can't see it coping with heavy thatch layers and hardened ground, it's just too light, too underpowered and doesn't look strong enough.

Compare this:



with this (smaller) SISIS machine:



Or better yet this one designed to cope with heavier scarification rather than already well maintained turf:



If your lawn is bad then for its first scarification hiring a proper machine is well worth it. By all means get the B&Q one for maintaining it afterwards, but it's not going to cope well with heavy demands.

I would also urge waiting a couple of months before doing it. Aside from the depths of winter, July / August really is the worst time of year to be trying to scarify and reseed, whereas end of August and into September is the best time. And if you do it now, then you'll not be able to use the lawn afterwards at the very time of the year that you're most likely to want to.

[jagnet]

hacksaw said:

Quick picture of my lawn after a good few months work on it. Unfortunately I have no before pics.

That's looking excellent, even more so for a shaded lawn

[wjwren]

any advice on over seeding? I killed part of my grass the other month from applying too much weed and feed. It hasnt come back and looks dead. Shall i use a spade and take the top layer off the grass to rake it, cut it short and then seed it? If I do this do i need to apply soil on top of the seed?
thanks

[R8VXF]

Lawn is nearly there now after seeding 2 1/2 weeks ago. Got a few bare patches still, but they seem to be filling in pretty rapidly so will overseed again at the weekend.

[Timmy40]

On the plus side my lawn is now looking very very good overall, the grass has come up nice and thick, and it's getting watered everyday. On the negative side the local rabbits have decided it's a lovely spot to dig holes.

Have now purchased an airgun to get the rabbits and a 36" concrete roller for my ride on to level the lawn.

[wjwren]

have just bought this to keep the birds off, gives a high pitched noise out. Keeps foxes birds mice etc off.

[Timmy40]

wjwren said:

have just bought this to keep the birds off, gives a high pitched noise out. Keeps foxes birds mice etc off.

hmmm could be worth a try. Might deter rabbits too?