2016 Lawn thread
Discussion
Yes it will, but you'll need to really keep on top of watering to keep it moist to ensure that as much seed as possible germinates and survives into seedling stage. If you have any plastic sheeting to cover it during the day when you're not in for the first week it'll help to retain moisture.
Lawn I turfed earlier in the year has done ok, but some bits are a bit worse for wear. I'm not convinced it's meshed to the topsoil in all places (I was aerating with a fork and it still pulled upwards), and you can see in some places it's a bit patchy, although it looks ok from above!
Any reason not to scarily relatively new turf? Was thinking of raking out the dead and then overdressing with shady lawn seed mix and some top soil...
Front lawn needs de-missing I think, although again it might just need a really good rake!
Any reason not to scarily relatively new turf? Was thinking of raking out the dead and then overdressing with shady lawn seed mix and some top soil...
Front lawn needs de-missing I think, although again it might just need a really good rake!
Poor rooting in turf that's been down for a few months could just be an indication that it's been watered little and often rather than deeply but infrequently. There could be issues with the rootzone, but assuming that the ground prep was done properly and there isn't severe compaction or hollow areas underneath then it's most likely that imho.
Leatherjackets and chafer grubs can cause similar problems as they eat away at the roots so that in the worst infestations you can roll the grass up like carpet, but on newish turf over the summer this would be unlikely.
No reason not to overseed newish turf if you want to introduce more shade tolerant varieties. I would take the opportunity to cut and peel back the turf where you've seen issues with poor rooting, just to make sure that there isn't an issue with the rootzone underneath.
Leatherjackets and chafer grubs can cause similar problems as they eat away at the roots so that in the worst infestations you can roll the grass up like carpet, but on newish turf over the summer this would be unlikely.
No reason not to overseed newish turf if you want to introduce more shade tolerant varieties. I would take the opportunity to cut and peel back the turf where you've seen issues with poor rooting, just to make sure that there isn't an issue with the rootzone underneath.
Dejay1788 said:
Any ideas how I can get these patches of mud growing a little grass? I put down seed last year and it's improved it quite a bit, is it just a case of doing it again this year or am I missing something?
Those are odd little patches. I would dig the soil out, replace with fresh and then overseed. How's the drainage in the rest of the lawn? The grass looks really quite thin towards the left, quite possibly from excessive shade. If that's the case then a shade tolerant seed mix and increasing the height of cut would help.jagnet said:
Those are odd little patches. I would dig the soil out, replace with fresh and then overseed. How's the drainage in the rest of the lawn? The grass looks really quite thin towards the left, quite possibly from excessive shade. If that's the case then a shade tolerant seed mix and increasing the height of cut would help.
Thanks, I'll try that. The left side is mostly shaded and due to the alley at the side of the house being there that patch of grass takes a right battering when the wind picks up. The drainage is okay, it never pools. EDIT: The big patch was where the dog decided to dig a hole
I would avoid combined products. Spot spraying individual weeds, or a more general dose on troublesome areas only is better - better results, better for the lawn and better on the wallet. Resolva and Weedol are both available from most outlets in ready to spray bottles or concentrated form to use in larger sprayers.
For bulk fertiliser then Pitchcare.com is hard to beat.
For bulk fertiliser then Pitchcare.com is hard to beat.
made a start on our Aerations and Scarifications today now it feels like autumn has arrived! tell you what though, found no end of Chafer grubs! I'd be getting some Leather Jackets Nematodes down aswel with teh amount of cranefly that have been around this year.
I forgot how much hard work this is when you do it all day!
I forgot how much hard work this is when you do it all day!
jrinns said:
So sacked off the company who applied product every quarter.
Got large lawns 1000sq metres , anyone recommend bulk products feed and weed ?
Or advice, not got loads of weeds but need to weed killer areas.
can you get a picture of the weeds or an identification on them? if youv'e had one of the lawn treatment companys often you will be left with the stubborn weeds like speedwell/woodrush/dog violets etc, really you need to know what weed you are dealing with before you buy anythingGot large lawns 1000sq metres , anyone recommend bulk products feed and weed ?
Or advice, not got loads of weeds but need to weed killer areas.
as above, avoid combined products its just cheaply made rubbish, for the time of year I'd be more looking towards an iron based feed to also keep any moss at bay too. for the size of lawn aswell I'd invest in a good quality knapsack, CP3's are bullet proof and easy to maintain aswell, shouldn't ever need replacing. or a good spreader if you will mainly be using pellet stuff
Rib said:
made a start on our Aerations and Scarifications today now it feels like autumn has arrived! tell you what though, found no end of Chafer grubs! I'd be getting some Leather Jackets Nematodes down aswel with teh amount of cranefly that have been around this year.
I forgot how much hard work this is when you do it all day!
Ha ha, that picture sums up the process / time of year! Last did mine in spring, hope it isnt so bad when I do it in a few weeks time!I forgot how much hard work this is when you do it all day!
jagnet said:
I was still cutting mine on new year's day. Hopefully we'll get a rather colder winter this year.
might kill some of the slugs / snails off too. I have never seen as many than this year. if I'm up early ( 3-4am ) the front is covered in them. big ones too. the snails are climbing upto the eaves this year ( another sight I have never seen before ). even saw one trapped in a spiders web this morning when I looked out the window.Turbodiesel1976 said:
My 2016 lawns - still completely full of moss and weeds. I don't have time to work on them so just try to keep them as neat and tidy as poss
Keep the cut on the high side to help out compete the moss. An occasional quick spray of individual weeds with a bottle of Verdone as you pass over them with the mower will help to keep them under control, even if you don't eliminate every one. Grass is very good at taking care of itself with minimal input provided that it's cut regularly.
MDMA . said:
might kill some of the slugs / snails off too. I have never seen as many than this year. if I'm up early ( 3-4am ) the front is covered in them. big ones too. the snails are climbing upto the eaves this year ( another sight I have never seen before ). even saw one trapped in a spiders web this morning when I looked out the window.
Who was more surprised - you, the snail or the spider? 
It has been a bad year for excess slugs this year thanks to last winter
On the plus side, my nematodes have been enjoying the feast.
MDMA . said:
might kill some of the slugs / snails off too. I have never seen as many than this year. if I'm up early ( 3-4am ) the front is covered in them. big ones too. the snails are climbing upto the eaves this year ( another sight I have never seen before ). even saw one trapped in a spiders web this morning when I looked out the window.
Really hadnt seen many, esp compared to my last house but it was by a lake. This year, my one and only sunflower that was up to 6ft tallk got decapitated. Couldnt understand it until I spotted a big b4stard slug crawling down the wall and stretching out to get to the sunflower. Honestly the cheeky little git, I put him and 2 of his brothers in the wheelie bin or though I have to say the temptation to a give him a horrible death involving flames or similar was very high.
At least once a day, several times a day in hot sunny weather. The main thing is to keep the seeds constantly moist whilst they germinate and whilst they remain delicate seedlings. As their roots develop then gradually reduce the watering from little and often to deeper and infrequent.
Covering the bare soil with sheets of plastic or even a layer of straw until shoots have appeared will help to retain moisture and warmth.
If the Aftercut is just fertiliser then a light dose can be helpful. If it contains any weedkiller then best to avoid. Off the top of my head I forget now exactly what it contains.
Covering the bare soil with sheets of plastic or even a layer of straw until shoots have appeared will help to retain moisture and warmth.
If the Aftercut is just fertiliser then a light dose can be helpful. If it contains any weedkiller then best to avoid. Off the top of my head I forget now exactly what it contains.
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