2016 Lawn thread

[RYH64E]

Inkyfingers said:

Going to scarify and oversees my lawn this weekend, i'm hoping i've not left it too late in the year?

I had mine scarified and overseeded a week ago and it looks terrible, it's gone from being lush and green to a wasteland of brown grass and bare earth, my gardener assures me I'll see the benefit in the Spring... I'm hoping that there's enough heat left in the soil for the seed to germinate and existing grass to recover this year, I had the same done last year even later in the year (mid Oct) and it recovered nicely, but last year was a freak year when I was still cutting the grass nearly up to Christmas.

[jagnet]

I'd be nervous of starting now if scarifying heavily on a neglected lawn and overseeding with bents/fescues only. It should be ok for another week plus, but it doesn't take much shade over the lawn to really start slowing things down. It also won't then leave opportunity to add more seed to thinner patches. Ryegrass mixes will be fine for at least a couple more weeks down in the south, and a lawn that needs relatively little scarifying should recover in plenty of time.

Ground temps are still good at the moment, although it's not the best weather at the moment, at least where I am. Cooler easterlies, plenty of cloud without the benefit of rain, and sunshine when it comes is often in the afternoon which never seems to be as beneficial as morning sunshine for new grass (why, I don't know).

There's a noticeable slowing down in germination speed between the first lawns that I did this autumn and the last ones. I'm rather glad that I decided to postpone the last and largest lawn until spring for (likely) a complete overhaul rather than renovation. Meanwhile it's back to working on the house again, but that also includes work on the shed so it's not all bad.

[RYH64E]

jagnet said:

I'd be nervous of starting now if scarifying heavily on a neglected lawn and overseeding with bents/fescues only. It should be ok for another week plus, but it doesn't take much shade over the lawn to really start slowing things down. It also won't then leave opportunity to add more seed to thinner patches. Ryegrass mixes will be fine for at least a couple more weeks down in the south, and a lawn that needs relatively little scarifying should recover in plenty of time.

Ground temps are still good at the moment, although it's not the best weather at the moment, at least where I am. Cooler easterlies, plenty of cloud without the benefit of rain, and sunshine when it comes is often in the afternoon which never seems to be as beneficial as morning sunshine for new grass (why, I don't know).

There's a noticeable slowing down in germination speed between the first lawns that I did this autumn and the last ones. I'm rather glad that I decided to postpone the last and largest lawn until spring for (likely) a complete overhaul rather than renovation. Meanwhile it's back to working on the house again, but that also includes work on the shed so it's not all bad.

Interestingly, I had a call from Greenthumb to ask if I wanted my lawn scarifying at the same time as my Autumn treatment that's due the week after next, I thought that was too late but as I'd had it done over a week ago it was irrelevant anyway.

[8-P]

jagnet said:

I'd be nervous of starting now if scarifying heavily on a neglected lawn and overseeding with bents/fescues only. It should be ok for another week plus, but it doesn't take much shade over the lawn to really start slowing things down. It also won't then leave opportunity to add more seed to thinner patches. Ryegrass mixes will be fine for at least a couple more weeks down in the south, and a lawn that needs relatively little scarifying should recover in plenty of time.

Ground temps are still good at the moment, although it's not the best weather at the moment, at least where I am. Cooler easterlies, plenty of cloud without the benefit of rain, and sunshine when it comes is often in the afternoon which never seems to be as beneficial as morning sunshine for new grass (why, I don't know).

There's a noticeable slowing down in germination speed between the first lawns that I did this autumn and the last ones. I'm rather glad that I decided to postpone the last and largest lawn until spring for (likely) a complete overhaul rather than renovation. Meanwhile it's back to working on the house again, but that also includes work on the shed so it's not all bad.

My shadiest corner of my lawn is ALWAYS in shade, very hard to get the grass growing, its also very wet, probably because it never gets the warmth of the sun to dry it out. I overseeded this time last week but I reckon itll be weeks before I see any signs of life.

[MX51ROD]

DIY lawn kit

Half way there


Finally the finished lawn , we ran the turfs into the flower beds so that the lawn will be well eatablished in the spring , at that time we will trim back and maybe some edging
The electric fence is to keep foxes and cats of off of the new grass

[mikees]

MX51ROD said:

DIY lawn kit

Half way there


Finally the finished lawn , we ran the turfs into the flower beds so that the lawn will be well eatablished in the spring , at that time we will trim back and maybe some edging
The electric fence is to keep foxes and cats of off of the new grass

That needs a one foot high plastic trex to complete the Jurassic park look.

[MX51ROD]

mikees said:

That needs a one foot high plastic trex to complete the Jurassic park look.

[LHRFlightman]

MX51ROD said:

mikees said:

That needs a one foot high plastic trex to complete the Jurassic park look.

Have another.

[HotJambalaya]

Just had half my lawn dug up to move from a septic tank to the mains, and am wondering what to do now. Do I re-seed now? or do I let it settle, or push it down with something? In addition most of the rest of the lawn is moss, so maybe a good time to scarify it all?

Is this even the right time to be doing all this?

[joestifff]

This is the progress so far of my new rear lawn.

I have also ordered the following from lawnsmith.co.uk:
New turf fertiliser - http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/prod/lawn-fertiliser-pr...
Autumn Feed, although maybe not this autumn do we think?? - http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/prod/lawn-fertiliser-pr...
Spring feed - http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/prod/lawn-fertiliser-pr...

I am led to believe these DO NOT stain hard surface, anyone used and confirm?

Can anyone recommend a wheeled spreader, was thinking this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotts-Miracle-Gro-EasyGr...

anyone used it???

Also got some Verdone spray (might attack front lawn with this also)

So have laid the top soil all down, giving it a bit of a tamper down with boards to get flat, with the amount of rain we've had it's been hard to rake flat:




Then getting it level:



(yes, still need to finish the pergola!!!)

My next plan is to fill the small divots left with sharp sand, as I have some of that left. Or should I go get more bags of top soil????

Then a light rake, and lay turf this weekend, being delivered Friday all being well. Then walk and jump on the boards on top of turf once down. Am I doing it right???? Then put new lawn fertiliser on after that, water for two weeks etc etc.

[8-P]

joestifff said:

This is the progress so far of my new rear lawn.

I have also ordered the following from lawnsmith.co.uk:
New turf fertiliser - http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/prod/lawn-fertiliser-pr...
Autumn Feed, although maybe not this autumn do we think?? - http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/prod/lawn-fertiliser-pr...
Spring feed - http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/prod/lawn-fertiliser-pr...

I am led to believe these DO NOT stain hard surface, anyone used and confirm?

Can anyone recommend a wheeled spreader, was thinking this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotts-Miracle-Gro-EasyGr...

anyone used it???

Also got some Verdone spray (might attack front lawn with this also)

So have laid the top soil all down, giving it a bit of a tamper down with boards to get flat, with the amount of rain we've had it's been hard to rake flat:




Then getting it level:



(yes, still need to finish the pergola!!!)

My next plan is to fill the small divots left with sharp sand, as I have some of that left. Or should I go get more bags of top soil????

Then a light rake, and lay turf this weekend, being delivered Friday all being well. Then walk and jump on the boards on top of turf once down. Am I doing it right???? Then put new lawn fertiliser on after that, water for two weeks etc etc.

Looking good, be warned though my seeded patches have taken over 2 weeks to show any signs of life and they are south facing so plenty of sun and extra warmth. Could take you quite some time to get a "lawn" Id be tempted to turf.

[joestifff]

8-P said:

joestifff said:

This is the progress so far of my new rear lawn.

I have also ordered the following from lawnsmith.co.uk:
New turf fertiliser - http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/prod/lawn-fertiliser-pr...
Autumn Feed, although maybe not this autumn do we think?? - http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/prod/lawn-fertiliser-pr...
Spring feed - http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/prod/lawn-fertiliser-pr...

I am led to believe these DO NOT stain hard surface, anyone used and confirm?

Can anyone recommend a wheeled spreader, was thinking this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotts-Miracle-Gro-EasyGr...

anyone used it???

Also got some Verdone spray (might attack front lawn with this also)

So have laid the top soil all down, giving it a bit of a tamper down with boards to get flat, with the amount of rain we've had it's been hard to rake flat:




Then getting it level:



(yes, still need to finish the pergola!!!)

My next plan is to fill the small divots left with sharp sand, as I have some of that left. Or should I go get more bags of top soil????

Then a light rake, and lay turf this weekend, being delivered Friday all being well. Then walk and jump on the boards on top of turf once down. Am I doing it right???? Then put new lawn fertiliser on after that, water for two weeks etc etc.

Looking good, be warned though my seeded patches have taken over 2 weeks to show any signs of life and they are south facing so plenty of sun and extra warmth. Could take you quite some time to get a "lawn" Id be tempted to turf.

Sorry, I clearly hadn't made it clear, this will be turfed.

[8-P]

joestifff said:

Sorry, I clearly hadn't made it clear, this will be turfed.

Good choice !

[Rib]

https://www.pitchcare.com/shop/hand-spreaders/icl-...

they are a fantastic little spreader, seems expensive for a hand spreader but ours have lasted often daily use for years and spread very evenly and take up very little space. much easier to do than a wheeled spreader on small lanws

[Joe M]

That looks like mine, it was a fair bit cheaper in b&q though. They like to jam a bit at first, but spraying some wd40 through the gaps and under the impeller into the inner gubbins sorted it right out.

[mikeiow]

Looks interesting.....only around £13 on the bay of E !

[Rib]

if you look closely there are 2 designs, one with the join running vertically through the middle and the one I linked in joined with an overlap half way down. the cheaper ones are generally utter trash, I bought some and upon first use jammed and snapped the handle off. it may not be quite so bad with the cheaper powder type fertiliser but our stuff is a bit more solid.

The one I linked to is far superior and will last as long as you want it

[Joe M]

Like I said, a bit of wd40 to loosen it off and it's fine, been using lawnsmith granular with no issues. I do beleive the more expensive one will be better, depends on how much it will get used I suppose.

[MX51ROD]

2 weeks on and the combination of rain and mild weather has meant the turfs are well established

[8-P]

MX51ROD said:

2 weeks on and the combination of rain and mild weather has meant the turfs are well established

Looking good, some rain would help it too.

My lawn is looking a bit yellowy, not disaterously so but I noticed up at the park today the grass looked the same, guess its the time of year?