2016 Lawn thread
Discussion
2 weeks ago:
Now starting to really see improvements!
Depending on the level of the sleepers once they're, we'll are likely just to seed it.
Any recommendations on how to level the lawn? I don't have a roller but do have some large tyres so could walk up and down rolling them, then rake, then repeat?
Now starting to really see improvements!
Depending on the level of the sleepers once they're, we'll are likely just to seed it.
Any recommendations on how to level the lawn? I don't have a roller but do have some large tyres so could walk up and down rolling them, then rake, then repeat?
Unbelievable! Having put up the fence I ordered to keep our dog out of the area I seeded, b
d squirrels appear to be digging holes in another part of the lawn! Our friends came round and said apparently they try and bury stuff or some such. My gf went out this morning to find literally about thirty 2" wide holes everywhere underneath our apple tree! Does anyone else have this problem? I've dusted off the air rifle and ordered some pellets. There's a perfect firing position from our bedroom window.
d squirrels appear to be digging holes in another part of the lawn! Our friends came round and said apparently they try and bury stuff or some such. My gf went out this morning to find literally about thirty 2" wide holes everywhere underneath our apple tree! Does anyone else have this problem? I've dusted off the air rifle and ordered some pellets. There's a perfect firing position from our bedroom window.BRISTOL86 said:
Hey guys
Just bought a Husqvarna 64 push mower. Love the look of it and something very much appeals to me about using a hand mower for some reason!
Never had one before...any major dos and donts to keep it in good nick?
Good choice of mower Just bought a Husqvarna 64 push mower. Love the look of it and something very much appeals to me about using a hand mower for some reason!
Never had one before...any major dos and donts to keep it in good nick?
As with any mower, cleaning after use helps keep it in good condition. Bilt Hamber's Ferrosol maintenance oil is excellent for corrosion prevention.
Because of their lighter construction the push mowers are more susceptible to heat expansion affecting tolerances. Leaving it out in the sun will noticeably close the gap between reel and bottom blade which will then increase wear on both and make it harder to push. Always check the gap before starting, although once you've used it a few times that can usually be done accurately enough just by listening to it as it turns.
Finally, better to make two passes of the lawn than take a lot of height off in one go. More so than with petrol mowers.
Well after discussing my concerns last week that my grass seed wasn't germinating up here in NE Scotland, I'm now seeing green shoots 2 weeks after spreading.
HOWEVER I now seem to have attracted a large male pheasant which is spending all day eating my seeds, there isn't going to be any left at this rate
Any advice? (Illegal to shoot at this time of year, already looked into it)
HOWEVER I now seem to have attracted a large male pheasant which is spending all day eating my seeds, there isn't going to be any left at this rate
Any advice? (Illegal to shoot at this time of year, already looked into it)jagnet said:
Good choice of mower
As with any mower, cleaning after use helps keep it in good condition. Bilt Hamber's Ferrosol maintenance oil is excellent for corrosion prevention.
Because of their lighter construction the push mowers are more susceptible to heat expansion affecting tolerances. Leaving it out in the sun will noticeably close the gap between reel and bottom blade which will then increase wear on both and make it harder to push. Always check the gap before starting, although once you've used it a few times that can usually be done accurately enough just by listening to it as it turns.
Finally, better to make two passes of the lawn than take a lot of height off in one go. More so than with petrol mowers.
Thanks Jagnet! As with any mower, cleaning after use helps keep it in good condition. Bilt Hamber's Ferrosol maintenance oil is excellent for corrosion prevention.
Because of their lighter construction the push mowers are more susceptible to heat expansion affecting tolerances. Leaving it out in the sun will noticeably close the gap between reel and bottom blade which will then increase wear on both and make it harder to push. Always check the gap before starting, although once you've used it a few times that can usually be done accurately enough just by listening to it as it turns.
Finally, better to make two passes of the lawn than take a lot of height off in one go. More so than with petrol mowers.
Although I've made a reasonable stab at repairing the lawn, it's still going to be patchy I think, so I'll be cutting high anyway as it hides a multitude of sins!
We're moving to a brand new place, with brand new recently turfed front and back gardens. Total around 200-250sq m of grass (pretty much split equally). It looks lush and green and soft underfoot at the moment, and i'd like to keep it that way.
We also have a Boxer, who will likely do his best to destroy the back garden, but i want the front looking immaculate.
Any suggestions for mower and general grass maintenance? I'll need to get a new (petrol) mower for the job and any necessary tools.
We also have a Boxer, who will likely do his best to destroy the back garden, but i want the front looking immaculate.
Any suggestions for mower and general grass maintenance? I'll need to get a new (petrol) mower for the job and any necessary tools.
Question for the brains on here...
Ive spent the last month or 2 'fixing' my front lawn, and while its by no means perfect now its what I would describe as 'good'. Doesnt need any more fert now as the fert applied last month should last a while, and has been recently overseeded. Also had weedkiller and mosskiller on fairly recently, and no obvious moss or weed problems. Only real issue is that there is quite a bit of wide leaf grass and some areas which are a bit bare from when the moss was removed - hoping these should fill in naturally as its been seeded again.
But the question is how the keep it looking nice? What treatments do I need - ideally not some stupidly expensive feed and seed or after cut.
Ive spent the last month or 2 'fixing' my front lawn, and while its by no means perfect now its what I would describe as 'good'. Doesnt need any more fert now as the fert applied last month should last a while, and has been recently overseeded. Also had weedkiller and mosskiller on fairly recently, and no obvious moss or weed problems. Only real issue is that there is quite a bit of wide leaf grass and some areas which are a bit bare from when the moss was removed - hoping these should fill in naturally as its been seeded again.
But the question is how the keep it looking nice? What treatments do I need - ideally not some stupidly expensive feed and seed or after cut.
Johnnytheboy said:
Like an alcoloholic, my lawn has now reached rock bottom and can start to recover.
It's a very heavy clay and was very wet and mossy. Apart from digging the zig zag land drain that explains the stripe across the 2nd image, I have weed/feed/mosskilled it (though it was rained on a bit heavily soon after so it may not have been 100% effective), then scarified it and finally top-dressed it with a mix of 1.5 tonnes of top-dressing and 0.5 tonne of top soil.
Now to seed it with some shade loving seed and watch it (I hope!) recover.
OK, here's two pics taken from the same view points. New seed is still coming through in some patches but the lawn overall looks a helluva lot better.It's a very heavy clay and was very wet and mossy. Apart from digging the zig zag land drain that explains the stripe across the 2nd image, I have weed/feed/mosskilled it (though it was rained on a bit heavily soon after so it may not have been 100% effective), then scarified it and finally top-dressed it with a mix of 1.5 tonnes of top-dressing and 0.5 tonne of top soil.
Now to seed it with some shade loving seed and watch it (I hope!) recover.
It's certainly growing!
Joe M said:
Similar issue to yourself, Ive had 2 large wood pigeons in my garden since seeding. The shoots im now seeing seem to be in isolated spots, or coming from the holes where the lawn was aerated. The bare patches are still bare and I cant see any seed left
Some raisins and sleeping pills...cg360 said:
Just looking for a recommendation here. My lawn is a working effort (7 and 9 year old) but in reasonably good nick. It is covered in dandelions this year, however. My father mentioned Verdon (?) as a solution. Any better ideas?
Dug mine out by hand 
not always a practical option though8-P said:
cg360 said:
Just looking for a recommendation here. My lawn is a working effort (7 and 9 year old) but in reasonably good nick. It is covered in dandelions this year, however. My father mentioned Verdon (?) as a solution. Any better ideas?
Dug mine out by hand not always a practical option thoughFound one of these at my in laws house, and promptly 'borrowed' it.
http://www.fiskars.co.uk/products/gardening/lawn-c...
Took me three runs to clear the fluffy headed swines, as I didn't want to hammer a particular area to death, instead taking a few at a time across the whole lawn so it didn't resemble a mini version of the Somme.
Does a really good job, leaves a little hole, so have a bag of patching top soil handy.
When you pull one, and the whole root comes out with it, it's strangely rewarding.
Recommended.
haha! Noobs!
Fisrt year, I tried the 4 in 1 grit based killer, but it had limited effect - so I dutifully dug out the dandelions by hand. Took ages. I was really careful to get the tap root as well.
They came back with a vengeance I've not seen in peace time.
I resorted to chemicals - get the spray bottle one with 2 or 3 of the hormone based killers (they have names like 2,3 hoojit, and mecapop-p, that sort of thing). First go over makes them grow all twisted, then look ill. Second go was like a tactical nuke.
This year, they've not come back. I can heartily reccomend Verdun et all, but specifically in the liquid form. The poweder one didn't cut the mustard for me.
Fisrt year, I tried the 4 in 1 grit based killer, but it had limited effect - so I dutifully dug out the dandelions by hand. Took ages. I was really careful to get the tap root as well.
They came back with a vengeance I've not seen in peace time.
I resorted to chemicals - get the spray bottle one with 2 or 3 of the hormone based killers (they have names like 2,3 hoojit, and mecapop-p, that sort of thing). First go over makes them grow all twisted, then look ill. Second go was like a tactical nuke.
This year, they've not come back. I can heartily reccomend Verdun et all, but specifically in the liquid form. The poweder one didn't cut the mustard for me.
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