2016 Lawn thread

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

mikees said:

Too early to scarify?

I would say it has definitely been the wrong time to scarify in the last few days, particularly with these 30+ temperatures in the south/southeast at the moment.

But that could all change in just a week or two - who knows?

For scarifying, you need good growing conditions so that the lawn can recover - which means warm but not hot, preferably with some rain or at least good artificial irrigation like a sprinkler. Hot weather such as we've been having will stop the lawn in its tracks and it won't bounce back from scarifying as quickly as it would in kinder growing conditions. Artificial irrigation can compensate to a certain extent, but it's always more successful to work with the weather rather than against it.

I use WeatherPro on the iPad/iPhone (which uses Meteo Group weather data, the same that the BBC have just announced they're switching to), but plenty of other apps are available. Looking ahead on that, it is suggesting that temperatures will be back down to the low 20s in about a week's time, and still with mild nighttime temperatures - so that could be a reasonable time to scarify provided it's not then forecasting a return to hot weather afterwards.

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Friday 26th August 06:43

[Craikeybaby]

thetapeworm said:

Some Gump said:

Get a hand sprayer (type you pump up) and some liquid lawn weedkiller. Sorts those broad leaved things right out - much, much better than e.g weed and feed granules.

IME hand weeding anything with a big tap root is a hiding to nothing - you just end up either with a big hole, or don't get all the root and it just comes back again.

Thanks, I have one of those sprayers already that I used to use for other things so I'll look up some decent lawn weedkiller stuff for it.

I certainly won't be hand weeding again apart from any odd ones here and there - it took me two days, I filled up the wheelie bin with dandelions and then they all came back. My theory was that the holes I'd made would aerate the lawn, I'm quite dim when it comes to these things

The previous two occupants here clearly had zero interest in the garden as you can see from the lack of any garden features, but as it's only a temp thing while I save for a deposit I'm not willing to invest too much in making it nice for the owner.

There seems to be two different chemicals for treating weeds on lawns, I use one in a pump sprayer in July to do the whole lawn. Then I have a ready made trigger bottle of the other type of chemical, to spot treat any weeds that appear before/after. 2 years ago my lawn was like yours, this year I've only had to spot treat a couple of times.

[Rib]

I'd also recommend using a liquid based moss treatment after scarifying. This will do 2 jobs, 1 any moss unearthed from the thatch level will be treated to stop it from spreading. And also give the lawn abit of a pick me up to help it recover quicker.

Then treat again a couple of months after and will help keep the moss at bay as best as possible during the winter months.

[Rib]

thetapeworm said:

I moved into a rental property late last year and have been trying to get some improvement on a very neglected lawn, I've failed. While it's better than it was its still a shambles - I need advice.

Photo as of 5 minutes ago:



I've been removing weeds by hand (Inc roots), used general feed & weed and spot weeded too, either I'm doing all of this badly or I have resilient weeds.

Can you offer any advice to try and improve things for next year? Clay soil, lawn is probably 8 years old and installed by the developers. Likely to be lots of rubble under the soil due to location of site. Gradual slope towards fence at top of picture where water pools and turns into a bog. Neighbour behind appears to have installed some kind of membrane along fence line which prevents water draining, he has a plastic lawn,i envy him.

I might get shot down for saying such stuff. But I'd look at just getting greenthumb in to do at least one treatment. We have offers everywhere at the moment for 'try us for £10' which will get most if not all the weeds under Control and should get a more even growth too. After this it's easier to maintain yourself with the help of the guys on here or just carry it on, your not obligated to have a certain amount of treatments etc.

New houses tend to always be thick compact clay with stones galore these days. So hollow time aerations help, top dressing and watering if dry as there won't be much root depth. It may seem like you won't get a good lawn with all the rubbish underneath but often some of the best lawns I treat are on new estates it's just about the right care

[Esseesse]

I have managed to slightly over-fertilize the grass in the back garden in a few spots.

Oh well, I guess I'm more sure about what is the right setting on my spreader now.

[Rib]

If ever you think you've over down it, rake it over with a plastic rake to spread it out and keep it heavily watered.

[mikees]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

mikees said:

Too early to scarify?

I would say it has definitely been the wrong time to scarify in the last few days, particularly with these 30+ temperatures in the south/southeast at the moment.

But that could all change in just a week or two - who knows?

For scarifying, you need good growing conditions so that the lawn can recover - which means warm but not hot, preferably with some rain or at least good artificial irrigation like a sprinkler. Hot weather such as we've been having will stop the lawn in its tracks and it won't bounce back from scarifying as quickly as it would in kinder growing conditions. Artificial irrigation can compensate to a certain extent, but it's always more successful to work with the weather rather than against it.

I use WeatherPro on the iPad/iPhone (which uses Meteo Group weather data, the same that the BBC have just announced they're switching to), but plenty of other apps are available. Looking ahead on that, it is suggesting that temperatures will be back down to the low 20s in about a week's time, and still with mild nighttime temperatures - so that could be a reasonable time to scarify provided it's not then forecasting a return to hot weather afterwards.

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Friday 26th August 06:43

Cheers Mike.


I sacrified 1st April but there's loads of thatch left. I'm thinking mid September for round 2 and proper overseed this time. Views? Looking ok atm but not as lush and verdant as it could.

Mike

[Tahiti]

My small front lawn has been well watered and raked over this week (unfortunately, moss and other weeds make up about 20% of the "grass"), and I am planning to buy a scarifier to do the job properly in a few week's time, followed by over-seeding.

The back lawn - I am going to give the Lawnsmith Stay Green a go. The garden's fairly long and thin, shaded by trees for much of it, and while I look after it as best I can, there are still a number of bare patches. Wish me luck!

[leem5]

Ok, so after pretty much redoing the rear lawn this season and being pretty happy with the results considering there's a dog and x2 younglings trying there hardest to break my will, what's this years thought on an Autum/ Winter feed?

Am hoping that it will come out nest year in a better state than this year with less remedial work needing to be done.

Regards

[bitchstewie]

Does anyone have any experience of Green Thumb? My mum recently had new turf laid and it's not awful but it's not great either.

They want £20/quarter to do a "deep weed and feed" which is cheap enough not to think about too much.

[thetapeworm]

bhstewie said:

Does anyone have any experience of Green Thumb? My mum recently had new turf laid and it's not awful but it's not great either.

They want £20/quarter to do a "deep weed and feed" which is cheap enough not to think about too much.

I believe "Rib" is our resident Green Thumb insider and has been posting insights on this very thread.

[wjwren]

cant fault green thumb. My mom pays £10 a month direct debit they come 4 times a year and grass looks great plus I couldnt treat it for that price.

[MisterJD]

I'm beginning to wonder how much repair or recovery of a neglected lawn is possible. Having moved in earlier this year this is what I have:









Garden is south facing. The lawn itself is patchy, there was a lot of thatch that came out when I scarified earlier this year but it is now devoid of grass for the most part. There was a lot of Selfheal in the centre.

Given the seasonal opportunity to address the lawn in the autumn I am torn between killing everything and starting afresh by reseeding, adding a weedkiller that would leave what grass is there in tact and reseeding after aerating & scarifying, or simply scarifying, aerating and overseeing.

[jagnet]

leem5 said:

what's this years thought on an Autum/ Winter feed?

I'd go with a more organic approach. Symbio MycoGro (10kg or 20kg), or Maxwell Myco 2 (20kg) are both excellent Autumn fertilisers with added good stuff.

MisterJD said:

Ouch, that's a most unfriendly great conifer you've got there, and it's not even yours so you can't just chop it down.

With that lumbering beast of unimaginative planting you're always going have a battle on your hands from shade, lack of nutrients and dry soil. I'd sow a dry shade tolerant seed mix, be prepared to top dress each year with compost heavy dressing, irrigate more than you would otherwise in the summer, and feed the lawn little and often.

Whilst there's not a great deal of grass there, I would work with it as it'll at least protect the new grass seedlings as they germinate in less than ideal conditions.

[Esseesse]

jagnet said:

I'd go with a more organic approach. Symbio MycoGro (10kg or 20kg)

Is the 'Thatch eating fungi' effective?

[Rib]

MisterJD said:

I'm beginning to wonder how much repair or recovery of a neglected lawn is possible. Having moved in earlier this year this is what I have:









Garden is south facing. The lawn itself is patchy, there was a lot of thatch that came out when I scarified earlier this year but it is now devoid of grass for the most part. There was a lot of Selfheal in the centre.

Given the seasonal opportunity to address the lawn in the autumn I am torn between killing everything and starting afresh by reseeding, adding a weedkiller that would leave what grass is there in tact and reseeding after aerating & scarifying, or simply scarifying, aerating and overseeing.

I'd also add, looking at that you may also have dry patch there. If after some decent rainfall, try taking up a sample of turf (if you have e score sampler then brilliant! If it is still completely bone dry like the Sahara desert,theb aerate the lawn and water each night with washing up water and water in. After a week or so it should start to improve. Then look at the abovescarify, overseed, top dress,water. Easy. But no point in putting all that seed down with dry patch underneath.

[Rib]

bhstewie said:

Does anyone have any experience of Green Thumb? My mum recently had new turf laid and it's not awful but it's not great either.

They want £20/quarter to do a "deep weed and feed" which is cheap enough not to think about too much.

She doesn't live in Lichfield does she, in which case that's me who went to go see her yesterday.

If not then it generally does what it says, as with any type of franchise a lot comes down to the people who run it. It's by no means a miracle cure like some people like to make out, it still needs looking after, if not more so for having it treated. Regular mowing and watering if need be can mean the difference between a rubbish and a great lawn even with treatments.

Joy of it is, there's no Contracts, so if your not happy with it, cancel it, or at least ring and ask if there's a reason why it's not looking good.

In the 10 years we have been going we have built up around 2500 customers in our local area,many have been with us for a number of years. However I do know of some other franchises nearby which aren't the greatest it has to said

[8-P]

MisterJD said:

I'm beginning to wonder how much repair or recovery of a neglected lawn is possible. Having moved in earlier this year this is what I have:









Garden is south facing. The lawn itself is patchy, there was a lot of thatch that came out when I scarified earlier this year but it is now devoid of grass for the most part. There was a lot of Selfheal in the centre.

Given the seasonal opportunity to address the lawn in the autumn I am torn between killing everything and starting afresh by reseeding, adding a weedkiller that would leave what grass is there in tact and reseeding after aerating & scarifying, or simply scarifying, aerating and overseeing.

Youll be fine,mine was similar although more moss, now looks amazing nearly a year on

[wjwren]

im going to rotivate and re seed an area of the lawn where a large tree used to be. The soil is dry and dusty and compacted and lacking nutrients. What would I be best to add to the soil to improve it for seeding? I have access to rotted horse manure - would this be good to add structure to the soil?

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

wjwren said:

im going to rotivate and re seed an area of the lawn where a large tree used to be. The soil is dry and dusty and compacted and lacking nutrients. What would I be best to add to the soil to improve it for seeding? I have access to rotted horse manure - would this be good to add structure to the soil?

If you're certain it's well rotted, then it doesn't come much better than horse manure for improving any type of soil. Only potential issue is whether it would make the soil a little too rich for seedling grass, so maybe put a thin layer of compost on top just before you seed, and definitely cover your seed with a thin layer of compost as well - the latter makes a big difference to germination rate.