2015 Lawn thread

[markbigears]

Barny, can I ask what system you have? I'm looking to install a rainbird system.

[R8VXF]

Using the Gardena system. This is it when I first sowed the lawn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8a6IewepwQ Got the water computer and the 6 channel distributor to also run the drip hoses for the flower beds.

[moles]

WinstonWolf said:

Fortunately the OH has a 17" petrol Atco with a QX scarifier attachment, I'm so borrowing that... After I've tested it on her lawn

Let me know how it goes i just bought a new allet kensington 17 which can use the same attachment. Be interested to see the results.

[Philemon]

WinstonWolf said:

Fortunately the OH has a 17" petrol Atco with a QX scarifier attachment, I'm so borrowing that... After I've tested it on her lawn

This is more closely related to a lawn rake, rather than a scarifier. It will hook out the surface moss and thatch without making deep enough cuts through the sward to get to the deeper thatch layer. The horizontal grass will just get flattened again by the rear roller.

The QX cassettes are very expensive for what they are and the tines very easily damaged but are easily replaced, since they are sacrificial (Bosch replacements are about £1 each).

[WinstonWolf]

That's good to know, I'll give it a try, if not I'll hire something more substantial

[markbigears]

Barny, already viewed it prior to me posting! Had any problems? How many rotors are you running on each section? Cheers, Mark

[R8VXF]

markbigears said:

Barny, already viewed it prior to me posting! Had any problems? How many rotors are you running on each section? Cheers, Mark

Haha, it does seem to get a fairly constant flow of traffic for some reason!

Only got two plumbed in at the moment, water pressure couldn't quite handle 3, but might get an inline pump and reconnect the third as they are over reaching a bit too much so end up with quite a hard impact at the far reaches as the water is not being diffused enough. Quality seems to be decent, but definitely feed it off a 19mm hose rather than a standard hose as a 12mm garden hose restricts the flow too much. I got the profi connector kit and some 19mm (3/4") pond hose from my local aquatic shop.

[jagnet]

Looks like I got my wish - a quick* run around with the sarrel roller and a foliar feed down on the lawn yesterday, then a whole day of non stop rain today, and it's still raining, with more forecast for next week

• 'quick' may not be entirely accurate as an adjective. At >50kg with a load of spikes sticking into the ground, it's anything but quick. It is very effective at opening up the soil surface however, and does save on gym membership.

[j4ckos mate]

Here's mine
Done with a petrol mower weekly ( bit cumbersome be wise it's only small, but this is ph and it has an engine!
And a scarifier every month

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

jagnet said:

Looks like I got my wish - a quick* run around with the sarrel roller and a foliar feed down on the lawn yesterday, then a whole day of non stop rain today, and it's still raining, with more forecast for next week

I just set up an additional two water butts linked together, attached to a previously unused downpipe. Both butts filled up to the brim - that's 500 litres of water captured in one day! Should provide a fair few pond top-ups.

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Saturday 25th July 22:56

[R8VXF]

Finally got the lawn cut to shape, still need to remove the excess grass round the edges. Starting to look like a proper lawn now

[moles]

Looks good, was your lawn level before or did you rotavate and level before seeding?.

[R8VXF]

Rotavate and level. Been a bit of a summer project really Still a few areas that need a bit more levelling out, but got plenty of earth left over.

[moles]

How did you level it dragging a pallet or a long length of wood seems most recommended, my levels are way out not looking forward to that part of the process. Also got loads of stones/glass in the soil got a lot of work with a sieve ahead.

Edited by moles on Tuesday 28th July 08:31

[R8VXF]

I just raked it and did it by eye.

[paulrockliffe]

moles said:

How did you level it dragging a pallet or a long length of wood seems most recommended, my levels are way out not looking forward to that part of the process. Also got loads of stones/glass in the soil got a lot of work with a sieve ahead.

Edited by moles on Tuesday 28th July 08:31

I used a ladder with some ridge tiles placed on top to weight it down last year. Did a great job of dragging the soil about and getting it fairly level.

[jagnet]

R8VXF said:

Finally got the lawn cut to shape, still need to remove the excess grass round the edges. Starting to look like a proper lawn now

That's looking lovely.

[R8VXF]

jagnet said:

That's looking lovely.

Cheers jagnet, has taken a lot of work, but your advice has helped a helluva lot!

[illmonkey]

Battling with moles and a dog using it as a bathroom.spooky garden!

[wjwren]

Anybody had experience of ants on the lawn? Ive just cut mine and there are about 10 nests! There were 3 there a few months ago so i dug them out, by about half a foot, which I thought had removed them but they have come back even worse now! Do people just leave them or use the ant killer?