2020 Lawn thread

[WinstonWolf]

I've done a small patch of overseeding as a test, it'll be interesting to see if it germinates this week as it's warmer and damp.

I'm keen to completely reseed the back lawn as soon as temps allow, it's all but prepped I just need germination

[myvision]

First cut done on a higher setting will look to rake and scarify in a couple of weeks.

[JohnBRG]

DonkeyApple said:

I lived most of my life on London clay. The key is to get through the clay layer. If it’s possible to find the low spot of the lawn o would be inclined to dig down there first to see how deep you need to go to get through the clay and then consider turning it into a Paris. One big French hole.

My problem, I think, stems from an underground spring. I was thinking that a huge soakaway is probably the solution, which seems to be what you're suggesting?

[DonkeyApple]

JohnBRG said:

DonkeyApple said:

I lived most of my life on London clay. The key is to get through the clay layer. If it’s possible to find the low spot of the lawn o would be inclined to dig down there first to see how deep you need to go to get through the clay and then consider turning it into a Paris. One big French hole.

My problem, I think, stems from an underground spring. I was thinking that a huge soakaway is probably the solution, which seems to be what you're suggesting?

Yes. If there is a relatively obvious low spot then digging down there and through the clay layer could be the easiest solution.

Typically you have a soil layer and then the clay and that acts as a barrier to retain water in the thin soil layer. If you can break through that clay then in theory the water trapped on top has somewhere to go more quickly.

One of your risks is obviously in summer it may result in the soil layer getting too dry but to be honest it’s typically quite thin and dries out anyway.

I guess you could also experiment with whether it works by digging the hole and leaving it unfilled to see if it fills in heavy rain and drains well after?

[C Lee Farquar]

As above, have a google for 'perched water table'

[morfmedia]

jagnet said:

No. Not approved for use in the EU.

Thanks for confirming Jagnet

[JohnBRG]

DonkeyApple said:

Yes. If there is a relatively obvious low spot then digging down there and through the clay layer could be the easiest solution.

Typically you have a soil layer and then the clay and that acts as a barrier to retain water in the thin soil layer. If you can break through that clay then in theory the water trapped on top has somewhere to go more quickly.

One of your risks is obviously in summer it may result in the soil layer getting too dry but to be honest it’s typically quite thin and dries out anyway.

I guess you could also experiment with whether it works by digging the hole and leaving it unfilled to see if it fills in heavy rain and drains well after?

Thanks. Looks like I'm getting my spade out. 1 cubic metre seems to be recommended?

[MrChips]

Morning All!

I'm looking for some advice on how to proceed with my 11x8m lawn as it's not going as well as i'd hoped . It was laid in summer 2017 ago, and steadily i've had weed grasses appear. Despite digging some out in 2018, they're definitely spreading. Lawnsmith advice is that digging out is the only way of getting rid? If so, what would the PH masses do with this lawn at the moment,

I can dig out the bits i can see, fill with top soil, reseed, then overseed and top dress the whole lawn and see how it goes?
There's a few bits of normal weeds appearing too so likely to spot treat them first. Half the lawn is normally in shade and other half in strong sun so the shaded area (to the left of the pics) has always been a bit patchy so ideally i'd also look to improve that at the same time.

Or is this only going to take lots of time and money that might be better spent taking it up and relaying new turf?

Here's a reference shot from 2018:



And here's where we are today:

[nonsequitur]

Some of my neighbours have cut their lawns, despite still being quite squelchy under foot. I think it is too early anyway as it extends the cutting season and we all have huge lawns.

i usually leave it until there is an A in the month, or a public holiday beginning with E.

[RichB]

nonsequitur said:

Some of my neighbours have cut their lawns, despite still being quite squelchy under foot. I think it is too early <clip>

You don't say where you are but rather than using the letters in the month it's best to look at the grass. I cut mine 2 weeks ago and it's about ready for another light trim. Remember, if you cut off more than 1/3 of the blade there is a danger you will weaken the grass so better little and often. If you grass is 3-4" long better to take off an inch now and get into the routine rather than wait until April when it's even longer and have to cut off 2"-3". Just my opinion.

[steveo3002]

nonsequitur said:

i usually leave it until there is an A in the month

mArch?

[deckster]

RichB said:

You don't say where you are but rather than using the letters in the month it's best to look at the grass. I cut mine 2 weeks ago and it's about ready for another light trim. Remember, if you cut off more than 1/3 of the blade there is a danger you will weaken the grass so better little and often. If you grass is 3-4" long better to take off an inch now and get into the routine rather than wait until April when it's even longer and have to cut off 2"-3". Just my opinion.

My lawn is always really wet - there's a underground stream running under the middle of it - so I can almost never mow it before the end of April, and by then even at the highest setting I'm taking off at least 50-60% of the height. Less than ideal I know but better than churning it into a decent impression of the Somme.

On the plus side I pretty much never have to water it even in the middle of a drought

[C Lee Farquar]

MrChips said:

Morning All!

Certainly looks like a lot of couch grass to me. The presence of rhizomes in the soil would be a tell tale sign.

I would spray with glyphos before digging out and look for better quality turf. I can't see you getting a decent lawn from what you have.

[RichB]

steveo3002 said:

nonsequitur said:

i usually leave it until there is an A in the month

mArch?

JanuAry, FebruAry ...

[Slackline]

renmure said:

Haha. I wish!! Just me, 2 German Shepherds who help a little and a wife who doesn't.

It only takes about 90 mins to do it all. It also sort of divides into 3 bits so I cut the stuff at the front a bit more regularly than the stuff at the back and sides. It's semi therapeutic with some music on the headphones and gives the dogs a walk and keeps them amused. Mowers have coffee cup holders as well these days.

My only point in posting in relation to mulching leaves, dedicated mulching mowers and thatch in general is that if you're cutting 5 acres of garden a couple of times / week for coming up for 20 years you get a bit of experience about whether it causes problems or not and whether doing it is better than not doing it. Other views are available.

Do you mind me asking which machine you use to cut? I've got a topper attached to an old tractor at the moment for the larger areas, but the finish isn't great to look at. The Honda ride on I use for the smaller gardens would take forever to the larger areas.

[No_Idea]

I'm going to try this Screwfix scarifier/raker which gets good reviews: https://www.screwfix.com/p/wr6002-1500-32cm-raker-...

To try and fix this mess:



It's only a tiny area so that doesn't work I'll just nuke with weed killer and artificial turf it.

[morfmedia]

Are we still too early to seed in London / south east?

Looks like some good highs next week but as low as 2 degrees overnight which won’t be kind on new seed?

Did my 2nd cut of the year on Friday whilst it was sunny.

[Alucidnation]

If the weather stays dry the next couple of days I’ll be getting ours done as it is getting very tall!

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

morfmedia said:

Are we still too early to seed in London / south east?

Looks like some good highs next week but as low as 2 degrees overnight which won’t be kind on new seed?

Did my 2nd cut of the year on Friday whilst it was sunny.

It’s not the air temperature that determines seed germination - it’s the soil temperature.

I have a soil thermometer somewhere, and admittedly I haven’t used it yet. I’ll see if I can dig it out today and see what it says. I’m in Woking, so it’ll give a reasonable idea for Londoners.

I always cover the seed with a thin layer of cheap compost, to help keep moisture and warmth in.

[MrChips]

C Lee Farquar said:

Certainly looks like a lot of couch grass to me. The presence of rhizomes in the soil would be a tell tale sign.

I would spray with glyphos before digging out and look for better quality turf. I can't see you getting a decent lawn from what you have.

From what I’ve been reading that does seem to be the only way of having decent success.

Can anyone recommend timings if I did want to glyphosate the whole lawn?
I have two cats who regularly eat the grass so think I’d need to put down the glyphosate... then a membrane over the whole thing for at least two weeks?

Google is a little bit unclear as to whether I could then rake and scarify a decent amount of it up and just reseed.... or do I need to hire a turf cutter to make sure the roots are all gone?

I’m trying to work out if I could do this now or better to wait!