2020 Lawn thread

[Xenoous]

I figured as much, but as the problem has already occured, how best to sort the affected areas? Just dig up, neutralise the soil and plant new grass seed?

[ooid]

Xenoous said:

I figured as much, but as the problem has already occured, how best to sort the affected areas? Just dig up, neutralise the soil and plant new grass seed?

I got a female beagle, urinating almost every point on our grass daily, for several times. Just wash it down with water as soon as the dog is done, no issue.

It's actually better, as the dog urination keep the ferral cats/foxes away from coming due to the smell.

[Leftfootwonder]

Xenoous said:

I figured as much, but as the problem has already occured, how best to sort the affected areas? Just dig up, neutralise the soil and plant new grass seed?

I had exactly this thanks to the dog of the previous owners of the house. I raked out all the dead grass, seeded, covered in top soil, flattened, watered plenty and voila. That was beginning of summer though, if you're going to do it this year, do it asap before temps drop.

[Evanivitch]

Leftfootwonder said:

I had exactly this thanks to the dog of the previous owners of the house. I raked out all the dead grass, seeded, covered in top soil, flattened, watered plenty and voila. That was beginning of summer though, if you're going to do it this year, do it asap before temps drop.

Ground temperatures will be stable for a few weeks yet.

[wjwren]

I've just raked mine. There is no moss just some dead yellow grass. What do i feed it with or do i not need to?

[Chicken Chaser]

Any ideas on what to do with this? Topsoil about 120mm, new lawn fertiliser and lawnsmith classic went down August bank holiday. Weighed it all out and spread it evenly. Trampled it in so good soil contact then heavily watered daily for first week or so. We had high winds unfortunatelu the first few days and I watered to the point of it pooling which may have moved all the seed about. There's still a lot of seed down on those patches but for some reason it doesn't seem to be growing. I've done a large area in the back garden and it's much different, almost completely uniform and ready to cut.

[dhutch]

Sometimes it happens, mine aways looks a little patchy. It will improve with time, else if you have some seed left over, why not reseed the thinner patches?

Are you covering it with anything? Maybe birds have also been a factor. But I would just overseed.

Daniel

[moanthebairns]

A wee update from mines from a few months ago. Not great, so I'll de-moss next spring and reseed, see if I can get it any better.

The areas I applied the moss killer heavily to have turned out great, the 'untouched' sections are now full of bloody moss and crab grass.

Edited by moanthebairns on Thursday 24th September 12:18

[PushedDover]

For the Dog pee - get some apple cider vinegar and put a spoonful in the food or water for a few weeks, It kicks starts some neutralisation in the dogs wee.

[moanthebairns]

PushedDover said:

For the Dog pee - get some apple cider vinegar and put a spoonful in the food or water for a few weeks, It kicks starts some neutralisation in the dogs wee.

Its not dog pee, I stupidly sprayed weedkiller

[dhutch]

moanthebairns said:

A wee update from mines from a few months ago. Not great..... see if I can get it any better.

Looks a bloody sight better in the last photo than the first!

[Alpha1]

Given the crane fly invasion, is it worth considering a pre-emptive nematode application to protect against leatherjackets for next year? Or is that not how it works?

[wjwren]

Ive just purchased some nematodes. Will apply today.

[Dr Murdoch]

This may be a stupid question but....

I've just reseeded my lawn which is situated right next to a magnolia tree and a 60ft American Tulip tree, both of which will be dropping their leaves in the next few days.

Now, here's the stupid question, should I leave the leaves covering the seed, to help protect? Or will the leaves stop the seeds from germinating by blocking sunlight from reaching the seed?

Assuming the leaves need shifting, is there a fail safe way of removing the leaves without disturbing the seed? Previously I've used a combination of leaf blower, mower and rake (not in that order). All of these will disturb the seeds.

So what should I do? Leave the leaves?

[dhutch]

Dr Murdoch said:

60ft American Tulip tree,

Sounds loverly!

Before they germinate obviously they won't care what is on top of the soil, in fact a nice covering will keep them nice a warm of a evening. Once they start to sprout it would be better without covering I am sure, if overseeding it's less of a worry as the longer grass will protect it to an extent. Maybe just use the mower once a week to hoover the leaves up.

[Jon_Bmw]

I am in the process of removing an old patio of circa 60sq metres, removing 4-6inches of hardcore and I have 10 tonnes of top soil to replace. I am going to turf the soil once it is in. My question is about how much compaction I should do to the fresh soil.

So far I've been tamping it down to about 1" lower than the edging block height. It's compacted where I can walk across it (11stone) and it leaves minimal marks in the soil if I walk flat flooted. I'm concerned I am over compacting it but I'm also concerned that because it is fresh soil if I don't compact it enough it's going to dip all over the place and sink in areas where I have overdug.

I have only done a 10msq area so want to get it right before doing the rest. Or am I overthinking it and the turf will root whatever is there?

[dhutch]

I'm no expert, but it sounds fine to me. Obviously in an ideal world you would give it 6months to settle, but back in reality I would tread it in to a level similar to that you suggest. It should settle fairly evenly, and you can always improve it with top dressing.

It doesn't sound over compacted, and when I dug over our new lawn area to about a foot (with a mini digger, removing self seeded saplings) it only settled about an inch between weeks 2 and 10 or something like that. If you can get most of it in, a good rain on it, and then the final level I expect it will be fine.

Also interested in others thoughts.

Daniel

[morfmedia]

Anyone else having a nightmare with squirrels? I seem to have 3 which are keen on digging up my lawn non stop during the day at the moment.

Ordered some cayenne pepper to see if that deters them, anyone have any other suggestions?

Live in the outskirts of London so some pest control options not available.

[ChocolateFrog]

Jon_Bmw said:

I am in the process of removing an old patio of circa 60sq metres, removing 4-6inches of hardcore and I have 10 tonnes of top soil to replace. I am going to turf the soil once it is in. My question is about how much compaction I should do to the fresh soil.

So far I've been tamping it down to about 1" lower than the edging block height. It's compacted where I can walk across it (11stone) and it leaves minimal marks in the soil if I walk flat flooted. I'm concerned I am over compacting it but I'm also concerned that because it is fresh soil if I don't compact it enough it's going to dip all over the place and sink in areas where I have overdug.

I have only done a 10msq area so want to get it right before doing the rest. Or am I overthinking it and the turf will root whatever is there?

I'd say that sounds about right.

When I first did mine, I only lightly raked it level and it did sink a couple of inches over the next 6 months or so.

[Jon_Bmw]

Thanks Daniel and Mr Frog. I make that 2-0, so I better get on with it and never look at this thread again before people chime in that it's completely the wrong way of doing it!