Lawn maintenance for idiots?

[paddyhasneeds]

Our back lawn gets good sunlight across one half, and the other half not so good due to the fence/trees.

Net results is that one side looks fine, the other is quite patchy and covered in moss/fearny stuff.

I set about it yesterday with a lawn rake and removed almost a carrier bag full of moss from around 3-4 square metres of turf - quite incredible tbh as it just seemed to keep on coming.

My question is, what should I do next? Obviously it looks a bit patchy, which is to be expected after a good raking, but I'm not sure whether the best bet is to leave it and give it chance to sort itself out or head down the Garden Centre to buy "something" to put on it.

[robinhood21]

I had a similar problem. What I did was to aerate the problem side with a fork; push fork full depth into soil, wriggle for so as to increase diameter of holes, then fill with (I think) silver sand. It did improve the lawn somewhat.

[Simpo Two]

You could consider reducing the shade by cutting back the trees, or sowing grass seed that's shade tolerant. Not easy though; I have the same problem.

[miniman]

www.greenthumb.co.uk

[V8A*ndy]

Get down to Lidle as they have a lawn repair kit (cheaper than B&Q) They also have shade tolerent grass seed.

Skarify the lawn getting the moss up and dead grass. Then prod with a fork. For compacted bare areas break the top surface up a little. Chuck down your lawn repair (seed and fertilizer)and roll the lawn (or a plank if you don't have a roller)to set the seed into the top of the soil. You can also add an even mix of sharp sand and peat with seed and spread it over the entire lawn. Also keeps the birds of the seed.

Water generously if there is little or no rain. Fertilize in July again and skarify and over seed again in september. Try and do the same again in March, April.

If there is a lot of moss you might need some lime down if the soil is acidic but its usually down to wet and there was a lot of rain last summer and the past few months.