2017 Lawn thread

[8-P]

joestifff said:

So I used Lawnsmith Extra-Long Fertiliser a couple of weeks ago, I spread it by hand, and where I got it right the grass has gone lovely. Where I missed it looks as crap as expected, and where I dropped a load it burnt it, but now looks OK.

So, I have borrowed off the father a proper spreader, to do the front lawn. But what happens if I do the back lawn again, will I burn it all having done it in a patchy fashion only two weeks ago? I'd like to do it again to fill the patches in.

Thanks

I think youll be ok, it only really burns if you dump a big blob, which I did once and got henry the hoover out to suck it off (mrs) and saved it.

I use a spread, but next time Im going to do up and down and across using half as much each way as normal to give better coverage as I always seem to miss some.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I’ve been away from this thread this year, largely because I’ve neglected my lawn completely I’m ashamed to say. My excuse is that I’ve been preoccupied with ATPL exams, CPL and IR training. That’s all complete, and I now have a few weeks’ respite before doing an MCC/JOC course, then I’ll be trying to persuade an airline to give me a job!

My neighbour mentioned that she’s got her parents’ scarifier in her shed, and she’d like me to show her how to use it. I haven’t seen it, but I’m guessing it’s an electric jobby so probably won’t do a really deep scarify, but since it’s being offered I might as well try it out on my lawn first before doing hers.

Question is: have I left it too late to scarify and overseed this year? My gut feeling is that I should still get away with it if I do it in the coming week and hope that we get continued mild weather, especially since the machine probably won’t do a really aggressive scarification. Location is Woking, Surrey.

What do you think?

[jagnet]

Hi Dr Mike Sounds like you've been busy, so I think we can let you off, this time

Daytime temps are still reasonable and look good for the next couple of weeks with some quite nice warm weather predicted for the latter part of this coming fortnight. Growth rates in the established grasses still look ok.

Since you're really just topping up what should by now be well established yet young and vigorous turf I would go for it, but I'd be inclined to chit the seeds first before sowing to give them a head start since you'll be using the finer grasses which ordinarily could take two to three weeks to germinate at this stage. Shady areas could be more problematic for establishing those finer grasses as the nights begin to draw in but so long as the scarification isn't severe the existing ones should still have time to recover, even if the fresh seed germinates poorly in those areas.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Thanks for the reassurance! :-)

And chitting is a really good idea that I hadn’t thought of, to give the new seed a head start.

[Patrick Bateman]

Do I have a short memory or is this a strangely mild October so far?

I hope the seed I've put down germinates ok, grass is looking a lot barer than it was although sections still seem a bit spongey.

[Rib]

I'd say it's been about average, I've found moss is much worse in lawns this year than last though, start of October later year I saw hardly any moss, this year it's already rife in many lawns

[8-P]

Seems mild to me, Ive got less moss than ever Im glad to report, partly because my neighbour finally got his trees cut and partly because this is the end of year 2 in our house so I reckon my scarifying twice a year has finally paid off.

Did this at the weekend, not even my land! Hedge covering the whole lot removed a year and a half ago(nice hedge too, but neighbour didnt like cutting it so called the council - they cut it down) Stumps eventually removed by council after my nagging, they then seeded it, well lobbed some seed on top of scrub which would have never grown.I then levelled, graded and re-seeded twice to make a nice lawn - took hours of work, watering etc, but I hate bare fence panels so last week dug out the turf and planted it up. Even managed to give all the turf away on facebook which saved me a massive job.


Original
|https://thumbsnap.com/vVbSeDNY[/url]


After seeding



Got rid of the turf hours late

[url]

[wjwren]

ive bought shady lawn seed by accident instead of normal. Worth returning or is this ok to use? What is the main difference between shady and normal?

[Patrick Bateman]

Seed now seems to have germinated over night with all the wet weather yesterday.

[8-P]

Patrick Bateman said:

Seed now seems to have germinated over night with all the wet weather yesterday.

Really, cant remember when I last saw it rain properly!

[Patrick Bateman]

8-P said:

Really, cant remember when I last saw it rain properly!

It's been pretty dry until yesterday here. I'd had the sprinkler out most days.

I put the seed down on the 6th so that's not bad for October I'd guess.

[bazza white]

Ours whilst has lots more fine grass after scarifying in the spring is now loaded with clover. Also has the odd bit of what I would describe as super clover to, like clover but about 5 times bigger.

Its quite weedy so it's all coming up next year and starting again.

[Rib]

I'm terrible for not getting after photos but one of my crewman sent over a pic earlier which I thought you would all appreciate. work was undertaken on the 26th September and its almost ready for a cut today, not bad going for Autumn!

1 of many scarifications with our heavy duty fixed renovator blades, the lawns had around 2-3 inches of thick matted thatch, absolute nightmare!








18/10/17

Edited by Rib on Wednesday 18th October 18:48

[ecotec]

Hi Chaps,

Can anyone recommend a good grass seed supplier and mix for a new lawn? I've just moved and am about to rid the garden of gravel and restore grass, I'm hoping to sow over the weekend, late but hopefully not too late.

Cheers

[Rib]

ecotec said:

Hi Chaps,

Can anyone recommend a good grass seed supplier and mix for a new lawn? I've just moved and am about to rid the garden of gravel and restore grass, I'm hoping to sow over the weekend, late but hopefully not too late.

Cheers

depends what kind of lawn you are after, high maintenance, high wear, shaded etc If you need a big bag I use to use boston seeds before GreenThumb had their own mix made and never had issues with them, even the economy gave a nice lush lawn and pretty well priced, I'm sure others will give some alternatives aswell.

[ecotec]

Rib said:

depends what kind of lawn you are after, high maintenance, high wear, shaded etc If you need a big bag I use to use boston seeds before GreenThumb had their own mix made and never had issues with them, even the economy gave a nice lush lawn and pretty well priced, I'm sure others will give some alternatives aswell.

Thanks will take a look at Boston and GreenThumb - I need around 5kg

Looking for visual appeal, reasonably hard wearing (although no dogs or kids), in a south facing garden

[Rib]

pretty much any seed will give a nice lawn if looked after correctly (cutting the key point!) if its south facing what kind of soil is it? sandy or clay? if it gets lots of sun and depending where you live, if drought is common then consider the dry and shady place seed which will be more tolerant of the conditions

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Well, I used the electric scarifier I borrowed from my neighbour to do my lawn at the weekend. I have heard people be a little bit snooty about electric scarifiers, so wasn’t expecting much - but this little thing did a really decent job!

I only used it on its least intensive setting, doing two passes with about a thirty degree angle between them. It has done a proper job, and not just raked it. I’m impressed; in fact I think I might buy one because it’s so much easier than renting, and coordinating a day off work for them to deliver and collect the machine and hoping for decent weather on that particular day.

I overseeded yesterday (didn’t bother chitting; too much effort!). And today I got half way through sprinkling a thin covering of compost which I find makes a big improvement to germination.

I just wish I’d been able to do this a month ago, but it just wasn’t possible. So here’s hoping for mild weather with frequent light rain. The forecast isn’t looking too bad in that respect.

[Patrick Bateman]

I got the £70 screwfix one mentioned a while back and can't complain.

Sure it's a bit flimsy but it does the job and it'll get what, one or two outings a year?

[Rib]

As a professional yes there is a big difference between the diy and professional equipment, a big chunk of it is build quality and being able to endure heavy use and getting through stuff quickly. The electric ones can do a great job if you have the time and use it correctly. Do it at least once a year and you prevent the thatch from matting which electric ones struggle to remove. I'd usually say give it a go over around September October time and let it recover and treat with iron based moss Control, then possibly lightly in spring around March time if there is still quite abit of moss and thatch.