2018 Lawn thread

[Simpo Two]

Nothing you do to a lawn will last - it's about the most unnatural environment there is. Nature will always try to turn it back to woodland. Moss will grow because the environment suits it; same with weeds. So you can kill them, but you'll have to keep putting the stuff on just as Greenthumb did.

[Hayek]

Sir Bagalot said:

Time to start on the lawn soon. Until early last year I used Greenthumb for about 4 years and whilst the lawn was nice and green and weed free it never really lasted.

So now I'm back to weeds and moss.

Am I right that should put this stuff down first to kill the moss and then rake it out. When's the best time to start all of this?

Once that's sorted then some of this and seed when appropriate.

All advice welcome

Yes to using the ferrous sulphate right now. I need to have a second go for this winter, there's a little some moss creeping in. As long as you don't overdo it you can apply some and then apply a bit more next week if you're thin in places. After a month or two you'll know it's time to have another go as you'll notic the odd bit of green moss. I normally give it a couple of goes (comprising normally of one go and a top up the next week) over the winter, although if I had the time I could probably do it three times.

The fertiliser you link to is generally used before seeding/overseeding I think, that probably wont be for a few months yet when the grass is actually growing.

[Rapid rental]

Itching to get started on mine, but will wait until March before I scarify the buggery out of it. Did it last year and it took two days, but the before and after pics speak for themselves (I think?).

Edited by Rapid rental on Wednesday 14th February 18:18

[8-P]

Too late, the 2018 lawn thread is here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[nadger]

Well I’ve got a bit of a challenge on my hands! We’ve just bought a bit of land behind our house, which has largely been neglected for the past decade at least! The land is a mess of brambles, nettles and tussocks of grass! It’s going to be a mammoth job to clear it and get anything resembling a lawn in place, but I’m hoping to be able to do it!
Wish me luck!

[C Lee Farquar]

I think you need a couple of pigs on that

[nadger]

C Lee Farquar said:

I think you need a couple of pigs on that

No pigs, but I did find this is a bramble patch!
I’m trying to use this as an excuse to get a mini tractor. Man maths and all that!

[juice]

My lawn is err....interesting !

We have a 1 year old Wire Haired Vizsla who love to dig. This is just one of the holes(it's about 12 inches deep), there's about 10 of them !!
(p.s. that's a Kong next to the hole before anyone gets the wrong idea - lol)



plus its been so wet this winter down here in the SW that the lawn resembles the Somme in parts...

Thoughts on my plan of attack : to scarify, fill in the holes then stake down chicken wire over the lawn, topsoil and grass seed..Hopefully that will get him out of digging ??

[CrouchingWayne]

I guess it's almost that time of year again! I'm trying to take more care of my lawn each year so I am planning to scarify and overseed in March/April.

Does anyone have suggestion on which seed to buy? I've used a blend bag from Amazon a couple of times but found the results disappointing. Quite a clay heavy soil I believe.

Should I do any weed killer etc before scarifying?

[Johnnytheboy]

Father's lawn cut today. Oh how I envy his soil, mine is like Paschendaele still...

[nadger]

Johnnytheboy said:

Father's lawn cut today. Oh how I envy his soil, mine is like Paschendaele still...

Looks lovely! I’m in the process of clearing a monster bramble patch off our new plot. I reckon I’ve done about 15x10 meters over the past couple of days, which is a lot of brambles! Still have about 5x10m to go of this patch, then I’ll need to start digging out the roots. Once that’s done I’ll need to move on to the other three lots as well!!
Joy!

[baliongo]

I spent most of the afternoon out in the garden generally tidying up the rockery and ponds and seeing that my lawns were dry and fairly wormcast free i set about them with my flymo on its highest setting,temperature hit 14c which was rather nice..

Looks really nice and the greenest i have seen it in many years and the smell.....roll on spring

[g3org3y]

I've spent Jan/Feb raking leaves and picking up sticks from our birch tree. Got some plans for the garden. Should be an interesting Spring.

[Defcon5]

I very nearly mowed mine today, but decided to wait a week.

What fertilisers are recommended for spring time?

[cnprior]

Hello, I followed this thread intently last year, sadly my lawn still has bare patches despite turning and also multiple efforts at reseeding !
However, I am looking forward to big things this year........tonight purchased a new lawnmower.....rotak 37, lithium ion, should make it easy to get under the swing, and round the slide and under the kids aeroplane.

Oh gosh, hope this makes cutting the grass easier without the cables !

I also acquired a scarifier, what time of year should I use this?

Regards,

Chris

[nadger]

cnprior said:

Hello, I followed this thread intently last year, sadly my lawn still has bare patches despite turning and also multiple efforts at reseeding !
However, I am looking forward to big things this year........tonight purchased a new lawnmower.....rotak 37, lithium ion, should make it easy to get under the swing, and round the slide and under the kids aeroplane.

Oh gosh, hope this makes cutting the grass easier without the cables !

I also acquired a scarifier, what time of year should I use this?

Regards,

Chris

I’d say about now for scarifying. Feed and weed the lawn to kill any moss, leave it a few days then go for it! I always found that seeding and top dressing over the seeds resulted in better grass regrowth, but I’m no expert!

[505diff]

nadger said:

I’d say about now for scarifying. Feed and weed the lawn to kill any moss, leave it a few days then go for it! I always found that seeding and top dressing over the seeds resulted in better grass regrowth, but I’m no expert!

I’m no expert but I would not do any of the above yet,

What part of the country are you in?

Is your garden shady?


We will still have frosts for the next month or so, plus the ground is too wet still and seed will not germinate as the soil is too cold, you have some new kit you want to try but I think you will end up with a lot of mud and no grass at this time of year.

I’ve done an overseed early before, eg late March and had to wait until May for it to look any good, this year i’m holding off till mid April as I think the ground will be better and I will have less time looking at mud.

I’m i the south east in a shady garden, that may differ for you but you need to make sure your garden is ready and not just start your work because others have posted up pictures of what they have done.

That’s my advice from following the lawn thread over the last theee or four years, some people start early and some start late, you need to start when your soil is ready, good luck it will be worth the effort!!

[Condi]

nadger said:

Looks lovely! I’m in the process of clearing a monster bramble patch off our new plot. I reckon I’ve done about 15x10 meters over the past couple of days, which is a lot of brambles! Still have about 5x10m to go of this patch, then I’ll need to start digging out the roots. Once that’s done I’ll need to move on to the other three lots as well!!
Joy!

Little tip, if you want to save yourself the trouble. Wait until things start growing, spray with glysophate, then once its all dried off burn with fire.


It cleared my very large patch of brambles in about 2 mins, with no need to handle prickly things or take anything down the tip, and because the chemical has killed the whole plant, you can leave the roots to rot away.

[nadger]

Condi said:

nadger said:

Looks lovely! I’m in the process of clearing a monster bramble patch off our new plot. I reckon I’ve done about 15x10 meters over the past couple of days, which is a lot of brambles! Still have about 5x10m to go of this patch, then I’ll need to start digging out the roots. Once that’s done I’ll need to move on to the other three lots as well!!
Joy!

Little tip, if you want to save yourself the trouble. Wait until things start growing, spray with glysophate, then once its all dried off burn with fire.


It cleared my very large patch of brambles in about 2 mins, with no need to handle prickly things or take anything down the tip, and because the chemical has killed the whole plant, you can leave the roots to rot away.

That does sound much easier, however it grows right up to the rear fences of our neighbours, so I’m not sure that’ll go down too well!
My plan is to cut it all back, then when it starts to grow, nuke it with glyphosphate! Then dig out any significant roots and seed and mow regularly! I understand that keeps any regrowth back!

[NewNameNeeded]

Any recommendations for encouraging growth in heavy clay soil? I think it needs aerating. Are the spiked shoes a gimmick? Hollow tine aearator?