2018 Lawn thread
Discussion
My lawn was pretty bad before the hot spell but is now utterly ruined. There are lumps, bumps and bare patches everywhere. In September/October I am planning to cut the grass short and cover with topsoil to fill the gaps but not enough to smother existing grass before laying fresh grass seed. Is this the right thing to do or is there any alternative?
Harry Flashman said:
I had followed Lawnsmith's advice on not watering when hot, or in the evenings or when the grass has gone dormant - the lawn suffered.
I have since totally ignored all this advice, out of desperation. It's been coming back nicely.
Not watering in the evenings? At the golf resort I was at the sprinklers started up 730pm and ran for an hour or so. They must know what they’re doingI have since totally ignored all this advice, out of desperation. It's been coming back nicely.
Burwood said:
Not watering in the evenings? At the golf resort I was at the sprinklers started up 730pm and ran for an hour or so. They must know what they’re doing
It's probably better to do it early hours before sunrise, but on balance that would require the groundsman to be out there even earlier to setup. I imagine most take it as a compromise.I've been using the sprinkler for 45 minutes on Friday and Saturday mornings, as my sprinkler only covers half the lawn. However, last weekend I had to be out early on Saturday so didn't bother - there doesn't seem to be any difference between the half that got a soaking on Friday and the half that didn't. Am I wasting my time?
Craikeybaby said:
I've been using the sprinkler for 45 minutes on Friday and Saturday mornings, as my sprinkler only covers half the lawn. However, last weekend I had to be out early on Saturday so didn't bother - there doesn't seem to be any difference between the half that got a soaking on Friday and the half that didn't. Am I wasting my time?
Probably not, but it will take more than one day's watering to make a visible difference.The start of death
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Coming back nicely (excuse pic of new flower bed, lawn is visible in the distance!)
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrComing back nicely (excuse pic of new flower bed, lawn is visible in the distance!)
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrMuncher said:
Craikeybaby said:
I've been using the sprinkler for 45 minutes on Friday and Saturday mornings, as my sprinkler only covers half the lawn. However, last weekend I had to be out early on Saturday so didn't bother - there doesn't seem to be any difference between the half that got a soaking on Friday and the half that didn't. Am I wasting my time?
Probably not, but it will take more than one day's watering to make a visible difference.Craikeybaby said:
I thought a good soak once a week was what was recommended?
A good soak is better than a light soak, but for me watering every day or every other day has given excellent results. I've put about 50 cubic meters on the garden since April, which is only about £60 worth of water, to me it is well worth it.Been watering mine minimum of once every two days as it was only laid last year so hate the thought it might die!
I haven’t looked st the water meter so dreading the bill. Munchers calves of £60 sounds a bit light? Any estimate on how many cubic m a typical garden sprinkler would use in an hour?
The stripey patches are the remains of a poor fertiliser mix. Apart from the area in the top left, it still feels nice to walk on..... YAY!!!
I haven’t looked st the water meter so dreading the bill. Munchers calves of £60 sounds a bit light? Any estimate on how many cubic m a typical garden sprinkler would use in an hour?
The stripey patches are the remains of a poor fertiliser mix. Apart from the area in the top left, it still feels nice to walk on..... YAY!!!
MrChips said:
Been watering mine minimum of once every two days as it was only laid last year so hate the thought it might die!
I haven’t looked st the water meter so dreading the bill. Munchers estimates of £60 sounds a bit light? Any estimate on how many cubic m a typical garden sprinkler would use in an hour?
The stripey patches are the remains of a poor fertiliser mix. Apart from the area in the top left, it still feels nice to walk on..... YAY!!!
I haven’t looked st the water meter so dreading the bill. Munchers estimates of £60 sounds a bit light? Any estimate on how many cubic m a typical garden sprinkler would use in an hour?
The stripey patches are the remains of a poor fertiliser mix. Apart from the area in the top left, it still feels nice to walk on..... YAY!!!
I'm on the scrounge for a little advice from the lawn experts on here please as I'm trying to decide whether to nuke my lawn at the end of the summer and start again, or try and rescue what I have.
The lawn isn't huge (about 100m2) and was laid from seed about 10 years ago but in hindsight the generic seed mix I bought from the local garden centre was completely inappropriate for what I need. I'm not sure exactly what varieties it contained (I'm guessing its ryegrass) but it predominently grows as thick wide blades that grows like mad especially in the Spring, really requiring mowing probably twice a week to keep it fully under control which I just don't have the time or inclination to do. It also seems to grow in clumps with no discernable desire to spread and even itself out which also makes the lawn quite lumpy and uneven. A few years ago I overseeded it with a fine grass blend in an attempt to improve things and although that has helped thicken up the lawn visually, its still the thick clumpy grass that seems to dominate.
So, is there any solution other than a healthy dose of Roundup and a rotivator that will fix my problem?
The lawn isn't huge (about 100m2) and was laid from seed about 10 years ago but in hindsight the generic seed mix I bought from the local garden centre was completely inappropriate for what I need. I'm not sure exactly what varieties it contained (I'm guessing its ryegrass) but it predominently grows as thick wide blades that grows like mad especially in the Spring, really requiring mowing probably twice a week to keep it fully under control which I just don't have the time or inclination to do. It also seems to grow in clumps with no discernable desire to spread and even itself out which also makes the lawn quite lumpy and uneven. A few years ago I overseeded it with a fine grass blend in an attempt to improve things and although that has helped thicken up the lawn visually, its still the thick clumpy grass that seems to dominate.
So, is there any solution other than a healthy dose of Roundup and a rotivator that will fix my problem?
MrChips said:
MrChips said:
Been watering mine minimum of once every two days as it was only laid last year so hate the thought it might die!
I haven’t looked st the water meter so dreading the bill. Munchers estimates of £60 sounds a bit light? Any estimate on how many cubic m a typical garden sprinkler would use in an hour?
The stripey patches are the remains of a poor fertiliser mix. Apart from the area in the top left, it still feels nice to walk on..... YAY!!!
I haven’t looked st the water meter so dreading the bill. Munchers estimates of £60 sounds a bit light? Any estimate on how many cubic m a typical garden sprinkler would use in an hour?
The stripey patches are the remains of a poor fertiliser mix. Apart from the area in the top left, it still feels nice to walk on..... YAY!!!
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