2018 Lawn thread
Discussion
One of the comments I've heard a few times is before proceeding with an action plan for a poorly lawn is to assess the condition and quality of the soil. Any recommendations for a cost effective kit to do this? Or are they all pretty much the same? Looks like I can get a simple soil test kit for < £20 on Amazon. Fit for the job?
Quite excited by this thread, I have been lawn-less for the last year having undertaken a drastic remodel of the garden myself after some MENTAL landscaping quotes, thought how hard can it be........and set to it myself! Its not going to win any Chelsea Flower Show awards but with a 7 year old and a dog its perfect, I promised my daughter she would have a garden this Summer to enjoy as last Summer it looked like this -
And how it looks presently -
Next Thursday the landscape company is coming to rotate the soil, mix in soil conditioner and a bit of sand before spreading a nice grade top soil, tamping it all down and laying a lush green lawn and I am VERY excited!!!!!
Si
And how it looks presently -
Next Thursday the landscape company is coming to rotate the soil, mix in soil conditioner and a bit of sand before spreading a nice grade top soil, tamping it all down and laying a lush green lawn and I am VERY excited!!!!!
Si
Last year my lawn project was to straighten the lawn, taking over some of the flower bed.
It appears we had missed some of the bulbs...
Lawn fail by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Other than the bulbs coming through it seems like my scarify/overseed from the autumn didn't turn out too well, the lawn has got some moss back, the odd weed and some yellowing. The weed grasses don't seem to have returned though. My plan for the spring, probably late April now, is for another scarify and overseed.
It appears we had missed some of the bulbs...
Lawn fail by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Other than the bulbs coming through it seems like my scarify/overseed from the autumn didn't turn out too well, the lawn has got some moss back, the odd weed and some yellowing. The weed grasses don't seem to have returned though. My plan for the spring, probably late April now, is for another scarify and overseed.
dbdb said:
My lawn is absolutely awful - by far the worst it has ever been. It is an old lawn and has a huge depth of thatch, which the crows are pulling up all over the place. It really looks terrible!
Birds digging holes in the lawn is usually a sign that you've got a chafer grub problem. The grubs feed on grass roots which is as bad for the grass as it sounds. If the infestation gets really bad then you can roll the lawn up like a carpet as there's so little root depth left.The grubs are most active in spring and autumn. Remove a section of turf and see if you can find many of these fat white grubs. To deal with any infestiation you'll need to treat the turf with nematodes once ground temperatures get above 12 C.
The other grubs to watch out for are leatherjackets. Again, nematodes are the answer.
Generally it's the chafer grubs that are especially appealing to birds but they'll dig for either so you'll need to identify which grub is the problem by taking a look under the turf.
bazza white said:
Ok let's talk grass seed.
Different types what's what. Whats ryegrass, better with or without. Any brand recommendations.
Ryegrass is commonly used in "normal" lawns and in sports turf. It's very resistant to wear and tear from being trodden on so it's ideal for family lawns. It's fast growing and fast to establish from seed and gives lawns a deep green colour. It does have some downsides; it's not as fine a grass as fescues and bents so traditionally doesn't tend to get used in ornamental lawns; it's a hungry species so needs plenty of feeding to keep it at its best and it doesn't do so well in shady conditions. Whilst it is resistant to wear and tear it's a bunch type grass so doesn't self heal by spreading into bare patches of its own accord (although cultivars are being developed that do to a limited degree). Different types what's what. Whats ryegrass, better with or without. Any brand recommendations.
Whilst it isn't as fine a grass as some, modern cultivars are a world away from the ryegrasses that made up lawns in the 1970s so don't shy away from them for that reason unless you really really want the finest, most dense sward possible. After all, the courts at Wimbledon don't look too shabby and these days they're 100% perennial ryegrass.
Lawnsmith seeds are good and prove popular on here. The big names in amenity turf seeds are Germinal, Barenbrug, and DLF (Johnsons). Anything from them is going to be good (provided it's suited to the conditions).
The main thing to decide before buying seed is what type of lawn do you want, what are the environmental conditions like (sun v shade, dry v damp, sandy v clay, acidic v alkaline), what sort of use is it going to get and how much maintenance are you willing to put into it. No matter how good the seed is, a fescue/bent ornamental lawn on clay soil in damp shade used for games of football by the children and pet dogs whilst getting cut once a month is never ever going to do well
jagnet said:
Birds digging holes in the lawn is usually a sign that you've got a chafer grub problem. The grubs feed on grass roots which is as bad for the grass as it sounds. If the infestation gets really bad then you can roll the lawn up like a carpet as there's so little root depth left.
The grubs are most active in spring and autumn. Remove a section of turf and see if you can find many of these fat white grubs. To deal with any infestiation you'll need to treat the turf with nematodes once ground temperatures get above 12 C.
The other grubs to watch out for are leatherjackets. Again, nematodes are the answer.
Generally it's the chafer grubs that are especially appealing to birds but they'll dig for either so you'll need to identify which grub is the problem by taking a look under the turf.
Ah - that would also explain why the birds are pulling up the lawn in the spring and autumn - and not at other times! The grubs are most active in spring and autumn. Remove a section of turf and see if you can find many of these fat white grubs. To deal with any infestiation you'll need to treat the turf with nematodes once ground temperatures get above 12 C.
The other grubs to watch out for are leatherjackets. Again, nematodes are the answer.
Generally it's the chafer grubs that are especially appealing to birds but they'll dig for either so you'll need to identify which grub is the problem by taking a look under the turf.
Thanks for the advice, it is really helpful.
So its been an exciting day as this morning our garden looked like this -
And by this afternoon it had transformed into this -
Very pleased with the results, busy doing the rain dance at present!!!! The guys did a really good job, motivated the earth that was there and raked out all the crap. Then rotivated in some soil conditioner and sand as the base is a little clay heavy, then raked to a nice level with a slight run off to the right for the water to drain. All trampled down and turf laid on top - my daughter is over the moon! Last summer the rear garden was a total mess and she couldn't be a 'kid' in her garden so I made her a promise that this summer would be different.
The next job is the 'upper level' where we intend to lay a patio for our table/chairs etc.
Keep you posted on how the lawn does......
Si
And by this afternoon it had transformed into this -
Very pleased with the results, busy doing the rain dance at present!!!! The guys did a really good job, motivated the earth that was there and raked out all the crap. Then rotivated in some soil conditioner and sand as the base is a little clay heavy, then raked to a nice level with a slight run off to the right for the water to drain. All trampled down and turf laid on top - my daughter is over the moon! Last summer the rear garden was a total mess and she couldn't be a 'kid' in her garden so I made her a promise that this summer would be different.
The next job is the 'upper level' where we intend to lay a patio for our table/chairs etc.
Keep you posted on how the lawn does......
Si
caduceus said:
You're supposed to walk on them. Not sit on them.
Lol!!! Funny enough we were talking about that today, think if I can sink some in enough so that mower runs over them then we could be onto a winner!!Just had a quote to lay a patio on top level - OMG I had to sit down, that may have to wait unless decking is cheaper than patio?!??!?
Si
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