2021 Lawn thread
Discussion
eps said:
Yes you need to randomise up your lawn mowing!! I tend to do every other mow at 90 degrees to the previous.
Our garden isnt very square (beds in the corner etc) but still longer one way than the other. So I oscillate between 30deg one way and 30 deg the other way, which means I get reasonable length runs, which are broadly parallel to one or other pair of corner beds, if that makes sense. I also start from a broadly random position each time, so I am not running over the same tracks ever. Seams to work. Plus I can throw in a 90deg pass as and when I want to.Last time I scarified in spring at 0 and 90, this time for autumn I might go for 45 and -45 its all somewhat as the mood takes me!
I also tried to double hollow tine with two passes in the same direction off-set at half a tine pitch (at 90 as it happens) which was ok, but the machine does like to drop back into its old lines. So when I do it a second time in autumn I am going to do the to passes at different angles. Compaction appears to be a huge issue for us, and we are catching up on years of neglect, so I am going a bit mad on it to catch up before I get bored of lawn care and wind up with children instead!
Daniel
dhutch said:
Thoughts on blending and old and new lawn?
...What else I can do to promote the new grasses, weaken the old, encourage blending and matching?
...What else I can do to promote the new grasses, weaken the old, encourage blending and matching?
RichB said:
I am sure that if you keep treating it he same, cutting and feeding it will merge together quite quickly.
Anyway, in a few years those three trees you've planted will soon take care of the grass
I am sure with time the merge will happen. But I am also keen to do what I can to get the old lawn to look more like the new, than visa verse!Anyway, in a few years those three trees you've planted will soon take care of the grass
Daniel
Condi said:
Fertilised my lawn the other week.
Day later took the mower to have a few small jobs done.
2 weeks later grass is now up to my knees and mower is "waiting for parts".
Tis always the way - I did mine with some Solabiol lawn feed treatment. I blinked and then it shot up and was lush! Then we went away for 2 weeks, but thankfully had a friend's son who volunteered to mow the lawn Day later took the mower to have a few small jobs done.
2 weeks later grass is now up to my knees and mower is "waiting for parts".
Although the weeds liked it as well - just need to get a spare day to de-weed again. More mowing needed - I'll struggle once my eldest son is back at school!Quite pleased with the recovery from my scarification 2 weeks ago. There’s still a few small patches that are a bit thin, but I’ll give it another week before deciding whether to throw some more seed down. The early timing means I’ve still got loads of time for seed to germinate and get established. Think I’ll spray some seaweed and Humimax on it tomorrow.
The eagle-eyed will notice that I’ve ripped out the cheapo Homebase petunias that have done sterling work in those patio troughs over the summer, but they’d started looking tatty so they had to go. I’ve replaced them with 40 viola plug plants…
And some of them have started flowering already…
The eagle-eyed will notice that I’ve ripped out the cheapo Homebase petunias that have done sterling work in those patio troughs over the summer, but they’d started looking tatty so they had to go. I’ve replaced them with 40 viola plug plants…
And some of them have started flowering already…
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Thursday 2nd September 17:31
Dr Murdoch said:
In order of Autumn work, is this correct?
Moss killer, wait a week, scarify, aerate, feed and then seed?
Although I haven't got hardly any moss this year, although if I put it down now will then help over winter?
That order of play looks good to me.Moss killer, wait a week, scarify, aerate, feed and then seed?
Although I haven't got hardly any moss this year, although if I put it down now will then help over winter?
I don’t think moss killer has a prolonged effect. The active ingredient is ferrous sulphate, so it would do no harm to keep applying it regularly through autumn and as far into winter as you can be @rsed. The ferrous sulphate has at least two other useful effects as we go into the cooler months: first, it toughens the grass and “winterises” it; second, it acidifies the top layer of soil and slightly discourages worms from casting (it’s not a full cure, but it reduces worm casts to a useful degree).
Dr Murdoch said:
I was going to start the Autumn prep work this week, but as the temperatures are about to go through the roof (27 here in the SE), would I be best to wait a week for the temperatures to fall a little?
I'm wondering whether scarifying during high temps will stress the grass?
To answer my own question, yes its too hot. Scarifying will open up the soil which will make it dry out quickly in this heat, and this will damage the grass/roots.I'm wondering whether scarifying during high temps will stress the grass?
I'll wait until the weekend or next week.
Alternatively, grass is a weed and tough as old boots and scarifying when it's dry is a lot easier especially as you can blow the debris into a big pile for disposal. Plus, it's going to tip down in a few days.
I'll often scarify mid summer and this year I shaved the lawn right the way down so it resembled a Delhi wicket and its all bounced back and is a vision in green.
I'll often scarify mid summer and this year I shaved the lawn right the way down so it resembled a Delhi wicket and its all bounced back and is a vision in green.
I scarified my lawns yesterday in preparation for an overseed to thicken it up a bit in places. As luck would have it we have had constant rain since yesterday evening but the forecast for the rest of the week and beyond is hot and dry. I have to make a choice now as to whether I should put the seed down now and water regularly or wait till the weather changes again which may be a couple of weeks away.
I am conscious of running out of time and daylight to give the seed time to establish itself.
First world problem I know but what to do for the best?
I am conscious of running out of time and daylight to give the seed time to establish itself.
First world problem I know but what to do for the best?
I've been following this thread for tips - we moved into a new build house late last year, and the builders threw down turf in a cold December....
I've been trying to keep on top of maintenance & feeding, but the neighbours grass in the left of the top pic was the same as ours - patchy, yellowing and lumps of bumps/unevenness/footprint dents left by builders. Also had heather type stuff growing in it, as well as some mushrooms!
Lots of watering, lawn feed and seaweed extracts made a heck of a difference to the colour & thickness, but still wasn't right
Short cut & scarified it 10 days ago to remove the dead grass and crap, top dressing applied with brush & rake to help even it out, and lawn seed mixed in with the top dressing
10 days in and it's recovering well - hope to give it a first cut next week and keep applying seed in places to even it all out.
I've been trying to keep on top of maintenance & feeding, but the neighbours grass in the left of the top pic was the same as ours - patchy, yellowing and lumps of bumps/unevenness/footprint dents left by builders. Also had heather type stuff growing in it, as well as some mushrooms!
Lots of watering, lawn feed and seaweed extracts made a heck of a difference to the colour & thickness, but still wasn't right
Short cut & scarified it 10 days ago to remove the dead grass and crap, top dressing applied with brush & rake to help even it out, and lawn seed mixed in with the top dressing
10 days in and it's recovering well - hope to give it a first cut next week and keep applying seed in places to even it all out.
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