2022 Lawn Thread

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Dr Murdoch

Original Poster:

3,427 posts

134 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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Haven't seen this years thread, so please close if its been setup.

I'm just looking out at my lawn, and I swear its showing signs of growth (South East). Does the soil temp need to be >8c? Some of the days have been into double figures, but nights it regularly drops close to zero, so on that basis its unlikely to be growing.

Maybe its just my imagination, and I know its a bit sad, but i'm itching to get the mower out!

Bikesalot

1,833 posts

157 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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Dr Murdoch said:
but i'm itching to get the mower out!
Same.

My last cut was in November (I think, maybe late Oct) and to my mind the grass only stopped growing just after Christmas.

Starting to look a bit scruffy, itching for that first mow but I think it will be a while yet.

Condi

17,089 posts

170 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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I cut mine about 10 days before Christmas and as soon as it dries up I'll give it another go. Hasn't stopped growing this year at all. Pain in the ass tbh!

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,101 posts

164 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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Mine has been growing, albeit slowly, pretty much continuously.

Dave350

359 posts

117 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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Also sadly looking forward to giving it a trim. I'd imagine the first one will be at some point in March?

Riff Raff

5,087 posts

194 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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Ours is growing like billyoh. (Deep South West here). It really needs a cut, but it's too wet. Last cut was at the beginning of December.

Diderot

7,264 posts

191 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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Ours is growing (south coast 100m from the beach), but over the past week the fecking seagulls have been ripping big chunks out of it for their nests, so it’s got 6 big bald patches.

DonkeyApple

54,934 posts

168 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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Front lawns have grown too much and having had the first dryish week for months and the week ahead looking devoid of frosts I'm contemplating heading off to fill a Gerry can and running the mower over the lawns on a highish setting and the mulch plug in today.

The other thought is instead of the mulch plug which will see the wheels clog and the laying down of clumped clippings that then need raking off, to use the side exit attachment to just blast the cuttings out hoping for a more even distribution?

Earthdweller

13,435 posts

125 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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Ran the mower over the lawns this week after a few dry days on its highest setting

Was concerned it it stayed wet and continued growing I wouldn’t then be able to cut it as it was to long

But odd in gloves coat and hat cutting the grass though

DonkeyApple

54,934 posts

168 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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Yup. Just finished the front lawns. Really quite a lot of grass blowing out the side exit. Definitely been a warm winter so far.

mike9009

6,919 posts

242 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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Cut mine this morning, 6 inches of growth in places. Last cut was week 2 nov. Just not stopped growing this winter on the Isle of Wight.

CubanPete

3,630 posts

187 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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Cut mine a couple of weeks ago after what felt like a couple of months of rain, first time since November I think.

Already the back looks like it needs doing again. the front is now mainly moss...

The pitchcare lawn treatments seem to have gone up quite a lot... Anyone know of any bargains or sales on?

We have about 1/2 acre of lawn.

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,101 posts

164 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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DonkeyApple said:
Front lawns have grown too much and having had the first dryish week for months and the week ahead looking devoid of frosts I'm contemplating heading off to fill a Gerry can and running the mower over the lawns on a highish setting and the mulch plug in today.

The other thought is instead of the mulch plug which will see the wheels clog and the laying down of clumped clippings that then need raking off, to use the side exit attachment to just blast the cuttings out hoping for a more even distribution?
I personally don’t mulch or leave clippings on during the winter - I use the mower’s collection bag.

Two reasons:

Firstly it’s probably too cold for bacterial and/or fungal action to break the clippings down.

Secondly the additional leaf material on the surface will attract earthworms to the surface to feed on the organic matter,, thus increasing casts. This doesn’t seem to be a problem in the warmer months; worms only really cast in autumn and winter.

During summer I nearly always mow with the mulching plug in. I’m sure the lawn benefits.

CubanPete

3,630 posts

187 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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Just finished second cut of January. Probably took nearly 3inches off in places, which is extraordinary given the time of year and how cold it has been.

The moles and the birds have been busy.

The moss at the front hasn't grown much...

RoamingBull

167 posts

91 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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So gave our grass the first trim today.

Think its ready for a good feed tbh.

Any recommendations for a spring feed when time comes that will make my grass look like a premiership pitch?

Dr Murdoch

Original Poster:

3,427 posts

134 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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First time I've ever cut the grass in January. Not heard a mower round here in months, so I did think I looked like that 'odd neighbour'!

Btw what is a mulching plug?

I assume only a select number of mowers have these? I have a Hayter spirit 41....

Condi

17,089 posts

170 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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CubanPete said:
The moss at the front hasn't grown much...
Lucky you. My grass is 70% moss in winter, it never really dries out and the moss just loves it. Managed to cut it the other day, looks a lot better now. Would agree with removing clippings at this time of year, it's too cold for them to break down.

Edited by Condi on Saturday 29th January 23:46

DonkeyApple

54,934 posts

168 months

Sunday 30th January 2022
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Dr Murdoch said:
First time I've ever cut the grass in January. Not heard a mower round here in months, so I did think I looked like that 'odd neighbour'!

Btw what is a mulching plug?

I assume only a select number of mowers have these? I have a Hayter spirit 41....
On my mower it is just a plastic piece that fits in the waste chute to block the clippings from going into the collector. It keeps the clippings inside the blade area for longer so they get cut up finer. This time around I just fitted the side exit chute instead.

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,101 posts

164 months

Sunday 30th January 2022
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RoamingBull said:
Think its ready for a good feed tbh.

Any recommendations for a spring feed when time comes that will make my grass look like a premiership pitch?
I would still stick with a low nitrogen feed for now. You don’t want to encourage lush leafy growth, which would then be vulnerable to frosts.

All fertilisers sold in this country must quote their “NPK” values. These are the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (always quoted in that order, by convention). So for example, if you look on the PitchCare web site they sell a product called ”ICL Sportsmaster Autumn 4-12-12”. Despite having “Autumn” in the name, this is also a good balance of nutrients for early spring - the “4-12-12” means it’s lower in nitrogen but has good levels of phosphorus and potassium to encourage root growth and general hardiness without giving too much leafy growth. This is the product that I was planning to apply today, but the lawn’s a bit frozen so I’ll wait until tomorrow.

You can keep the rest of the bag and start using it again in Autumn. Meanwhile you can switch to a higher nitrogen summer feed from around late March or early April, depending on whether you’re north or south.

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,101 posts

164 months

Sunday 30th January 2022
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Dr Murdoch said:
Btw what is a mulching plug?

I assume only a select number of mowers have these? I have a Hayter spirit 41....
The plug is simply a piece of plastic that wedges into the rear outflow, blocking it and trapping the clippings so they’re forced to stay under the deck slightly longer.

For mulching to work, you also need a special mulching blade. These are a more complex shape - they bend up and down along the length of the blade, unlike a normal blade which is generally straight. The bends in the blade change the aerodynamics under the deck and help with the mulching process.

For some mowers it’s possible to buy a mulching kit. This would consist of a plug plus a mulching blade. Not sure if the Spirit 41 can be converted - mine is an Osprey 46, which is a mulching mower by design (and in fact I don’t think there’s a normal blade that fits it).
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