2022 Lawn Thread

[WF36]

Had new turf laid in December 2021 (new build) given it a few cuts so far this year - Best feed for 3 month of old turf?

Usually just use Aftercut all in one but says not to be used on turfs under 12 months old.

[Humpy D]

I fancy aerating my lawn this year as every article I read says that it's one of the best things you can do. But which method is best for a small lawn (c. 45 sq m)?

I could go all out and hire a proper aerator that pulls out the cores but that's expensive at c.£100 a day as I'll be done in half an hour!

Could use a fork but from experience that's just chuffing hard work even on a small lawn. Could use an aerator roller but can't help thinking that unless the lawn is quite soft there won't be enough weight for the spikes to penetrate.

So finally we come onto those aerator overshoes. Decently priced and because I'm not skinny there's plenty of weight for the spikes to penetrate! Ok, look a bit of a twit as I suspect I'll look like Neil Armstrong walking on the moon!

Any thoughts anyone?

[Mabbs9]

I don't think anything beats the plugs. Any other techniques compress the surrounding soil/turf which isn't very kind on the lawn.

[dhutch]

There was talk about this, at the end of the 2021 thread, earlier this week.

Someone had a quote for someone to do it for them for half the cost of the machine hire. Which for most might be the best option.

The rollers are actually ok as long as you don't pick a dry day peek summer. You have to put the handle into your waist and put your weight behind it but it does work and I do our lawn with it between hollow tinning it.

Then fork method for a deep decompaction and fracturing of high traffic entry and exit points.

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

[Stedman]

Humpy D said:

I fancy aerating my lawn this year as every article I read says that it's one of the best things you can do. But which method is best for a small lawn (c. 45 sq m)?

I could go all out and hire a proper aerator that pulls out the cores but that's expensive at c.£100 a day as I'll be done in half an hour!

Could use a fork but from experience that's just chuffing hard work even on a small lawn. Could use an aerator roller but can't help thinking that unless the lawn is quite soft there won't be enough weight for the spikes to penetrate.

So finally we come onto those aerator overshoes. Decently priced and because I'm not skinny there's plenty of weight for the spikes to penetrate! Ok, look a bit of a twit as I suspect I'll look like Neil Armstrong walking on the moon!

Any thoughts anyone?

Get a quote from a local lawn company for HTA

[Cheib]

Bought a new house last year....has quite a lot of grass area. Did my fist mow today, there's what looks like a lot of dead grass/thatch ? In the lawn. Am I right with my amateur diagnosis ?

What's the best way to deal with it ? It's a large area, I do have a "domestic" scarifier but it's just not practical for a lawn this size.

[CO2000]

Humpy D said:

I fancy aerating my lawn this year as every article I read says that it's one of the best things you can do. But which method is best for a small lawn (c. 45 sq m)?

I could go all out and hire a proper aerator that pulls out the cores but that's expensive at c.£100 a day as I'll be done in half an hour!

Could use a fork but from experience that's just chuffing hard work even on a small lawn. Could use an aerator roller but can't help thinking that unless the lawn is quite soft there won't be enough weight for the spikes to penetrate.

So finally we come onto those aerator overshoes. Decently priced and because I'm not skinny there's plenty of weight for the spikes to penetrate! Ok, look a bit of a twit as I suspect I'll look like Neil Armstrong walking on the moon!

Any thoughts anyone?

If you go the Fork route get one of these as I broke a normal one doing mine! The heavier weight helped too

https://www.toolstation.com/bulldog-contractors-st...

[DonkeyApple]

Cheib said:

Bought a new house last year....has quite a lot of grass area. Did my fist mow today, there's what looks like a lot of dead grass/thatch ? In the lawn. Am I right with my amateur diagnosis ?

What's the best way to deal with it ? It's a large area, I do have a "domestic" scarifier but it's just not practical for a lawn this size.

Does look like it.

My front lawn is a similar size and I have a tiny petrol scarifier so the idea of doing the lawn was somewhat daunting. However, I came up with a system that was quite easy. I did wait until the ground was dry.

I cut the lawn as short as I dared then fitted the tines to the scarifier, set it so that it just touched the surface, removed the collector and propped open the rear then just went up and down the lawn with it nicely removing all the dead stuff and leaving the soil and grass pretty much alone. I then just used the leaf blower to corral all the debris and collected it into one large pile.

[Cheib]

That looks like a lot of work but I like the idea...I do have a domestic petrol scarifier. I used it on a lawn at our old house which had a lot of moss in it....I couldn't believe the amount of "debris"...there wasn't much grass left. Sowed new grass seed etc and two years later the moss was back ! Maybe I'll try your method on a small area

[DonkeyApple]

It wasn't anywhere near as much hard work as I thought. I mowed it one evening. Then spent the next evening walking up and down with the scarifier and drinking beer. The following evening was just blowing it all up to one point and collecting it. I think the hardest bit was having to use two hands to pick up the debris as it hindered the beer drinking.

[RobB_]

hi all,





I have this planned for the front, am I missing anything?

• Remove gravel
• Turn up the soil down to a depth of 20mm
• Glyphosate the area and then wait two weeks
• Spread a starter fertilizer (https://www.rolawn.co.uk/lawn-care/rolawn-groright-lawn-establishment-fertiliser)
• Spread Clay specific grass seed (https://thegrasspeople.com/impress-clay-master-lawn-seed)
• Bed down the soil
• Water daily until germination

I've read about removing the top layer of clay (15-20mm) and then laying a suitable top soil, Is this nessacary?

[dhutch]

As very little is growing there, no need fo glyposate.

Rather than water daily, you can water well once before sowing and cover with clear polythene. Anything will do, used packing sheet etc.

Soil. What's the current condition of the sail you have?

[blue al]

Looking warm towards the end of the week is it worth going full attack mode with the lawn, or just cut on highest setting, or avoid a cut and give it a feed instead ?

What’s best route to start the season?

[dhutch]

Seems too early to scarify yet if that's what your thinking. Certainly too soon to overseed.

[deckster]

blue al said:

Looking warm towards the end of the week is it worth going full attack mode with the lawn, or just cut on highest setting, or avoid a cut and give it a feed instead ?

What’s best route to start the season?

Everything you ever wanted to know....https://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/lawn-diary

I typically start off with some high cuts as soon as the soil is dry enough, plus an early dose of ferrous sulphate, and then go for first feed of the year sometime towards the middle/end of April, depending on the weather. Potentially think about some light aeration when things have firmed up. But wait until overnight temperatures are significantly higher before scarifying, and even then only if the lawn needs it.

[DonkeyApple]

Given the price of petrol, fertiliser and food over the next year, I'm generally of the view that the green weed covering my lawns can look after itself as it has done for the last few millions of years.

[Harry Flashman]

Crocus Vernus Pickwick is definitely my favourite lawn bulb. Huge flowers, and very distinctive agai st a green background.

[Craigybaby69]

DonkeyApple said:

Given the price of petrol, fertiliser and food over the next year, I'm generally of the view that the green weed covering my lawns can look after itself as it has done for the last few millions of years.

I'm similar, gonna give the chemicals a miss this year and stick with raking and regular mowing and see if it gives pleasing results...

[Drew106]

Any tips on tackling a neglected and overgrown lawn for a novice?

I've bought myself a Mountfield Elite (the one with the Honda engine), hoping it's a decent middle of the road mower. Still in the box currently.

The garden is on a bit of a hill, uneven and overgrown.

My plan is to just whack the cut level on the highest setting and hope for the best. Sound good?

Planning to buy a strimmer too. Possibly this weekend.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Drew106 said:

My plan is to just whack the cut level on the highest setting and hope for the best. Sound good?

Yep, that’s what I’d do.

Mow it on the tallest setting a few times, then gradually start reducing the height. But don’t go too short, and try not to cut off more than a third of the length with any one cut. It doesn’t look too long, so the tallest setting of your mower will be about right.