2023 Lawn Thread

[Big Stevie]

Simpo Two said:

Now the only lawn weed I bother with is dandelions, the rest can live in peace unless they get really bad.

Dandelions are a vital source of early year food for bees. For some reason in the UK we hate them, I rather like them and leave them to flower. They are also good for the soil.

Dan-de-lion, French for 'tooth of the lion' due to their jagged shaped leaves.

[Harry Flashman]

I might leave mine then!

I just don't like the big leaves - it's the reason I tend to take them upm but I shall be more tolerant.

I also have butter ups in my lawn. They spread like wildfire!

I am realising that aside from moss, which I really do not like and am about to treat, I have a pretty "wild lawn" ideal...

Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 21st March 08:40

[Bonefish Blues]

Harry Flashman said:

I might leave none then!

I also have butter ups in my lawn. They spread like wildfire!

They're almost worth it for the compliments though

[Harry Flashman]

Typo city!! Nicely pointed out...

"Mine", not none. And Buttercups!

[McGee_22]

Big Stevie said:

Dandelions are a vital source of early year food for bees. For some reason in the UK we hate them, I rather like them and leave them to flower. They are also good for the soil.

Dan-de-lion, French for 'tooth of the lion' due to their jagged shaped leaves.

I do understand that but unchecked in a few years you will have almost bare soil and only dandelions. For that reason I have the main central part of the lawn weedkilled and mosskilled and certain other areas only mosskilled and not weedkilled - wild flowers, weeds and longer grass make it visually more interesting as well as a haven for more insects.

[dhutch]

McGee_22 said:

I do understand that but unchecked in a few years you will have almost bare soil and only dandelions. For that reason I have the main central part of the lawn weedkilled and mosskilled and certain other areas only mosskilled and not weedkilled - wild flowers, weeds and longer grass make it visually more interesting as well as a haven for more insects.

I am far from an expert, but I believe there is a school of though that over compaction a contributory cause of dandelions.

But yes, they are also very effective at spreading I am sure!

[Simpo Two]

Big Stevie said:

Simpo Two said:

Now the only lawn weed I bother with is dandelions, the rest can live in peace unless they get really bad.

Dandelions are a vital source of early year food for bees. For some reason in the UK we hate them, I rather like them and leave them to flower. They are also good for the soil.

Dan-de-lion, French for 'tooth of the lion' due to their jagged shaped leaves.

Dent-de-lion. My bees are very fond of the huge shrub honeysuckle; much finer dining than dandelions

I try to remove dandelions because they are big and spread like wildfire. A quick check today reveals about 30% daisy, 10% mouse-ear chickweed, 5% dovesfoot cranesbill and 10% moss. As long as it's green and roughly flat I don't mind too much, but might use some weedkiller to give the grass a chance.

[RichB]

Simpo Two said:

Big Stevie said:

Simpo Two said:

Now the only lawn weed I bother with is dandelions, the rest can live in peace unless they get really bad.

Dandelions are a vital source of early year food for bees. For some reason in the UK we hate them, I rather like them and leave them to flower. They are also good for the soil.
Dan-de-lion, French for 'tooth of the lion' due to their jagged shaped leaves.

Dent-de-lion. My bees are very fond of the huge shrub honeysuckle; much finer dining than dandelions

When I look at my garden there are always numerous plants flowering at the same time and earlier than dandylions. I am sure this nonsense about them being the first flower for bees is just part of this rewilding thing that some people are on at the moment. The bees do just fine in our garden without dandylions.

[Harry Flashman]

Yup. They are hanging out in crocuses and daffs I'm out garden right now.

[dhutch]

RichB said:

When I look at my garden there are always numerous plants flowering at the same time and earlier than dandylions. I am sure this nonsense about them being the first flower for bees is just part of this rewilding thing that some people are on at the moment. The bees do just fine in our garden without dandylions.

Strokes for folks.

I certainly wouldn't condone spraying verges, or a playing field etc with chemicals to reduce them.

Or routinely spraying or applying whole-lawn weed control for domestic lawns.

Not just because the world is better with dandelions, clover and daisies, but also because the world is better without the chemicals.

However I think if a small number of people what to keep their lawn without dandelions, that's ok too. Even if it includes a very small amount of specific plant by plant broadleaf weed killer application.

[markh1]

Just ordered the following;

Commercial grade rotary spreader
Knapsack sprayer
20kg of pre seed fertiliser
30kg lawn seed

All bought through this company...

https://www.agrigem.co.uk/

Spent an hour on the phone to a chap called Dave an experienced Agronomist who was very helpful and looked at pictures of my lawn and advised what I needed and in what order and gave me good prices compared to places like boston seeds.

I already have a load of iron phosphate which will be the first thing to go down and I now need to order a towable de-thatcher.

[Simpo Two]

markh1 said:

Just ordered the following;
Commercial grade rotary spreader
Knapsack sprayer
20kg of pre seed fertiliser
30kg lawn seed...
I now need to order a towable de-thatcher.

You are Jeremy Clarkson AICMFP

[Evanivitch]

Big Stevie said:

Dandelions are a vital source of early year food for bees. For some reason in the UK we hate them, I rather like them and leave them to flower. They are also good for the soil.

Dan-de-lion, French for 'tooth of the lion' due to their jagged shaped leaves.

Dandelions make for a really poor surface. Deep tap roots and they shade out everything around them, meaning the upper surface is left bare and turns to mud quickly when worked.

I welcome weeds in two of my three small lawns. But I don't welcome dandelions.

[RichB]

Evanivitch said:

Big Stevie said:

Dandelions are a vital source of early year food for bees. For some reason in the UK we hate them, I rather like them and leave them to flower. They are also good for the soil. Dan-de-lion, French for 'tooth of the lion' due to their jagged shaped leaves.

Dandelions make for a really poor surface. Deep tap roots and they shade out everything around them, meaning the upper surface is left bare and turns to mud quickly when worked. I welcome weeds in two of my three small lawns. But I don't welcome dandelions.

I am curious what the soil benefits alluded to are? I know about peas and bean locking nitrogen an the three plot crop rotation plan etc. but dandylions? Never heard that one...

[dhutch]

I believe it's suggested they can aid decompaction of soil. But not sure what the original poster is referring to.

[dhutch]

Anyone ever used iron on a roof!?

(Yes I know the staining would be awful, but it's tempting none the less!)

[dudleybloke]

dhutch said:

Anyone ever used iron on a roof!?

(Yes I know the staining would be awful, but it's tempting none the less!)

I used it on a path and rockery and once the moss died it came up easily with a brush. No staining either.

[RichB]

dhutch said:

Anyone ever used iron on a roof!?

(Yes I know the staining would be awful, but it's tempting none the less!)

I would scrape the worst off and then apply something like 'Wet and Forget' patio cleaner.

[dhutch]

Yeah I usually just careful scrape off with the back of a ground rake.

Might try a dose of Patio Magic on the worst offending side this spring maybe.

I actually don't mind some moss, softens the look and fits with the environment, but you can have two much of a good thing too!

[dudleybloke]

First proper cut of the season, going to switch to a feed with more nitrogen now but keep adding a little iron with every feed while it's still damp weather.
(Fence will be painted soon, ish)

Edited by dudleybloke on Thursday 23 March 15:40