2023 Lawn Thread

[McGee_22]

Anyone changed the direction of their mowing recently? I have just done my first mow of the year and decided to change the angle of the stripes through the central area of the lawn but still have stripes parallel to the edge of the property. I will try and post up a pic.

[Its Just Adz]

2nd cut of the year today, still a bit wet.

Lawn is so bumpy, need to sort that out. Too late to roll it after its been laid?

[M1AGM]

Turn7 said:

If I cut the lawn without the grass box , will the cuttings break down and improve the soil?

And will it affect the growth of a young lawn ?

Yes but you dont want too many cuttings left on the grass otherwise you block light, it gets slimy and it damages the lawn. Also you’ll get thatch build up quicker. I’d go with collector if its practical, and use a suitable lawn feed to add to the soil.

[dudleybloke]

If I'm only doing a light trim I will mulch but anything heavier gets collected.

[oblio]

I did our first cut yesterday after 2 days of dry weather. Just a top cut but hopefully I'll get it down to it's normal level next time. Ground fairly soft after copious rainfalls in March here in west Wales

[dhutch]

Yeah, I've fitted the second mulch blade to our Honda HRX roller mower. Chops the grass twice with each pass. I don't have the mulch deflector but just stick something in the chute.

As said, if I'm taking too much off (sorry) I'll collect, also believe certainly times of year better than others, but I do often mulch. We're on sand so the lawn is very hungry.

Most of what goes on the compost heap will also likely return as top dressing, but I've not got that far yet!

[Turn7]

M1AGM said:

Turn7 said:

If I cut the lawn without the grass box , will the cuttings break down and improve the soil?

And will it affect the growth of a young lawn ?

Yes but you dont want too many cuttings left on the grass otherwise you block light, it gets slimy and it damages the lawn. Also you’ll get thatch build up quicker. I’d go with collector if its practical, and use a suitable lawn feed to add to the soil.

Thanks . Collector not an issue, any recommendations of products to Improve the soil quality ?

[snotrag]

McGee_22 said:

Anyone changed the direction of their mowing recently? I have just done my first mow of the year and decided to change the angle of the stripes through the central area of the lawn but still have stripes parallel to the edge of the property. I will try and post up a pic.

I alternate each time, once a week in Summer - up/down, left/right, and then 45 degrees, on the understanding that doing this stops you getting ruts/grooves developing over time.

I always find the 45 degree stripes much more aesthetically pleasing!

[dhutch]

snotrag said:

McGee_22 said:

Anyone changed the direction of their mowing recently? I have just done my first mow of the year and decided to change the angle of the stripes through the central area of the lawn but still have stripes parallel to the edge of the property. I will try and post up a pic.

I alternate each time, once a week in Summer - up/down, left/right, and then 45 degrees, on the understanding that doing this stops you getting ruts/grooves developing over time.

I always find the 45 degree stripes much more aesthetically pleasing!

Yeah, I change it up through out the year.

One way is easier, up and down the long side, so I do this is in a rush, but a shallow 25-35deg diagonal is very manageable, and then I a pass at 90 from time to time.

[Mark83]

After re-seeding our lawn a couple of years ago, our extension and builders destroyed it.



3 tonnes of topsoil later to level out the lawn



Decided not to bother seeding this time so turfed it myself this morning.

9am



12pm



Our cat approved.



Sprinkler is now on until the rain arrives later.

[RichB]

Mark83 said:

Sprinkler is now on until the rain arrives later.

Talking of which, no path or paths so you can get to that smashing summer house when the grass is wet and soggy?

[abzmike]

That's a solid morning's work... Hopefully the cat won't pee on it...

[Mark83]

RichB said:

alking of which, no path or paths so you can get to that smashing summer house when the grass is wet and soggy?

We don't really use the summer house much other than in good weather so it's never been an issue in the past six years but it's a valid point and we do have left over patio slabs...

[Bonefish Blues]

Unusual square turfs?

[markbigears]

New shoots just coming through, 10 days in these cold conditions

[renmure]

Our contractor folk put down the moss killer and stuff on the front lawn yesterday, it's just like a mossy carpet really, and it was rained on nicely last night. I'd swear it was all going black already. I expect when they scarify it all in a couple of weeks we will be almost back to earth.

[RichB]

renmure said:

Our contractor folk put down the moss killer and stuff on the front lawn yesterday, it's just like a mossy carpet really, and it was rained on nicely last night. I'd swear it was all going black already. I expect when they scarify it all in a couple of weeks we will be almost back to earth.

It usually goes black within a few minutes so no surprise. It will probably start to go green again by the time they get back in two weeks

[carbonblack]

I didn't pull my finger out and order from Lawnsmith or Agrigem in time for this weekend... so I'm hoping to get some lawn-feed and some seed at B&Q or Wickes or similar.

Any recommendations, please? Ideally a gradual release feed would be great to save me doing it again for a while. Seems like most of these places are selling 'Aftercut All In One Lawn Feed, Weed & Moss Killer' which appears to be NPK 10-2-2...

TIA

Edited by carbonblack on Thursday 6th April 17:53

[Danns]

Finally had a break in the weather for first cut of the year, decided on wide stripes for 2023.



The 25mm mdpe poking out of the ground… I’ve got all the kit / designed a 6 zone pop up irrigation system that’s Alexa controlled, 16 or so pop ups and about 200m of 25mm to take the strain off watering this year.

Was supposed to go in at the start of the year but a bathroom has got in the way.

Pleasantly surprised when the new supply I put in measured at 5.5bar / 38 litres/min.

[brums evil twin]

really really happy how it has survived over the winter.

Had a very high cut last weekend, today its had two, one higher (was a bit wet) and then a second slightly lower to collect the then dried cuttings.

We have a family barbecue tomorrow, then Sunday it's a power rake, over seed, spring fertilise and brush in some compost. Making the most of today and tomorrow while it looks good.