The 2024 Lawn Thread
Discussion
Cut my grass on Saturday for the first time this year - very happy with the result so far.
Looking forward to this year for a couple of reasons;
- I purchased the property early last year after it was vacant for the best part of 12 months, the grassed areas had overgrown a lot - took 4 passes (two with the strimmer) to make it look presentable again. I then scalped it around May of last year.
Seems to have grown back pretty healthily, last cut was 24th Dec 23 - we had a couple of very mild days.
- When I purchased the property I treated myself to my first petrol mower - always wanted one being a petrolhead of course, but the previous place had a garden that didnt justify the size! This one is just about allowable I think, probably look like a plonker to others but its great not having chords to deal with, plus I get the satisfaction of doing an annual oil service & analysing fuel costs year on year
Will add a few photos this evening.
Looking forward to this year for a couple of reasons;
- I purchased the property early last year after it was vacant for the best part of 12 months, the grassed areas had overgrown a lot - took 4 passes (two with the strimmer) to make it look presentable again. I then scalped it around May of last year.
Seems to have grown back pretty healthily, last cut was 24th Dec 23 - we had a couple of very mild days.
- When I purchased the property I treated myself to my first petrol mower - always wanted one being a petrolhead of course, but the previous place had a garden that didnt justify the size! This one is just about allowable I think, probably look like a plonker to others but its great not having chords to deal with, plus I get the satisfaction of doing an annual oil service & analysing fuel costs year on year
Will add a few photos this evening.
Edited by AlexGSi2000 on Monday 11th March 09:02
I really need to do something with my lawn this year, I've really neglected it over the past few years. Very wet soil, lots of clay, it's looking like more weeds and moss than grass at the moment. Last year was quite bad as it was so often wet that I could not get the mower out much.
To make it trickier, I also need to ensure our rabbit has a decent patch of edible grass throughout any treatment I might apply...
Anyway, seeing this thread pop up will get me off my arse and sort the garden out!
To make it trickier, I also need to ensure our rabbit has a decent patch of edible grass throughout any treatment I might apply...
Anyway, seeing this thread pop up will get me off my arse and sort the garden out!
The Three D Mucketeer said:
Lotus Notes said:
After struggling with moss and a manual scarifier, I bought an €80 Lidl electric scarifier/aerator.
I'm very happy with it as it's wide, efficient and has brought up at least 1m3 of moss.
Is that kitty litter on the perimeter of the lawn ? I'm very happy with it as it's wide, efficient and has brought up at least 1m3 of moss.
Moved into a new house on Oct and the small lawn took a battering from the weather and the dogs. Going to look to improve the drainage first, and then try and get some grass growth.
We also have another small section, but it’s under a large oak and think will struggle to grow grass in the shade. We might convert this to patio or a gravel area instead
Edited by Challo on Monday 11th March 22:18
NRG1976 said:
Challo said:
For such a small area would it be more efficient to put a new lawn down and go from there?With all the rain this winter, I have noticed its doesnt drain very well. If I strip back and start again, should I add some sand/grit into the soil underneath before the turf goes on top?
That Oak tree is massive for the size of the garden, in Summer it will drink lots of water , but not in winter. The lawn is virtually encircled by paths which may be stopping drainage. Just adding sand will not improve drainage . If there's a fall then laying french drains would be best , otherwise dig a deep (5/6 foot) sump hole and lay drains into it. I'm assuming you are on clay, so you need to penetrate the clay. Have fun , because the tree roots must cover the garden.. Why not put a veg bed (or raised beds) near the greenhouse and grow your own ? .
.I have had to cut my grass twice so far on the highest setting. For context the grass was laid as turf last summer when we moved into our new build. We were only able to get to mow it once it had gotten too long and as a result there are patches where the grass is thinner where I had to rake out a fair amount of dead grass. Additionally, there are areas where the ground is very, very wet as the soil is heavily clayed and does not infiltrate well.
At some point soon I'd like to feed the areas where we will be keeping grass and undertake some aeration, sanding and seeding. Input most welcome on the actions to try!
At some point soon I'd like to feed the areas where we will be keeping grass and undertake some aeration, sanding and seeding. Input most welcome on the actions to try!
Edited by roadie on Thursday 14th March 18:28
The Three D Mucketeer said:
That Oak tree is massive for the size of the garden, in Summer it will drink lots of water , but not in winter. The lawn is virtually encircled by paths which may be stopping drainage. Just adding sand will not improve drainage . If there's a fall then laying french drains would be best , otherwise dig a deep (5/6 foot) sump hole and lay drains into it. I'm assuming you are on clay, so you need to penetrate the clay. Have fun , because the tree roots must cover the garden.. Why not put a veg bed (or raised beds) near the greenhouse and grow your own ? .
We do have a veg patch but its right at the back of the garden between the greenhouse and shed, and we are in the process of ripping it out. The greenhouse will be pushed back, and but unsure what to do with the grassy area infront. As you mention the Oak tree will absorb lots of water so perhaps grass isn't best. We may look at having a seating area in that space. [url] .
|https://thumbsnap.com/txXKC5QJ[/url]I’d love it if someone with more experience could tell me where I’m going wrong. Every spring my lawn starts out looking like this, I manage to improve it slightly through the summer but invariably it ends up thin and full of moss again by autumn.
I last treated the moss with Evergreen Mosskill at the end of last season in October but its back again. I assume that should be the first thing I tackle?
Every year I overseed and top-dress with a compost/soil mix. Last year I aerated with spiked shoes but I’m not convinced that did much. Any advice as to whether this could ever become a thick moss-free lawn?
I last treated the moss with Evergreen Mosskill at the end of last season in October but its back again. I assume that should be the first thing I tackle?
Every year I overseed and top-dress with a compost/soil mix. Last year I aerated with spiked shoes but I’m not convinced that did much. Any advice as to whether this could ever become a thick moss-free lawn?
Besides the moss the black stuff looks like lichen and with moss... indicative of poor growing conditions...poor drainage ,deep shade and food shortage (says my book )
Clay soil, overhanging trees , the paths ..... Do you feed the lawn ?... Cutting the grass too short ?? Animals ... b
hes ?
Growing quality fine grass (and in the right place) is a challenge to all don't give up
)Clay soil, overhanging trees , the paths ..... Do you feed the lawn ?... Cutting the grass too short ?? Animals ... b
hes ? Growing quality fine grass (and in the right place) is a challenge to all don't give up
The Three D Mucketeer said:
Besides the moss the black stuff looks like lichen and with moss... indicative of poor growing conditions...poor drainage ,deep shade and food shortage (says my book )
Clay soil, overhanging trees , the paths ..... Do you feed the lawn ?... Cutting the grass too short ?? Animals ... bhes ?
Growing quality fine grass (and in the right place) is a challenge to all don't give up
Clay soil for sure and it does waterlog quite easily despite the drainage we had dug in when the garden was originally landscaped years ago. )Clay soil, overhanging trees , the paths ..... Do you feed the lawn ?... Cutting the grass too short ?? Animals ... b
hes ? Growing quality fine grass (and in the right place) is a challenge to all don't give up
South facing garden with only two relatively small trees. No animals.
Other than the annual compost top-dress I’ve never really fed it anything. Maybe that and the drainage is the problem?
After recently moving house and having my new front lawn professionally scarified to death over 3 days last year I thought I'd keep the good work going and took advantage of an offer from a local large horticulture specialists. They sent someone round who had a look, took some samples then came back with a suggestion for a Spring, Summer and Winter feed.
Today I collected 50kg of the Spring stuff which is 10 - 4 - 4 + 4% MgO + 3% Fe + 8% CaO + Seaweed.
Hopefully I'll manage to keep it on the green stuff.
Hopefully it will go greener as well.
Today I collected 50kg of the Spring stuff which is 10 - 4 - 4 + 4% MgO + 3% Fe + 8% CaO + Seaweed.
Hopefully I'll manage to keep it on the green stuff.
Hopefully it will go greener as well.
DMAndy said:
I’d love it if someone with more experience could tell me where I’m going wrong. Every spring my lawn starts out looking like this, I manage to improve it slightly through the summer but invariably it ends up thin and full of moss again by autumn.
I last treated the moss with Evergreen Mosskill at the end of last season in October but its back again. I assume that should be the first thing I tackle?
Every year I overseed and top-dress with a compost/soil mix. Last year I aerated with spiked shoes but I’m not convinced that did much. Any advice as to whether this could ever become a thick moss-free lawn?
I’d be half tempted to dig that all out a few feet, put in decent soil and then re-turf it…I last treated the moss with Evergreen Mosskill at the end of last season in October but its back again. I assume that should be the first thing I tackle?
Every year I overseed and top-dress with a compost/soil mix. Last year I aerated with spiked shoes but I’m not convinced that did much. Any advice as to whether this could ever become a thick moss-free lawn?
NRG1976 said:
DMAndy said:
I’d love it if someone with more experience could tell me where I’m going wrong. Every spring my lawn starts out looking like this, I manage to improve it slightly through the summer but invariably it ends up thin and full of moss again by autumn.
I last treated the moss with Evergreen Mosskill at the end of last season in October but its back again. I assume that should be the first thing I tackle?
Every year I overseed and top-dress with a compost/soil mix. Last year I aerated with spiked shoes but I’m not convinced that did much. Any advice as to whether this could ever become a thick moss-free lawn?
I’d be half tempted to dig that all out a few feet, put in decent soil and then re-turf it…I last treated the moss with Evergreen Mosskill at the end of last season in October but its back again. I assume that should be the first thing I tackle?
Every year I overseed and top-dress with a compost/soil mix. Last year I aerated with spiked shoes but I’m not convinced that did much. Any advice as to whether this could ever become a thick moss-free lawn?
Obviously a reasonable wall in the photos, and presumably a house out of shot? Which was is south?
dhutch said:
Does it get a decent amount of sunshine?
Obviously a reasonable wall in the photos, and presumably a house out of shot? Which was is south?
It gets a decent amount I'd say. The wall at the back probably reduces the direct sunlight in the winter but during the summer it gets a lot of light.Obviously a reasonable wall in the photos, and presumably a house out of shot? Which was is south?
We have solar panels on the rear roof now so I've checked the output for a rough gauge of angle. From May-August they produce very strong output between 7am to 6pm. In the winter months its getting much lower levels of light between 10am to 3pm at best.
DMAndy said:
I’d love it if someone with more experience could tell me where I’m going wrong. Every spring my lawn starts out looking like this, I manage to improve it slightly through the summer but invariably it ends up thin and full of moss again by autumn.
I last treated the moss with Evergreen Mosskill at the end of last season in October but its back again. I assume that should be the first thing I tackle?
Every year I overseed and top-dress with a compost/soil mix. Last year I aerated with spiked shoes but I’m not convinced that did much. Any advice as to whether this could ever become a thick moss-free lawn?
Is that a drain cover in the photo ??? Soil trap ? and maybe you have an available drainage point ? I last treated the moss with Evergreen Mosskill at the end of last season in October but its back again. I assume that should be the first thing I tackle?
Every year I overseed and top-dress with a compost/soil mix. Last year I aerated with spiked shoes but I’m not convinced that did much. Any advice as to whether this could ever become a thick moss-free lawn?
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