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Lawn Revival

Scott256Scott256 Posts: 6
in Problem solving

Hi, I'm quite new to gardening, I work out of the country for 8 months of the year so my lawn is in a terrible state.

I was wondering what I could do to best revive my garden at this time of the year.

I have plenty of dandelions, a bit of clover, and a whole lot of moss on the right hand side of the garden (as you can see in the picture) I believe it's because it's shaded by a huge tree and only gets sunlight for a few hours of the day.

Would it be best to scarify, rake and use 4 in 1 weed killer / lawn feed and aerate and if so, in what order?

Or would it be best to just dig it out, prep the soil then lay turf?

Thanks for your help! Let me know if you need anymore pictures :)

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Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700

    That's not a bad looking lawn at all. At this time of year, and with very hot sun, many lawns look similar. If you need to treat the lawn, you will need to soak the lawn very well. There are so many products in the the supermarkets nowadays, so it's a question of something you broadcast with general weed killer and feeding at the same time or just one type. Then it's watered in or waiting for the rain. Read the instructions for when you can return to the lawn to either do repeat treatments or raking.

    Moss and clover are common issues in lawns, and it's just a case of trying to deal with aerating a lawn and making sure drainage is good. Rake up mossy areas reguarly and spike the lawn surfaces when there has been rain. In high summer, most to the days will not be ideal to do this sort of work, so you will need patience and try not to force all the work into a short time. 

  • Scott256Scott256 Posts: 6

    The moss is all along the right hand side fence, about 8 meters by a foot.

    As well as 8 ants nests scattered around which is just big circles of soil.

    I cut it 2 days ago, so maybe tomorrow I will apply the Aftercut 4 in 1 weed killer/lawn feed that I got yesterday. I imagine it'll make the garden look a real mess for a few weeks?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,023

    There's no need to re-turf ... we've got summer coming up and you'll spend your time watering and worrying about it, and you won't be able to walk on the lawn for several weeks.  

    With a hot dry spell coming up I'd just give it a good raking to get as much moss out as possible, and don't cut it too short.  Keep your mower on a medium setting ... no lower!   If you've got dandelions and other broadleaved weeds get yourself a daisy grubber and just hoik them outimage

    If there's a guaranteed day of heavy rain coming up apply some granular seaweed fertiliser according to the instructions on the pack (Maxicrop do a good one, available online, but there are others).

    I wouldn't use a lawn treatment which includes a moss killer and herbicide just now because it'll turn the mossy weedy patches black and it'll depress you and you want to enjoy your garden this summer.  

    Last edited: 17 June 2017 10:36:44


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Scott256Scott256 Posts: 6

    imageIf I rake the moss, this is how 1/5th of my garden is going to look, it'll just be bare soil haha.

    Am I still best doing it now, and maybe lay some grass seed?

    Last edited: 17 June 2017 10:42:12

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,023

    Yes ... that's a good idea ... get some grass seed for shady lawns as I guess the worst mossy area is fairly shady.  Water the area well immediately before scattering the grass seed and tread the seed gently into the surface to make sure it's in contact with the damp soil. 

    Scarify the whole lawn then scatter the same grass seed thinly all over the lawn as different grass mixes are different shades of green, and if you do this it'll all blend in nicely and not look patchy.

    Give it a watering with a hose or sprinkler in the mornings to prevent it drying out and it'll soon germinate. 

    Again, don't be in a rush to cut it, and when you do cut it keep the cutter bar fairly high.

    Let us know how you get on image

    Last edited: 17 June 2017 11:01:47


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,523

    I know we all would like a nice lawn but in such a small area and given that you are only using it for 4 months of the year (you state you are away for 8 months) I would be thinking of getting rid of it entirely!

    The effort of getting it looking nice maybe just too much bother.

    Will probably be crucified now image but have you thought of artificial turf.It seems like the area in question is the sort of place it would be ideal.

    Just my thoughts anyway!

    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
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