Lawn Photographs

dealsjp

Any advise regarding the attached photographs would be much appreciated. The turf was laid in February this year and has gradually become more 'patchy'. I've watered and mown regularly and did feed at the beginning of April. Do you think the look of my lawn is 'normal' or do I have to worry? I also have the odd patch of clumpy grass as seen in the photograph labelled 'Thick Blade Grass'. Any idea what this is and why it is there? Many thanks!

Brexiteer

I'd say it's a bit early to have it that short. My stepdad has done the same to our lawn which was lovely and green now it's gone brown in parts 

dealsjp

It's tricky isn't it. As I'm not really a gardener I scan the internet as to the best way to encourage newly laid turf to flourish and basically hope for the best. I read on a number of sites not to let the grass grow too long and keep it to around 2.5cm to encourage the grass to grow thickly. As you mentioned though, prior to the most recent cut a few days ago, there was much more green on the lawn than there is now. Should I be concerned and if so, is there anything I can do?

Fairygirl

2.5cm is very short at this time of year to try and get grass growing well. I'm assuming the turf was decent quality, and the ground properly prepared?
I wouldn't have fed it either - too soon after laying. It only needs watering for the first couple of months, and as the weather warms up, it'll grow well. Just cut regularly, but not as short. Couple of inches [5cm] is ideal. 
A feed of liquid seaweed is good for greening up grass through summer. 

dealsjp

Thanks Fairygirl. The turf was good quality and the ground I believe prepared OK'ish. I say this because I did notice towards the end of the turf being laid that the gardener was laying the new turf on top of the old turf that had been taken up and turned upside-down. I did question this and he said it was normal. The turf was growing quite well until recently (2 weeks ago) when the brown areas seemed to have accelerated. What do you suggest may be a good way forward from now? Have I done irreversible damage?

Loxley

Your 'wide' shot doesn't look too bad at all tbh. Laying turf on top of old turf isn't really 'good practice' but hopefully you've got away with it.

I think the coarse grass may be Yorkshire Fog, a weed grass.

Fairygirl

I think it'll be fine. Just water throughly if you have a long dry spell, and don't cut it too short when you mow. Little and often is far better than letting it get to four or five inches then scalping it. It encourages sideways growth, and therefore thickens up better, creating a healthier sward and helping to crowd out weeds etc. 
Once it warms up and starts growing quicker, it should be ok 
I'd agree with Will - not best practice to lay on top of the old turf, unless it's well enough done, but it won't do any damage unless there was a lot of perennial weeds which could still come through. However, that can be tackled later anyway.
It doesn't look that bad in the photo. 

TallyV

That thick blade grass is Yorkshire fog - a type of weed. I know as we had our lawn guy out this week and he instructed us to dig it out before it starts spreading. We’ve dug it out, put some top soil and grass seed down.

id suggest regularly mowing it. If we do have dry spells, we were instructed water in the morning and best to do a good soak less frequently rather than short little bursts. 

dealsjp

Thanks TallyV for identifying the thick blade grass. I will keep any eye on it and maybe cut that area very low in the hope it may die off naturally with the other grass taking it's place (possible?). Today I ordered a few litres of liquid seaweed plant fertiliser, would this be beneficial used this weekend? Many thanks for all your responses, much appreciated.

glasgowdan

Your lawn is quite normal looking. I suspect it wasn't the highest grade turf. 
The problem with turfing on top of old is that the grass and roots on the old turf will decompose and shrivel away. This means the ground sinks slightly and you get an uneven lawn. The person who did this sounds a bit inexperienced. 

Don't feed the lawn, a new lawn shouldn't need anything in year 1. 

It looks thatchy so I'd arrange a LIGHT scarify in September. Otherwise, just mow every 1-2 weeks at a higher setting. 

Pic of a 1 year old lawn I cut. Slightly weedy, but the customer is happy not to have treatments. 

dealsjp

That lawn in that photograph looks great. Agreed, think the gardener that laid the turf was more a builder/gardener as the turf was laid while having the garden terraced. This morning I've hacked at the Yorkshire Fog and will look to re-seed that small area. I did notice a couple of small mushrooms growing whilst hacking the Fog, what might mushrooms on a lawn indicate?