Grass Help
Kieran7
Posts: 3
Hello, I would be extremely grateful if somebody could help me with this as I have very little experience on the gardening front and have struggled to rectify this, no doubt simple, issue.
I dug up a path which had been laid in out garden through the middle of our small lawn before we moved in. Where it had been dug up, it had left a valley through the middle of the lawn. I wanted to approximately level it out, doesn't need to be perfect as we are planning to have an extension built in the next couple of years and getting it landscaped then, on the meantime I'd like it to be reasonable for the kids.
I levelled it off using soil then topped it with compost before putting seeds down. Some grass grew and some didn't. I've repeated the process 3 times but it it's still very patchy as, hopefully you can see in the attached photos. The photo was taken this morning. I've been away on holiday for 2 weeks returned and cut it today and this it's the current condition.
What can I do to get more consistent grass growth? Again, it needs to be cheap and involve minimal effort because it will only be to last a couple of years. Is it a case off perseverance?
This probably seems a very simple issue but any help would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks.
Posts
If you re-seeded in the summer time, you will have had to constantly keep it watered. For now, concentrate on watering and spiking the lawn as a mixture of both tends to help the growth and successful seed germinating. Sowing seeds over and over again will not make the grass grow.. Also, you should avoid 'scalping' the lawn by setting the blades higher. This can allow moisture to stay on the surface longer, which is what you want to avoid further patches forming.
Last edited: 19 August 2017 12:49:58
Thank you very much for your reply. I tried to keep it watered but 2 weeks away seems to have not helped. For now then, should I just spike and water? Should I put anything else down to encourage growth?
Thanks again for your help.
I just re-read your original post and think that spiking is not really necessary. Because it is still August, you may just need to be patient. There are seeds put down there, and possibly a little too thick, but I suggest watering where no rain has landed on it for over 5 days. Water generously preferably when the sun is not out but best in the evening time or early morning time.
In terms of soil poured back on, looking at the photos again, it could be a little too rich. I recommend you get hold of topsoil mixed in with Lawn Sand 50/50, and re-apply another layer over it using a stiff broom or the back of a rake when the weather is fair and not too wet. The soil has to be crumbly but not over rich.
Water in and wait. I believe in autumn, you will see a marked difference. A lot of this is about being patient.
Thank you to all of you for your advice. I shall heed your advice and be patient!