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Autumn feed
simon170
Posts: 4
Hi all,
i laid new turf in may and it was lush and beautiful..... then red thread took over. I put a lawn disease solution down and 2 weeks ago an autumn feed. However, my spreader didn’t work properly and left clumps of the feed . Over the 2 weeks since I left it the grass in those areas turned greyish which I guess is killing the dead stuff. Im not sure the spreader covered the whole of the grass because they aren’t grey .After raking can I now put a topfeed down and will this help with the disease?
0
Posts
Now is not a good time to feed as plants are slowing down as temperatures reduce for winter.
Red thread is a fungal problem which indicates that you grass may be short of nitrogen but mostly that you need to address drainage. Use a long tined garden fork to make regular holes in the lawn as deep as you can go and then wiggle it back and forth to open up the holes. Then you pour sharp sand on your lawn and use a brush to sweep it all over and down those holes. This will open up the drainage and allow air in to the roots.
Repeat in spring and then apply a spring feed, following the dosages indicated on the packaging. If the drainage is corrected you should have no more red thread as your lawn grows stronger.
Hi thank you for that . I have completed that task with the fork about a month . I was wondering whether I should do it again and also I meant Topdressing which I think you are referring to ?
Also , how long should you stay off the grass for once the topdress is applied ? Is there a time limit as to when this should be completed?
Topdressing usually implies a mix containing feed and I reckon it is now too late for that unless you are in a very mild climate and the grass doesn't stop growing - temps averaging no less than 8C! The packet should indicate how long it needs to be left before walking/mowing etc and that differs from one product to the next.
If you see that your lawn is not draining well after rain or can hear it oozing as it absorbs water (I could in my Belgian garden after a serious downpour) then you need to stay off it as your weight will compact the soil when it's soft and wet. Aerate again in spring and apply more sharp sand. Top dress if you think it needs it and make sure you don't cut the grass so short it hasn't enough leaf surface to photosynthesise and feed its roots.
Your help is much appreciated it really is as I was so disappointed considering how the grass looked at the beginning. I live in Hertfordshire so weather is still mild at the moment although we did have our first frost last night . Drainage wise it seems to be ok so will leave it. I’ll look on products re top dressing but will definitely do the sharp sand . Thank you so much