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Help Restoring Garden Grass Please?

Luke98Luke98 Posts: 4
edited February 2019 in Problem solving
I havnt taken care of my garden for the past year and its gone downhill, i want to restore my grass in my garden back to nice, neat and green. Any advice on how i go about doing this? I have attached a picture of my garden, cheers.

Posts

  • ColinAColinA Posts: 392
    I would dig it over add lots of manure rotivate it and then reseed or turf
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I think manure might be a bit too rich for grass. Top soil finely raked over should be enough for sowing seeds in spring or laying turf on top. Dig out the weeds first and allow a resting period to re dig again. The job will not be fast. You need to clear the ground of weeds first. 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    If you're going to reseed it as opposed to using turf, make sure you choose a suitable variety. There are types for sun, shade, hard wearing etc. Just wondering, are you putting a path or stepping stones to the shed ?
    Getting the level right is important and as Borderline says, the preparation is the thing  :)
  • Luke98Luke98 Posts: 4
    Borderline said:
    I think manure might be a bit too rich for grass. Top soil finely raked over should be enough for sowing seeds in spring or laying turf on top. Dig out the weeds first and allow a resting period to re dig again. The job will not be fast. You need to clear the ground of weeds first. 
     Okay yeah im expecting a long process, Thanks ill start removing all the weeds then. 
  • Luke98Luke98 Posts: 4
    AnniD said:
    If you're going to reseed it as opposed to using turf, make sure you choose a suitable variety. There are types for sun, shade, hard wearing etc. Just wondering, are you putting a path or stepping stones to the shed ?
    Getting the level right is important and as Borderline says, the preparation is the thing  :)
    Yes ill be using seeds, and yes theres already stepping stones there up the right hand side but there covered by the mud and grass. Whats the best way to get the ground level? As there is slightly higher and lower points around the garden, Thanks.
  • Luke98Luke98 Posts: 4
    Im new to this so all advice is welcome 👍🏼
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You'll need a decent spade and a rake, Luke. Dig it over and start levelling with the rake. If you have a plank of wood, that can be useful in spreading soil across and around the plot too. It'll need a few goes with the rake, and firming it in between with your feet,  to get it in decent nick. It's also a good idea to let it settle for a couple of weeks after it looks decent, as the weather can casue a few changes and you may need to infill or level little areas. 
    If the ground's wet or heavy, it's better to wait until it dries out a bit though. It won't do any good trying to work it if the soil's claggy.  You can also add a bit of fresh topsoil once you get it tidy, before you sow the grass seed.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Re: the levelling,  this may be of help (Thanks to Wyevale's site)

    The next stage is to make the ground as level as possible (except if you’re planting a slope) with a fine friable consistency to the soil. Friable means neither to fine or too lumpy – it need to be somewhere in-between.

    Using a soil rake (one with short tines – the ‘fingers’), work the soil surface to a rough level, then repeat this process until you have a pretty even and flat area.

    After this, walk all over the ground, feet together, shuffling up and down, moving your feet in a sweeping motion, kicking the soil around to level any bumps or to fill a depression. This is called ‘treading and healing’ – the traditional and really effective way of smoothing out any bumps and air pockets. Continue doing this until you have a firm even surface. You can ‘feel’ the level and undulations and so on through your feet. This is by far the best levelling technique and although it can take some time, working the surface again and again until it’s finally ready, you’ll find it’s well worth it.

    Again, if you have time, leave the lawn to rest for a week or so before seeding or turfing. Hopefully, it might rain during this time, which will help to settle and firm the soil and reveal any unseen undulations which you can then flatten out.

    Also the RHS has this info

    ihttps://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=424

    Hope this helps  :)

  • BluebaronBluebaron Posts: 226
    I would seriously think about having no grass in that space. Its quite small and shaded you will be forever trying to keep it going. 

    A patio with pots or even fake turf would be better in the longer term IMO.
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