I tried to upload a time-lapse test we did a few days ago but it seems it's not possible to post video. So I have posted it here https://imgur.com/Wf2zUkt if anyone is particularly interested... not that I expect so.
If someone does actually watch it, would you mind just replying in here so I know it worked please? Thank! HP.
Hello folks! We are well into day 3, the first day where there has been any actual sunshine and while the air is cool you can finally feel the warmth in the sun.
I can't say I can specifically see any big changes, I keep the soil damp not wet with a light spray each morning. Probably 75% of the seeds which are just on the surface don't look any different to how they did on day one, but certainly about a 5th of them have begun to look 'plump' and have begun to swell. Not exactly blistering stuff but I did print pretty labels so we can see what each day is in the final product!
I haven't had the camera running much, I have set it to take one image every minute, meaning at the standard 30fps when I render it at the end, every hour in real life will take about 2 seconds of final product, or 14 hours of light will take about 30 seconds. Plenty time I think? So yes, I have only had it taking pics for about an hour or 3 each day, a tray of dirt isn't much to highlight...
A quick question, I have a small dose of 'miracle grow' (other brands available) would there be any value in a light feed of the soil at this point?
PS: The holes are where I used the tip of a pencil to 'help' a few seeds into the soil when I first covered them up.
Right! So having waited for nearly 3 months the sun is out, it's warm and the weeds are a-growing! I have given my (hopefully) final treatment of weed killer. I went with Roundup and diluted to their second strongest formula (40ml/l) ominously named 'lawn destruction' and coloured the liquid with a little red food dye to help me see where I have already treated.
I have marked 3 clear areas of weed growth, including tougher weeds like thistle and dandelion and as ever, am taking photos to see how the weed killer works!
The plan is now to continue to let the ground dry out, it has started to. Then break up the top 6-7cm with the rotavator and push that through the ground filter thing to get the soil as a topsoil. I have picked up about a ton of mature horse manure which I shall agitate into the main area I want done. I also have a treatment of nitrate for lawns (I think it was) which can be applied in liquid form to give the seedlings the best possible chance.
So for the moment its wait, wait, wait...turn over the top layer to make a decent bed, get some nutrients into the soil and then plant the grass seeds! Target is to get them into the ground by the end of April, all being equal.
I would have anticipated at least one or two seeds would be visibly sprouting but nothing.
All looking very dead.
I am trying to determine why, is it possible there’s a chemical residual in the spray container I used? It would have been VERY weak as it was used before with household chemicals but nothing crazy. Disinfectant maybe and rinsed and rinsed to death.
Can anyone tell me if after a full week of warmth, moisture and sun I am not seeing a single bit of activity or am I just expecting too much too soon? Other forum posts say you should see some sprouts within a week.
Ideas please? Do we chuck out and redo using only fresh water daily?
I haven't read all of this thread but, 7 days is too soon. 14 is more reasonable for germination. Also - the seed has to be in good contact with the soil. Yours doesn't look like it is. A very light layer of compost over the top would have helped too.
I see you asked about feeding. No, don't feed things you've just sown.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I haven't read all of this thread but, 7 days is too soon. 14 is more reasonable for germination. Also - the seed has to be in good contact with the soil. Yours doesn't look like it is. A very light layer of compost over the top would have helped too.
I see you asked about feeding. No, don't feed things you've just sown.
Hi Fairygirl! I dug about 90% of the seeds into the surface so what is visible is the ones that didn’t get under the soil.
I jest. We had a few good days, albeit with some sturdy breezes on some, but back to damp, dreich and grey for the last couple of days. It's what our pasty, fair skins are used to after all At least we haven't had what the north west has had.
You need a nice fine 'tilth' for grass seed too. Makes it harder if it isn't. Bit of dampness and warmth for good germination. I've just killed off most of mine, because it's largely moss, but by the time all the mosskiller has had it's effect, it'll be safe, and warm enough for new seed. That's if I have any..... Ach well- I can look at the other greenery instead
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Here is your daily update...this is turning into a blog! As ever thank you for any comments, criticism or thoughts, something I miss now is hard to come back to in 4 months...
So I identified a 10m2 patch that was dry and without weeds:
Very rocky, very hard/caked and impossible to break up. Certainly clear of all the weeds and growth but I wanted to do a little test run. So I got out the Mantis, stuck on the rotavator tynes and ran over the area and broke up the ground to a depth of about 10cm. I assume this is deep enough?
Then I raked off the big rocks and rubbish, used the green machine (in earlier posts) to separate out most of the rocks and rubble. Then I used a large wooden plank, on my knees to create a good even surface. Next I topped it with about 2cm of decent topsoil I had delivered (that was a nightmare too as it needed to be cleared of rocks too! buy cheap...) and then used a Calor gas cylinder to roll it all flat again. Here is the result! I must admit I am pretty pleased with it and its a LOT better looking finish than I had hoped! Check it out!
From a little further back you get a better idea of how the ground was changed:
I am pretty chuffed with that! I must give a shout out to the little Mantis again (other brands available) it really is a little beast at this ground stuff. The whole process from start to finish took me just shy of 30 minutes. So 30 minutes per 10sq/m I should be done by Christmas...2022!
Posts
If someone does actually watch it, would you mind just replying in here so I know it worked please? Thank! HP.
We are well into day 3, the first day where there has been any actual sunshine and while the air is cool you can finally feel the warmth in the sun.
I can't say I can specifically see any big changes, I keep the soil damp not wet with a light spray each morning. Probably 75% of the seeds which are just on the surface don't look any different to how they did on day one, but certainly about a 5th of them have begun to look 'plump' and have begun to swell. Not exactly blistering stuff but I did print pretty labels so we can see what each day is in the final product!
I haven't had the camera running much, I have set it to take one image every minute, meaning at the standard 30fps when I render it at the end, every hour in real life will take about 2 seconds of final product, or 14 hours of light will take about 30 seconds. Plenty time I think?
So yes, I have only had it taking pics for about an hour or 3 each day, a tray of dirt isn't much to highlight...
A quick question, I have a small dose of 'miracle grow' (other brands available) would there be any value in a light feed of the soil at this point?
So having waited for nearly 3 months the sun is out, it's warm and the weeds are a-growing! I have given my (hopefully) final treatment of weed killer. I went with Roundup and diluted to their second strongest formula (40ml/l) ominously named 'lawn destruction' and coloured the liquid with a little red food dye to help me see where I have already treated.
I have marked 3 clear areas of weed growth, including tougher weeds like thistle and dandelion and as ever, am taking photos to see how the weed killer works!
The plan is now to continue to let the ground dry out, it has started to. Then break up the top 6-7cm with the rotavator and push that through the ground filter thing to get the soil as a topsoil. I have picked up about a ton of mature horse manure which I shall agitate into the main area I want done. I also have a treatment of nitrate for lawns (I think it was) which can be applied in liquid form to give the seedlings the best possible chance.
So for the moment its wait, wait, wait...turn over the top layer to make a decent bed, get some nutrients into the soil and then plant the grass seeds! Target is to get them into the ground by the end of April, all being equal.
Also - the seed has to be in good contact with the soil. Yours doesn't look like it is.
A very light layer of compost over the top would have helped too.
I see you asked about feeding. No, don't feed things you've just sown.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I dug about 90% of the seeds into the surface so what is visible is the ones that didn’t get under the soil.
No feed yet. Got it. Thank you for the reply!
I jest. We had a few good days, albeit with some sturdy breezes on some, but back to damp, dreich and grey for the last couple of days.
It's what our pasty, fair skins are used to after all
At least we haven't had what the north west has had.
You need a nice fine 'tilth' for grass seed too. Makes it harder if it isn't. Bit of dampness and warmth for good germination.
I've just killed off most of mine, because it's largely moss, but by the time all the mosskiller has had it's effect, it'll be safe, and warm enough for new seed. That's if I have any.....
Ach well- I can look at the other greenery instead
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
So I identified a 10m2 patch that was dry and without weeds:
Very rocky, very hard/caked and impossible to break up. Certainly clear of all the weeds and growth but I wanted to do a little test run. So I got out the Mantis, stuck on the rotavator tynes and ran over the area and broke up the ground to a depth of about 10cm. I assume this is deep enough?
Then I raked off the big rocks and rubbish, used the green machine (in earlier posts) to separate out most of the rocks and rubble. Then I used a large wooden plank, on my knees to create a good even surface. Next I topped it with about 2cm of decent topsoil I had delivered (that was a nightmare too as it needed to be cleared of rocks too! buy cheap...) and then used a Calor gas cylinder to roll it all flat again.
Here is the result! I must admit I am pretty pleased with it and its a LOT better looking finish than I had hoped!
Check it out!
From a little further back you get a better idea of how the ground was changed:
I am pretty chuffed with that! I must give a shout out to the little Mantis again (other brands available) it really is a little beast at this ground stuff. The whole process from start to finish took me just shy of 30 minutes. So 30 minutes per 10sq/m I should be done by Christmas...2022!