Happy Easter weekend everyone. As promised I finally got to my desk and compiled the time lapse footage of the grass shoots growing. A total of 15,000+ single image frames has been reduced to 40 seconds.
I am sorry it's not more exciting but its quite simply a video of grass growing...not much more.
Update and a question: (I am both surprised and flattered to see this thread has over 1,400 views!? Thanks!)
So in consultation with a lawn seed company, the decision was made to change grass type to the following: 40% Tetraploid Dwarf Amenity Ryegrass (Double) 40% Dwarf Amenity Ryegrass (Esquire) 20% Dwarf Amenity Ryegrass (Sravinsky)
The change was made to better accommodate wear and fast establishment.
The seed is now in it's 4th day in the ground. I installed a sprinkler system to ensure the ground remains moist at all times (3 waterings per day). See pic, and yes it was heartbreaking to tear it up like some maniac mole!
Here's my question! On waking this morning, I noticed a very slight green sheen to the surface. Odd, I thought, as it's only been 4 days and I must admit my first thought was that I have had a massive surge in weed growth (there are still lots of weeds, I am frustrated to confirm) and/or the horrible grass that was there before has had a head start and has begun to come through. That's NOT the grass I want so I am worried.
So I got down on my knees (I am going to look very odd in the new time lapse!) and used a pair of tweezers to gently pull out a few of the shoots that are coming up. I took 'samples' from right across the lawn area and its the same. These are what is coming up:
They measure about 1cm in total and they are all over the place. Is it even possible that this is the grass I planted growing out already?? In 4 days?? The weather has been beautiful and warm, the soil has been well prepared and enriched and there has been an explosion of green all over the rest of the garden so it is possible everything is growing.
If they are I am delighted! If they are not, we are in real trouble Houston! Could this be my new grass already??
I am glad you've changed the grass seed I were going to mention it yesterday but thought it were to late ( I only come across this thread yesterday ) , you really didn't want the stronger creeping red fescue its a cheap filler grass and not the prettiest , dwarf rye grass look great now most of my own lawn are dwarf perennial rye grass species.
Rye grass is fast to germinate but I am a bit skepical its your new rye grass seed germinating, if it germinating all over the area it probably is your new grass.
In the future I would advise over seeding with a chewing red fescue or slender creeping red fescue or bents not only will it improve the visual look and they are more daught tolerant but if your rye grass succumb to a disease its not going to wipe out the whole lawn ( that unlikely but you get what I am saying ) no need to go into that now maybe next year or before you top dress it is probably inevitable you're bound to have hollows here and there.
I wish you well with your lawn @traderneo, and you have put in an awful lot of hard work, but I would just have laid some grass sods rather than seeded that area. Is that not an option for you? Having said that, your samples in the little tray looks great, well done.
Hi again Songbird!
I guess I figured I was putting in all the hard work it should be all done from scratch. From what I understood, turf needs about 2-3 weeks 'resting' to allow the roots to secure themselves, so I figured if I am having to stay off the grass for 2 weeks I may as well seed and wait another week. I started this little project last year, another week or 3 wouldn't cause me any great distress.
The other component, which I need to be honest about is cost. I have been patient, done my research and taken my time, from buying the tools to letting each component work, and in doing so I believe I have saved a lot of money.
The area is very nearly 200 square meters and with the specific grass I wanted (it's actually a premiership surface grass and is certified to come from the top 10% of growers in Europe) to have it done as a turf would have cost me very close to £1,000.
I have done all this, including scarifier, rotavator, garden rake, landscaping rake, 4 tons of topsoil (with rocks about a 3rd!) wheelbarrow, short spade and long handle shovel, 52cc grass cutter, a chainsaw fitting, a brush cutter fitting, a hedge trimmer fitting and a strimmer head and even a 32 inch cylinder petrol mower...all for less than a 3rd of that. And a large bag of 6-9-6 fertiliser.
I bought the landscape irrigation bits from an online wholesaler, and fitted a 3-head pop-up system with control unit for £67.
I serviced things myself, I overhauled carburettors, I did oil changes, I even dug in bags of horse manure I collected myself from my gf yard.
The seed itself was only £27 and I have about half a bag left which I can use to reseed if that becomes necessary.
Nobody would realistically buy new gear to do all this, but if they simply bought what I have new, it would run into several thousand, the cylinder mower alone is nearly £2,000 new, I got it for £60 as spares or repair, and did a belt replacement and oil change (all it needed) for £16.
I guess that's where I am most pleased, maybe proud. Is I did all of it for about as little as one can, I knew nothing about any of it (I probably still don't - I had never heard of a scarifier and had to google it the first time I heard about it!) so like to think I have done quite well. I hope that doesn't come across as arrogant, I am grateful for the help I have had including in here.
Oh, and I have drawn up the steel sheet metal cutting pattern to make a few lawn lutes. I was horrified to see a 1m lute sells for over £250. That's robbery. So I have a friend who has an engineering outfit and my plan is to cut and weld 10 of them, flog them for £80 on eBay when all this is over and (hopefully) have broken even on the whole project.
Sorry for the long reply. I probably should just have said I'm a cheap b£$stard.
Posts
End of day 8, upon a closer inspection we do indeed seem to have a handful of small, green shoots in both trays!
I shall be setting the camera to start again at first light, this is where it starts to get fun. Well, fun-ish.
One final section in the top right to do this week...over 150 wheelbarrow loads of rocks, grass, weeds and stones...I really hope its all worth it!
And VERY pleased with my sprouts...day 10 done...
Day 21...it's looking very green...
I think we are going to seed tonight when things cool down a little, the weather is simply glorious!
As promised I finally got to my desk and compiled the time lapse footage of the grass shoots growing. A total of 15,000+ single image frames has been reduced to 40 seconds.
I am sorry it's not more exciting but its quite simply a video of grass growing...not much more.
20 day time lapse of grass growing...
(I am both surprised and flattered to see this thread has over 1,400 views!? Thanks!)
So in consultation with a lawn seed company, the decision was made to change grass type to the following:
40% Tetraploid Dwarf Amenity Ryegrass (Double)
40% Dwarf Amenity Ryegrass (Esquire)
20% Dwarf Amenity Ryegrass (Sravinsky)
The change was made to better accommodate wear and fast establishment.
The seed is now in it's 4th day in the ground. I installed a sprinkler system to ensure the ground remains moist at all times (3 waterings per day). See pic, and yes it was heartbreaking to tear it up like some maniac mole!
Here's my question!
On waking this morning, I noticed a very slight green sheen to the surface. Odd, I thought, as it's only been 4 days and I must admit my first thought was that I have had a massive surge in weed growth (there are still lots of weeds, I am frustrated to confirm) and/or the horrible grass that was there before has had a head start and has begun to come through. That's NOT the grass I want so I am worried.
So I got down on my knees (I am going to look very odd in the new time lapse!) and used a pair of tweezers to gently pull out a few of the shoots that are coming up. I took 'samples' from right across the lawn area and its the same. These are what is coming up:
They measure about 1cm in total and they are all over the place. Is it even possible that this is the grass I planted growing out already?? In 4 days??
The weather has been beautiful and warm, the soil has been well prepared and enriched and there has been an explosion of green all over the rest of the garden so it is possible everything is growing.
If they are I am delighted! If they are not, we are in real trouble Houston! Could this be my new grass already??
Please tell me experts!
Rye grass is fast to germinate but I am a bit skepical its your new rye grass seed germinating, if it germinating all over the area it probably is your new grass.
In the future I would advise over seeding with a chewing red fescue or slender creeping red fescue or bents not only will it improve the visual look and they are more daught tolerant but if your rye grass succumb to a disease its not going to wipe out the whole lawn ( that unlikely but you get what I am saying ) no need to go into that now maybe next year or before you top dress it is probably inevitable you're bound to have hollows here and there.
I guess I figured I was putting in all the hard work it should be all done from scratch. From what I understood, turf needs about 2-3 weeks 'resting' to allow the roots to secure themselves, so I figured if I am having to stay off the grass for 2 weeks I may as well seed and wait another week. I started this little project last year, another week or 3 wouldn't cause me any great distress.
The other component, which I need to be honest about is cost. I have been patient, done my research and taken my time, from buying the tools to letting each component work, and in doing so I believe I have saved a lot of money.
The area is very nearly 200 square meters and with the specific grass I wanted (it's actually a premiership surface grass and is certified to come from the top 10% of growers in Europe) to have it done as a turf would have cost me very close to £1,000.
I have done all this, including scarifier, rotavator, garden rake, landscaping rake, 4 tons of topsoil (with rocks about a 3rd!) wheelbarrow, short spade and long handle shovel, 52cc grass cutter, a chainsaw fitting, a brush cutter fitting, a hedge trimmer fitting and a strimmer head and even a 32 inch cylinder petrol mower...all for less than a 3rd of that. And a large bag of 6-9-6 fertiliser.
I bought the landscape irrigation bits from an online wholesaler, and fitted a 3-head pop-up system with control unit for £67.
I serviced things myself, I overhauled carburettors, I did oil changes, I even dug in bags of horse manure I collected myself from my gf yard.
The seed itself was only £27 and I have about half a bag left which I can use to reseed if that becomes necessary.
Nobody would realistically buy new gear to do all this, but if they simply bought what I have new, it would run into several thousand, the cylinder mower alone is nearly £2,000 new, I got it for £60 as spares or repair, and did a belt replacement and oil change (all it needed) for £16.
I guess that's where I am most pleased, maybe proud. Is I did all of it for about as little as one can, I knew nothing about any of it (I probably still don't - I had never heard of a scarifier and had to google it the first time I heard about it!) so like to think I have done quite well. I hope that doesn't come across as arrogant, I am grateful for the help I have had including in here.
Oh, and I have drawn up the steel sheet metal cutting pattern to make a few lawn lutes. I was horrified to see a 1m lute sells for over £250. That's robbery. So I have a friend who has an engineering outfit and my plan is to cut and weld 10 of them, flog them for £80 on eBay when all this is over and (hopefully) have broken even on the whole project.
Sorry for the long reply. I probably should just have said I'm a cheap b£$stard.
It's a very obvious tone that wasn't there yesterday!
4 days! FOUR!