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What's wrong with my lawn?!

eric.t.somerseric.t.somers Posts: 3
in Problem solving
I recently had new lawn turf laid at the end of May. I watered it well and let it grow for 3/4 weeks before mowing it at the mower's highest cutting height. As advised I left plenty of the grass cuttings on the lawn. All was well at this stage. Since then weather has been really, really wet and between one thing and another I hadn't mowed the grass in about 5/6 weeks. I mowed a patch yesterday and noticed that the grass seemed "patchy", as I could see the dark of the soil underneath clearly. It's as if the grass has thinned out or something, which wasn't obvious when the grass was longer. I've attached some photographs here which hopefully will describe what I'm seeing (not as obvious in these photos unfortunately). 

Is the problem excess moisture from the constant rain? I was thinking with the grass being left long maybe this kept everything shaded and on the occasional hot days the shade from the long grass prevented it from drying? Or maybe it's something else entirely?

Appreciate your help!


Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    edited July 2020
    I wonder if the grass cuttings were the problem. They are OK when dry but make a dense mat when wet and would have blocked the light.
    Also waiting so long to mow again when we are into once or twice a week season wouldn't help.
    You did right by keeping the mower cut high.
    Just keep mowing at high which allows the roots to grow and it will recover.
    If it looks dead in autumn you can use a lawn rake to remove it, called scarifying as you probably know. Grass is amazing stuff and recovers very well despite our attempts!
  • eric.t.somerseric.t.somers Posts: 3
    Thanks for the info. So would a lawn feed be recommended at this stage? I haven't used any feed yet but wondering if it would help?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    No.  It's the wrong time of year and the grass is too young.   Just keep cutting it regularly and keep it high while it grows a decent root system.   Come mid September you can rake it with a spring tined lawn and leaf rake to remove thatch and allow it to thicken up some more before winter.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Have you given your mower blade a good sharpen recently?  The ends of the grass look very ragged.. and some appear to have been completely ripped out by the roots.  
    Utah, USA.
  • eric.t.somerseric.t.somers Posts: 3
    Blue Onion said:
    Have you given your mower blade a good sharpen recently?  The ends of the grass look very ragged.. and some appear to have been completely ripped out by the roots.  

    Just bought a new mower today so hopefully that will make a difference. I hadn't sharpened the old mower blade so you may be right on that. 
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