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Why has my lawn turned into a cake?!

hannahmelbourn_Qz8hgFLhannahmelbourn_Qz8hgFL Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hi there - I would appreciate any help with this if anyone has experience. Last spring we dug up the crazy paving in our small courtyard garden (3x4 metres), and laid turf - we researched how to prepare the ground and supposedly did all the right things (adding topsoil, removing stones, raking etc). The lawn looked great for about 6-9 months and has now completely died.  And I don't mean it's a bit patchy or discoloured - I mean there is a big square of bald mud out there with a few small patches of brown grass still clinging on for dear life. The consistency of the soil at the moment (we are in Ramsgate) is cakey and squelchy, like an undercooked chocolate brownie.  We know there is no saving this lawn but really would like grass for our daughter to play on, so want to re lay turf asap in time for this summer.  We have struggled to get definitive answers from researching online about how to go about this though and hoped this forum could help.  First question - Is this a drainage issue? Do we need to kill the remaining grass before we start?  Next up do we need to do something along the lines of adding sharp sand gravel and or grit to the existing soil to help with drainage? Should we add organic matter like manure?  Should this stuff be layered in or mixed together? Or both? Any thoughts would be so helpful!

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Based on your description, you may have heavy soil and even with prep work each winter, your lawn will look like a muddy looking patch in winter. Might be a good idea to post a photo of it now. It is hard to know what is best. 

    If it is slightly patchy, you may be able to rake over lightly and spike the areas once the weather warms up and no rain for at least a week or two. Then top-dress sieved soil. This will slowly add a fine layer of soil to build up over the years. The idea is to get the top few inches of the soil to be reasonably free draining so the grass will thrive. You may need to do re-seeding on areas with no grass at all. 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Sounds like a drainage problem. Are any gutters discharging onto it? (Divert them). Is there an impervious layer below the topsoil? (Break it up). You can do things like adding a 150mm layer of sharp sand below the topsoil to improve drainage but that is no good if the area is filling up with water like a swimming pool. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Also, you mention it's a courtyard garden, is it getting enough light?
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • hannahmelbourn_Qz8hgFLhannahmelbourn_Qz8hgFL Posts: 3


    Thank you all for your input
    Here are some photos just taken - sorry one is on its side i don't know how to rotate it on here! Do these help?
    Loxley: is does get lovely light in the summer - the left side flower bed is the area that is most shaded.


  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited March 2021
    I've rotated the photo for you:

    I suspect it's a combination of poor drainage and, because it's a courtyard, probably not enough sun.  If the latter, you will struggle to grow a lawn there, even if you sort out the drainage, unfortunately.  One other possibility comes to mind - did you have a lot of craneflies last year, or notice birds pecking at the lawn?
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • hannahmelbourn_Qz8hgFLhannahmelbourn_Qz8hgFL Posts: 3
    Thanks for the rotation Bob!
    I did not notice craneflies but yes to the pecking birds.
    I think you're right regards drainage - could this be fixed with adding grit, gravel, or sand to the ground before adding topsoil and manure? The lawn does get sun though - the only really shady bit is the flowerbed by the left hand wall, so i don't think its due to that.  We had a great lawn all through the spring and summer - it only died in the autumn.
    We are now thinking of killing off the old grass with glyphosate and growing a new lawn from seed. Are we mad.....?
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