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What can we do with our failed grass area?

JoshCJoshC Posts: 14
in Problem solving
Hello all,

Last year we did a pretty much total renovation of the garden. New decking, shed fencing and grass area. We live in a city centre so it’s small but we wanted it varied. It turned out great. However, one major point has been the utter failure of the grass. We bought quality strips of it early summer, laid it with the soils recommended by the garden centre, stayed off it for 3 weeks (we were told 2) and kept it very well watered. It was fine until we (only gradually) started to walk on it and put one of our small four legged garden chairs on it. We weren’t careless, playing sport or anything etc at all on it, but it just started to fade, we were noticing patches starting to form (even in areas we just didn’t walk on). It didn’t get any worse and we thought we would just get rid of the patches in the spring. However, come late summer we did a final mow which it didn’t seem to like (it was long though) and then in winter time, it turned to just 90% mud. We are really unhappy as it was expensive and we did such a good job we thought initially. We are considering getting some lawn experts to come in and sort it out, but we are equally nervous it’ll happen all over again come the autumn. I’ve attached a picture of the area. 

Would you redo the lawn or just start all over with something else? 

As a note, we had small stones before but it was so uncomfortable and we want something to be able to put chairs on, sit on with cushions etc. We did get a quote for paving it with some nice stone slabs but that was thousands, which is just not possible so a DIY job is preferred. 

Thanks! 


Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    There's not much to be done at this time of year. I think the best thing to do is keep off it until spring, then see whether it starts to grow, and then you can decide whether to start again or try to recover it.
    Grass doesn't like a lot of shade and doesn't like wet conditions. In a small garden you often can't do anything about the shade from buildings and fences but you could try overseeding with a more shade-tolerant seed mix if you think shade might be a factor (bear in mind though that they're not as hardwearing as rye grass, which seems to be the most common lawn grass these days). If the ground is very wet you could try spiking it deeply all over with a garden fork (or with a hollow-tine aerator if you have one) which might help with the drainage.
    The other thing to bear in mind is that grass will grow much better if you cut it little and often (but not too short) rather than letting it grow long and then chopping off a lot all at once. If it gets away from you due to holidays or prolonged wet weather, reducing the height a little at a time leaving some days between cuts is the way to go.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Is that a conifer tree that I can see a bit of, top right of your picture JoshC? If so and your garden is in full shade then that could be your problem. As JennyJ says grass doesn't like much shade and your ground looks wet even though it is winter. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'd use some more  bricks, maybe with a circular design or you can buy slabs already shaped. I think the area is too small for grass and it would be a pain to have to move the furniture every time you wanted to cut it - if it grew.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's such a small area that it's hardly worth bothering with grass - take more time getting the lawnmower in and out than actually cutting it.  ;)
    If the soil wasn't properly prepped either, that will have affected the establishment and subsequent growth.
    It loos like a very soggy, shady site -everything grass hates, as the others have said . 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's not something I'd generally recommend (because it does nothing for wildlife and looks awful if not done properly) but if you really want grass and the conditions don't suit it, it might be worth considering investing in good-quality artificial turf. It's not cheap though, the ground needs to be prepared properly, and it's not maintenance-free. Paving might work out cheaper and easier.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I agree that it doesn't look to be a large enough area to warrant the time and maintenance that a good looking lawn demands (cutting once a week, edging, regular feeding and weeding, watering when it's dry etc etc).

    My personal choice for that area would be 10mm pea shingle on top of compacted hard core and hoggin. 

    We have a large patio of 10mm shingle immediately on the north facing back wall of our house and it works very well. We removed all the paving which was there because the area is in permanent shade from Oct to Feb and the paving became lethally slippery every winter, even with pressure washing etc. The shingle is safe to walk on year round. I mention this because the bricks in your path look as though they could be rather slippery. Decking can also suffer with the same problem so I wouldn't use anymore of that in this area.

    Chairs and tables sit well on small pea shingle. I don't often venture onto it barefoot and I wouldn't choose to sit directly on it on cushions but, for regular garden furniture, it's fine. 
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree - gravel is a far better option if it's shady. Paving or decking is lethal in wet or icy conditions, especially in a shadier spot. 
    My rear garden was originally just paving and red gravel [ugly] and it's sticky heavy clay below. In spring 2021, I decided, on a whim, to take up the lawn I laid in 2014 - not because of shade though, but for other reasons. I also wanted a bigger pond. Layer of membrane and a ton of gravel [ to match the existing paths I had ] did the job. The biggest problem is re purposing the turf. Most of mine is currently filling a large compost bin  ;)

    It's easy enough to gravel an area yourself. Ideal for chairs/tables/benches etc, and non slip. You can also plant into it if you want, without too much bother.  :)

    This was taken in October


    The same area [roughly] in 2016

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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