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Lawn is a mess, what can i do?

brendankerseybrendankersey Posts: 4
in Problem solving
The grass lawn in my small south-west facing garden has suffered badly over the past year or two and with the last week or so of unrelenting sun has become a patchy, dry and dusty embarrassment. 

I'm desperate to do something with it before a party we're hosting in a couple of weeks. I already plan to redefine the planting borders with some better lawn edging (currently using the flexible plastic kind which have all come loose), but i also want to improve the lawn area. I'd re-turf it but i'm worried it just not the right time of year to do it.

Any suggestions on how to make it presentable within a couple of weeks?!




Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd be inclined just to leave it. if you're having a party, and people are going to be on it, new turf would just be ruined anyway, and it would need constant watering for the next few months too.
    If you have some reasonable rain soon, it'll green up a bit, and you can tidy it a little. Not too short - just a tiny amount off the top, and that will make it look better. 

    Alternatively, if you feel this is going to be an ongoing problem - which is the case in many areas in the south, you could strip it and gravel the area instead. Less hassle, and it will always look tidy.
    There are also alternatives to grass, like daisies and clover, which cope with heat much better, but if it's a bit shady, which it seems to be, that's more tricky  :)
    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
    edited July 2022
    I'm with @Fairygirl - new turf shouldn't be walked on for several weeks so doing it now for a party in a few weeks' time would be a waste of money even if it was the right time of year, it would be trashed if you couldn't keep people off it. Sorting out the edging so it's tidy without the long straggly bits will make it look a lot better but I don't think you can expect to have it lush and green in that timescale. You could, if you got your skates on, bite the bullet, strip off the turf, but in some edging and lay gravel. Or just tell your party guests that it's the dry spring followed by recent hot weather that trashed the lawn and you're going to sort it out at the correct time of year, September. That'll make you sound like a gardening expert :) . Give them good food and booze and I don't suppose they'll care!
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • joanna65joanna65 Posts: 75
    Your guests probably have the same problems with their lawns given the recent very dry spell and heatwave so they may well sympathise with you. It will green up after some decent rain and you can re- seed any bare patches in the autumn. 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I agree with the comments above, you would just be wasting your money. Define the edges as you're going to do, maybe buy some plants to give a bit of instant colour (Garden centres may still have some and probably at reduced prices).
    Remember it's you they're coming to see , not your lawn :)

    Added to which, S*d's law probably means that the weather will break on the day of the party and you will get all the rain you need. I honestly hope that doesn't happen.

  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254

    Dissatisfied with your brown lawn? Paint it green!

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1066630/dissatisfied-with-your-brown-lawn-paint-it-green#latest
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    If your guests are rude enough to comment on your dry lawn, I'd suggest you cross them off your Invite list for next year's party - as said, have enough food and drink on offer to distract even the most critical ;)
    Even if we were lucky enough to experience a good downpour for a few days , it's unlikely to produce a green sward in time  for your party.
    If you think it may be an ongoing issue as per @Fairygirl says, you could perhaps re think what the best solution would be for future.
    For now, don't worry about it and have a lovely time :)  

  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,457
    Hire some astroturf?
  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    If you have two weeks and the budget get a paver in. (or fake grass...I never thought I'd utter those words!)
    That's never going to be a decent lawn...ever. 
    Sorry if that sounds harsh but you'll be forever wasting time and money on a lawn in that situation.
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