Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

New lawn help!

katievblackkatievblack Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hi all, 

Newbie to gardening. Turf laid around September and had its first cut this weekend which had grown longer than we thought. Its been quite wet recently so ground was probably damper than we initially thought when it was cut, but equally didn't think we could leave it so long over winter. Anyway, we are left with this... Still long, wet, trampled and discoloured. 

Please help with any tips to get this lawn looking tidy over winter. Does it need another cut on a dry day?

Thank you
«1

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited November 2022
    Hi @katievblack. Unfortunately, the mild weather has meant some areas have had good growth on the grass, but this is the problem when you want to do a cut.
    Blades need to be sharp, and grass should ideally be dry, and that's where it becomes tricky, as wet grass doesn't always respond well to cutting, especially when it's new and soft. I'd have been inclined just to leave it over winter, but as you're past that stage, I think it's better to leave it now until spring, and let it recover.
    On a drier day, you could lightly rake it if you have one of those plastic rakes that are for gathering leaves - not the type for gravel. That will just perk it up a bit.
    Grass is tough, so it'll recover in spring   :)

    Just another small point - the turf is right up against the tree which isn't ideal for it. If you can cut a circle away from that, to leave a space around the base of the trunk, that will help, and it will also prevent damage to the tree itself when you cut.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • katievblackkatievblack Posts: 3
    Thanks for the advice @Fairygirl ☺️ I wish we had left it over winter now! It looked much better 😔
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited November 2022
    I think it looks worse than it is due to being walked on while wet, not so much because of the actual mowing. It'll probably look better if you get a bit of dry windy weather to lift the squashed-down grass. Lightly raking as @Fairygirl suggests will help, working backwards from the far side towards the path so you don't tread on what you've done. If you do get a mild dry spell, you can give it another cut with the blades set high.
    Regarding the tree I wouldn't bother having that bit of grass behind it - it's always going to be fiddly to cut without risking damaging the bark. I would make a curved edge so the tree is in the border.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree with that @JennyJ. You won't get a mower round that trunk without bumping it, and a strimmer is even worse for causing damage.
    To be honest - I wouldn't have had grass at all if it was mine, as it's such a tiny area. It'll take longer to get the mower out and put it away, than to cut it!  ;)

    It'll all recover though, so don't worry too much  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I mow my established lawn in any suitable dry and windy weather throughout te winter. But my soil is very quick draining.  I think it best if you leave well alone until the spring. But don't leave it to get too long.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    bédé. We don't usually have very long between dry spells and the soil drains like a sieve. I don't think @katievblack said what kind of climate and soil she has.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited November 2022
    Katie, your wall has a Northern look.  But that covers a big difference: E to W, N to S, up to down.

    What would give a quick lift to your lawn would be a to rake up the leaves and to do this in opposite directions to show tram-lines.  If you haven't alrady got a lawn-rake, one of the cheapest plastic types is best for leaves.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • katievblackkatievblack Posts: 3
    bédé said:
    Katie, your wall has a Northern look.  But that covers a big difference: E to W, N to S, up to down.

    What would give a quick lift to your lawn would be a to rake up the leaves and to do this in opposite directions to show tram-lines.  If you haven't alrady got a lawn-rake, one of the cheapest plastic types is best for leaves.
    You're absolutely right, Yorkshire!

    I'm not sure about the condition of the soil drainage, I have a feeling not very well/clay like 🤷‍♀️

    Will certainly give it a rake through. 

    Thanks everyone for the advice. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Once your tree has lost all its leaves and you’ve raked them up, the lawn won’t look any worse than most lawns at this time of year!  Trimming the edges with some lawn shears will also improve its appearance.  I wouldn’t mow again until spring, you can cause compaction walking and working on a wet lawn now which is best avoided as this can lead to poor drainage and moss growth.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Yorkshire is a big place: Scarborough, Leeds, Harrogate; acid grit-stone, limestone, chalk, and lots of clay; sea frets and wuthering.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Sign In or Register to comment.