Sorry Mr Mow just seen your comment about the weather. I'm in the Midlands, had a small covering of snow a little while ago followed by a couple of weeks of frost. Mild at the moment but said to be going colder this week.
I'm a bit of a lawn obsessive and, other than last summer which was a lost cause, my turf looks pretty good from about April onwards. This time of year it's a ruddy mess though. Some parts are four inches long, some parts muddy patches, some parts yellowing, mossy patches... As others have said, no point in feeding anything whilst it isn't growing much. Just relax for now and start working on it in another 6-8 weeks.
You have give many clues from your photo's so thank you.
Now as it is a newly sown lawn and February ,yes everyone it can still require food, the days are long gone when you say its winter on turf care its all about your climate and soil temps.
So from your seed mix 3rd photo you have used a mix of Rye/ Fescue & bent grass it is in that order that the seed will become mature plants as the bents will be the longest to establish. In the order of food requirements Rye /Bent /Fescue will be the order of the most hungriest of plants Rye being the most hungry, it will also be the first to start growth in as little as around 7 degrees soil temp, so it does not matter what month it is its down to local conditions and soil temps.If this was an established lawn I would not worry but its a newly sown lawn so its a baby. little and often feed needed otherwise known as spoon feeding in the trade.
2ND PHOTO
If you zoom in you will see that not all grasses are yellow , Some are lovely and green and quite happy these will be the Fescue and they require very little feed so are quite happy the Rye on the other hand could be looking for food. but it is always a balance on how much food to keep it ticking over, the grasses will always show you when they are not happy as the Rye is now.
As a light TURF TONIC you can spray with a little sulphate of Ammonia and a very very small amount of iron these will work in colder soil conditions. Once the weather gets warmer you can use a off the shelf feed. so if you applied seaweed you can spray the above, happy to calculate quantities if you tell me the size you are working with.
What has your weather been like of late, the more you answer the more I will help
And tell us where you garden, please.
East Midlands for now but hopefully moving mid March, but the garden is a slab and gravel nightmare of hard work, a total new start and a blank canvass, never thought we would move so soon but needs must.
You have give many clues from your photo's so thank you.
Now as it is a newly sown lawn and February ,yes everyone it can still require food, the days are long gone when you say its winter on turf care its all about your climate and soil temps.
So from your seed mix 3rd photo you have used a mix of Rye/ Fescue & bent grass it is in that order that the seed will become mature plants as the bents will be the longest to establish. In the order of food requirements Rye /Bent /Fescue will be the order of the most hungriest of plants Rye being the most hungry, it will also be the first to start growth in as little as around 7 degrees soil temp, so it does not matter what month it is its down to local conditions and soil temps.If this was an established lawn I would not worry but its a newly sown lawn so its a baby. little and often feed needed otherwise known as spoon feeding in the trade.
2ND PHOTO
If you zoom in you will see that not all grasses are yellow , Some are lovely and green and quite happy these will be the Fescue and they require very little feed so are quite happy the Rye on the other hand could be looking for food. but it is always a balance on how much food to keep it ticking over, the grasses will always show you when they are not happy as the Rye is now.
As a light TURF TONIC you can spray with a little sulphate of Ammonia and a very very small amount of iron these will work in colder soil conditions. Once the weather gets warmer you can use a off the shelf feed. so if you applied seaweed you can spray the above, happy to calculate quantities if you tell me the size you are working with.
Hope that's of some help.
Thank you very much Mr Mow, you are indeed very knowledgeable! The grass looks so much better/greener for having the organic seaweed!! I used 5ml to a litre of water; bottle states to use every 28 days? The lawn is approx 25 square metres. Could you provide a link for the ammonia and iron if that's allowed. Grateful to you for taking the time to reply.
I'm afraid I didn't know what to expect (novice gardener) This is my first time at sowing seed and put a lot of effort in. I was thrilled with the results (especially as those around me tried to dissuade me from having a go). I fully expected to re-seed thin areas in spring. I used the seaweed as the stuff I have suggests using all year round. I will wait till spring and do a proper soil test. Encouraging to know it's probably not all dying and very grateful of constructive criticism.
Sorry @janemumford, I did not mean to be rude. Sowing grass seed for the first time is a big event and well done for doing it, especially against the advice of friends. I well remember my first go, some 40 years ago..... I think your grass looks great for the time of year and I do not think you will need to reseed in spring. Grass, whether established or not, always looks stressed out at this time of year and it will thicken up. I am speaking as someone who has experience and has personally sown five gardens over the years and am married to a former farmer who sowed many acres of grass fields over the years.
I wouldn't worry about doing a soil test and would ask what type of lawn do you want? For example do you want a wildlife lawn with flowers and other good stuff, a stripy show off lawn, a bowling green or croquet lawn or something else? The main thing is don't stress; it'll work out. My advice for the coming season is don't mow it too short and don't fertilise but allow the grass cuttings to remain on the surface as the worms will get to work and enrich the soil.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
I'm afraid I didn't know what to expect (novice gardener) This is my first time at sowing seed and put a lot of effort in. I was thrilled with the results (especially as those around me tried to dissuade me from having a go). I fully expected to re-seed thin areas in spring. I used the seaweed as the stuff I have suggests using all year round. I will wait till spring and do a proper soil test. Encouraging to know it's probably not all dying and very grateful of constructive criticism.
Sorry @janemumford, I did not mean to be rude. Sowing grass seed for the first time is a big event and well done for doing it, especially against the advice of friends. I well remember my first go, some 40 years ago..... I think your grass looks great for the time of year and I do not think you will need to reseed in spring. Grass, whether established or not, always looks stressed out at this time of year and it will thicken up. I am speaking as someone who has experience and has personally sown five gardens over the years and am married to a former farmer who sowed many acres of grass fields over the years.
I wouldn't worry about doing a soil test and would ask what type of lawn do you want? For example do you want a wildlife lawn with flowers and other good stuff, a stripy show off lawn, a bowling green or croquet lawn or something else? The main thing is don't stress; it'll work out. My advice for the coming season is don't mow it too short and don't fertilise but allow the grass cuttings to remain on the surface as the worms will get to work and enrich the soil.
Thank you Redwing, I would have loved a bowling green but applying common sense I settled for a mix of tougher grass which I would love to be stripey🙈 I have always cut grass too low so will be very conscious not to.
@MrMow I have just re read this thread. I was very interested to read your comments. As you explain it's not the fact that it is winter but the actual temperatures we are experiencing that determines what to do. There have been various posts recently regarding plants and changes in their growth due to the climate. I think this will continue to be a complex subject. I have mowed my lawn once in December and a couple of weeks ago, something that never happened in years gone by.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
You have give many clues from your photo's so thank you.
Now as it is a newly sown lawn and February ,yes everyone it can still require food, the days are long gone when you say its winter on turf care its all about your climate and soil temps.
So from your seed mix 3rd photo you have used a mix of Rye/ Fescue & bent grass it is in that order that the seed will become mature plants as the bents will be the longest to establish. In the order of food requirements Rye /Bent /Fescue will be the order of the most hungriest of plants Rye being the most hungry, it will also be the first to start growth in as little as around 7 degrees soil temp, so it does not matter what month it is its down to local conditions and soil temps.If this was an established lawn I would not worry but its a newly sown lawn so its a baby. little and often feed needed otherwise known as spoon feeding in the trade.
2ND PHOTO
If you zoom in you will see that not all grasses are yellow , Some are lovely and green and quite happy these will be the Fescue and they require very little feed so are quite happy the Rye on the other hand could be looking for food. but it is always a balance on how much food to keep it ticking over, the grasses will always show you when they are not happy as the Rye is now.
As a light TURF TONIC you can spray with a little sulphate of Ammonia and a very very small amount of iron these will work in colder soil conditions. Once the weather gets warmer you can use a off the shelf feed. so if you applied seaweed you can spray the above, happy to calculate quantities if you tell me the size you are working with.
Hope that's of some help.
I wouldn't worry about doing a soil test and would ask what type of lawn do you want? For example do you want a wildlife lawn with flowers and other good stuff, a stripy show off lawn, a bowling green or croquet lawn or something else? The main thing is don't stress; it'll work out. My advice for the coming season is don't mow it too short and don't fertilise but allow the grass cuttings to remain on the surface as the worms will get to work and enrich the soil.
I have always cut grass too low so will be very conscious not to.
I have mowed my lawn once in December and a couple of weeks ago, something that never happened in years gone by.