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Next steps for my troublesome lawn

andrew.g.whytemInpxd9zandrew.g.whytemInpxd9z Posts: 10
in Problem solving
Background
I have been trying desperately to get our lawn looking satisfactory over the couple of years we have lived in our first home. First couple of years were a failure. I took it upon myself at the start end of winter to try one last time this year before accepting defeat! I have been following advice from a lawn diary from www.lawnsmith.co.uk but it isn't tailored exactly for a lawn that was in such a bad shape to begin with.

Lawn description
Our lawn is approximately 40 square meters in a south/west facing garden. It is extremely damp during colder months and experiences high levels of moss growth and weeds. We are in the south west of England. The lawn is largely shaded other than peak summer due to surrounding buildings (we live in an urban area), large conifer on the west boundary (which drops over the lawn) and 1.5 meter stone wall. Before the start of my current attempt the lawn was riddled with moss and was extremely sparse/patchy particularly near the back.

What have I done so far
  1. Aerated (with a fork and aerator shoes) and applied two applications of ferrous sulphate in early spring
  2. Manually scarified in mid spring (probably did this when it was too wet but I didn't really have much choice) - lawn looked horrendous after this.
  3. Did a bit of manual de-weeding.
  4. Raised the soil level at the back with topsoil and any major low spots.
  5. Over seeded with a shade variety of premium lawn seed on 1st April
  6. Covered with fleece until mid April to where we are today (see pictures)
  7. Did I high pass with the lawn mower

Advice needed on what to do next
I am now seeking advice on what my next steps should be? Appreciate it doesn't look great but I can assure you it is a massive improvement on what it was (sadly I don't have a before photo.
A couple of questions that spring to mind our:
  1. Should I overseed again?
  2. How do I begin tackling the weeds? I have Weedol but I think I can only use it other the new seed is 2 months old.
  3. Am I fighting a losing battle?
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd say No 3. 
    It really depends on why you want grass, and if so, whether you're prepared to constantly be working with it, when it clearly isn't very ideal. If you have children/animals/ use it a lot for entertaining - it'll struggle to thrive due to the footfall etc. 
    I'd look at a different surface if it was mine.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Agree with @Fairygirl - looking at your photos with the amount of bordering trees and shrubs (  which look very attractive BTW ), you are battling against the odds in expecting a uniform lawn of smart grass in that situation.  Time for a bit of a rethink perhaps ?
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    You're beginning to win.  Mow twice a week whilst it's growing, and not too short.  Do no further treatments until you report back to us in the autumn.
     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."
  • andrew.g.whytemInpxd9zandrew.g.whytemInpxd9z Posts: 10
    Thanks for the answers so far. I do if possible want to try and have a lawn (boring I know in such a small space), mainly due to use of the garden in summer for children etc... I think if this year fails then I have a fairly good argument to look at a re-design
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Children are sore on a lawn [especially a small one ] unless it's in a sunny site where it's less likely to turn to mush. 
    Good luck though - whatever you decide to do.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • andrew.g.whytemInpxd9zandrew.g.whytemInpxd9z Posts: 10
    Fairygirl said:
    Children are sore on a lawn [especially a small one ] unless it's in a sunny site where it's less likely to turn to mush. 
    Good luck though - whatever you decide to do.  :)
    Thanks! I have widened the bed along the wall however and started buying some shade loving plants as suggested on another post I had. I believe you offered advice there also. 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    After the drought last summer and an attack of moles our lawn looked terrible this winter. I raked out a load of moss and re-seeded the bare patches and, although there is still some moss and weeds, it now looks heaps better. Our garden is fairly shady thanks to neighbours trees, not as shady as yours though. Now the growing season is starting so I'm expecting it will look even better in a months time. I just hope we don't have another drought. I would give it a chance.

    You can buy grass seed for shady areas.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I remember now - I thought you might have been up here but you're in the south west of England?
    Lovely wall in your garden - many of us admired it. Glad you've got some plants to suit the site now .    :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • andrew.g.whytemInpxd9zandrew.g.whytemInpxd9z Posts: 10
    Fairygirl said:
    I remember now - I thought you might have been up here but you're in the south west of England?
    Lovely wall in your garden - many of us admired it. Glad you've got some plants to suit the site now .    :)
    Yes sorry I'm in the South of England
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    andrew.g.whytemInpxd9z said:
    I think if this year fails then I have a fairly good argument to look at a re-design

     Don't accept failure.

    Try to keep the children off the lawn when it is wet or frosted.
     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."
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