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.

Lawn cut too short

Chrislawrie76Chrislawrie76 Posts: 9
edited May 2023 in Problem solving
Recently cut lawn for first time at new house. Think I did it too short as tried all 3 settings. Now very brown. Lots of moss like stuff seemed to come out. Should I use opportunity to scarify remaining moss out with a rake, aerate with a fork, water thoroughly? I also have grass seed I could sprinkle over and some grass feed I could put on. Is this a good approach? Then cut on middle level going forward? Is it worth watering every night until dry period is over? Any advice welcome as not used to cutting the grass it's a new house. Pictures attached what is the plant type that us coming out in handfuls in photo below I guess it's moss of some type and should be removed ? It is is the areas that were longest and dampest before.






Posts

  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    I've been watching the you tube channel of a chap named Daniel Hibbert and he scalps lawns as part of a renovation I don't know that this is the best time of year to do it though. Check the guy out if you can he seems to know what he's doing.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Water, wait.

    What you have raked out is called "thatch".  Half moss, half dead grass.  If you remove this, you will only leave the spores behind.  

    What I do is: when it's growing again, water with 6 tablespoons of Sulphate of Iron in 1.5 gallon watering can of water.  (Excuse the mix of units). Water to just cover the area lightly.  This kills the moss and does not affect the grass immediatekly but will green it up in a few weeks.  It also darkens the dead grass and accelerates its decompostion.
     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."
  • Chrislawrie76Chrislawrie76 Posts: 9
    edited May 2023
    So best to rake out as much of this thatch as possible and water thoroughly? Those areas are spongy to walk on. The soil is clay based and doesn't drain all that well.

    Was going to rake out, water, use a fork to aerate then water again. Then shake some grass seed all over and add some fertiliser then water on days when no rain and not cut so short next time and possibly rake and aerate again in a month or so. That sound ok?
  • Chrislawrie76Chrislawrie76 Posts: 9
    I tried the rake on the first 3ft wide strip and a load of stuff came out. Am I best to do this for the whole lawn?


  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    If you have the energy, yes you can do if you don't want to kill it off. Then water thoroughly and see how it goes over a few weeks - don't give it a very low cut when it starts coming back, you want to keep some leaf on the grass. If it comes back patchy you can fill in and/or overseed - autumn is the best time for that, mid September sort of time.
  • rossdriscoll13rossdriscoll13 Posts: 234
    @Chrislawrie76 the rule when mowing is to never remove more than one third of the grass blade.  The reason sports pitches can be mowed so short is because of the type of grass used.  Theirs is a mix that responds well to being mown short.  The grass that all homes has does not respond well to being mown short.  You can still overseed now if you are willing to keep it well watered.
  • Chrislawrie76Chrislawrie76 Posts: 9
    edited May 2023
    Yes once I get this raked out and watered I'll sow more grass seed and add some fertiliser then let it grow and not cut it so short rest of summer. Happy watering each night it doesnt rain if that's not a bad idea.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I would give it a good penetrating soak a couple of times a week (an hour with a lawn sprinkler) rather than a lighter watering every evening. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





Sign In or Register to comment.