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Is there any hope?

Gn0meGn0me Posts: 85
in Problem solving

Went away for a month and came back to this. There seems to be some grass in there!

How do I go about this? I'd imagine some weeds can simply be pulled up, but is there a right way of restoring my lawn or is it too far gone?

I do have a strimmer as well as my lawnmower. Do I just pull up as many weeds as possible at first then strim it down before giving it a final cut with the lawnmower?

 Is it possible to put lawn weed killer first? Seems the grass underneath is dry now as well.

 Thanks very much and hope you can help.


Posts

  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I'd strim it, leave the cut grass on top for a day or so, for any tiny wildlife to move, clear the cut bits away then water if necessary, leave it a day or so and mow. Then you can see better what you're dealing with. It might look a bit rough for a while but it'll sort itself out. 
  • Gn0meGn0me Posts: 85
    Thanks very much.

    There is a part of me (probably the lazy part) that likes the idea of going au naturel and I'll have to forgo what the neighbours think yet at the same time, I do like a tidy lawn. My wife will have the final say and I'm sure that'll mean much effort on my part.

    Thanks again.

  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Could you leave it or leave some of it? I would be overjoyed to have that beginning of a beautiful sanctuary for nature and humans! 
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    It will look a lot better when you've mown it and at least the blackbirds will find it much easier to peck out the grubs.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you want some useable grass, and many people do, you could leave a section along the back as a wilder area, and then just cut the remainder over a period of a couple of weeks or so. That will hopefully keep you both happy too! I personally hate strimmers, but it can be difficult with an area that length. It's not big, so I'd use shears initially then the mower. No need for any weedkiller at all. 
    When you get it to the stage where it's around five or six inches, then be careful how much more you take off, and do a little and often approach once it's looking reasonably healthy. It'll gradually look more 'lawn' like, and suitable for your needs, depending on what those are. 
    If you're in a drier area, we're heading for that time of year where you may have real shortages of rain to keep it healthy and green, so don't cut it shorter than a few inches for the rest of the summer months.
    I rarely cut mine any shorter than that and we don't have the drought conditions other places have.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    @Gn0me I remember reading this a while ago. It might be of interest:

    https://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/how-to-create-a-beautiful-mini-meadow-garden/

    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    There is always hope. Sometimes, like Pandora, it's all we have left.

    Poke about in the 'weeds' and check for treasures. Two Summers ago there was a (lack of) mowing episode here and lo and behold I had ragged robin and cuckoo flower plus other wee white things. I leave that bit every year now and it's gorgeous. Also buttercups but I'm going to have to shoot those! 😕
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    ps Nice link @clematisdorset. Thank you.
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