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.

Restoring a lawn

UTHUTH Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Hi Everyone

 

Brand new to the site, so hello! I moved into a new place last week with a garden....it hasn't been looked after for about 4 months so what was a nice green lawn looked like a wild meadow. I had gardeners round yesrerday, it's all been cut back and the grass is short, but it's looking very sorry for itself. It needs watering badly, but what else can I use to try and get it back to its former glory? 

Thanks! 

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,134

    Hi UTH image

    It's looking sorry for itself simply because the grass has been allowed to grow too long - the base of the stems have been starved of light.  Now that it's been cut it will start to green up - regular mowing (once a week - not too short) will soon have it looking better.  

    At this time of year I find an application of seaweed fertiliser sprinkled on before a good heavy downpour helps the grass to green up as well.  If it doesn't rain then you'll need to water it in - give it a good soaking.  

    Then in the Autumn you spike it all over with a fork to aerate it and aid drainage for the winter, and then give it a proprietary autumn feed and it should be fine. image


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





  • UTHUTH Posts: 3

    Great thanks for the tips, i did think that maybe the lack of sunshine would be the cause.

    There are a couple of very bare patches though, I think some of the plants in the borders overgrew and blocked any light so the grass died. What can i do there, just sprinkle some grass seed and hope it takes? 

     

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,134

    I wouldn't bother to try reseeding yet - the weather is too dry - late September is usually a good time for sowing grass seed - the soil is warm and there's usually plenty of soft rain.  I've never had a germination problem when I've done it then. 

    I just rake the patch over to rough up the soil, sprinkle the grass seed on (not too thickly), water it  and leave it.  Don't cover the seed with soil - it needs light to germinate. 

    Good luck image


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





  • UTHUTH Posts: 3

    Brilliant thanks for the help image 

  • Lily PillyLily Pilly Posts: 3,845
    How useful was that?! We had three huge boughs of a beech tree collapse under the weight of sodden leaves yesterday. As we clearing the site today we see the opportunity to restore grass and wondered how to go about it. I think we would have tried reseeding immediately do thanks Dovefromabove.

    Enjoy the site UTH its great to tap into other peoples knowledge!
    Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
    A A Milne
Sign In or Register to comment.