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Lawn issues
Nicola34
Posts: 2
I have a back lawn which is coming up to its second winter and note that each time wetter weather sets in, the grass appears to thin so that the soil beneath can be seen. The grass colour itself is a good green and surprisingly, it is still growing. From this spring, I have reseeded to try and thicken it up and whilst this helped during the spring/summer, the same thinning out is starting to happen again. Any suggestions to try and fix this from next spring???
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Nicola, it's as philippa says, its drainage. Best thing is to spike it with a fork to a depth of 4-6 inches and brush sharp sand into the holes. I needs to be spiked every 6 inches so that the whole area gets covered. In spring, scarify and sprinkle some grass seed in top, mixed with multi purpose compost. If you've done it right, then next winter you won't see it go bare. It'll look nice by summer, so a day spent now will give dividends next year.
Is it a new build house Nicola? They often have poor lawns because the builders/developers just chuck turf down on poorly prepared, and often heavily compacted ground, so the drainage is lacking . Dave's advice is the way to go anyway. If the area in question is in shade, that can have an effect on the growth of the grass too. Hopefully you can sort it and have a nice green sward next year
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I don't think it's a drainage issue because the ground is not really wet. It's not a new build (house is 1930's) but the garden was relandscaped 2 years ago. before the turf was laid the ground was well rotorvated, had really good soil and fertiliser and took well and did well in its first year. in it's second year it's started to suffer.
How often is it being mowed in the summer - how long do you let it get before mowing and how short do you cut it?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
forking and lifting the turf (and sweeping sharp sand in after) wont do any harm, and if the lawn has taken heavy wear over the summer the soil underneath can get compacted.
also have you given the lawn an autumn feed?
Nicola, Did you lay the lawn or is it new build. If new build they would lay general purpose rolls on thin soil over often clay or rubble and all the above tips would help. If you laid it did you use too fine a mix and also did you scarify the lawn in Autumn.
If a new build then you need to build up the soil and check drainage, Using a rake go over the lawn lifting any moss or detritus from the top, you will be surprised at what comes off and it can go in the compost bin. Now you need to aerate the lawn with a garden fork pushing the fork into the lawn every few inches, mark the lawn with canes laid out so you know where you have been. You can use a hand Aerator which will remove divets or hire a machine from the DIY shop for a day, that will also remove divets. Now you need a bag of washed sand and one of compost which you may need to riddle then mix the two and scatter on the lawn, using a stiff brush to sweep the mix across the lawn filling the holes, that will allow aeration and drainage as well as feeding the grass roots. I would also use a winter weed and feed though some people prefer not to do that, it is personal choice. leave until spring then cut with the blades up, most people take far too much off the lawn, it needs some grass length to help feed the roots. A spring feed and weed will also help. Hope this helps
Frank.
This may be of some interest http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiller_%28botany%29
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Nicola, in your opening post you have post you have identified the problem in one, wetter weather see's the grass thin. It's drainage. Lawns if they aren't spiked and air let in become compacted that's why in Autumn and spring lawns need to be spiked, lifted slightly, scarified etc and generally maintained. Where some of the previous posters have come from, no offence to any of the above, I really don't know. Lawns however you keep them need this regime, or the grass thins. Leatherjackets have hatched and flown and laid new eggs by now, but the wet is the problem.