I have used Evergreen 4 in 1 for donkeys years and never had a problem. But then I always read the instructions, When I was a beginner I weighed out the required amount for 1 square meter in a plastic cup using the kitchen scales, marked a line on the cup, went into the garden, marked out 1 sq m with canes so I had an idea of what the area is like. And only then did I apply it.
If you didn't follow these simple steps before you used it, then it is perhaps not surprising you are having problems. It's the user not the product that is at fault.
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Hogweed ... I do exactly the same ... a line on a yoghurt pot and a very clear image of what 1 sq metre looks like. Done it every year ... did it this year ... the moss went black and I raked it out, the weeds died, the grass grew ... OH has just cut it and it looks great.
Read the instructions and follow them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've never had an issue with weed and feed either. It's important to use the correct amount according to the instructions. Even an over applied feed will cause problems.
It's also easy to think you don't have much moss, and it's only when these products are applied that you find out there's more than you realise. To be honest - you only need to look at the surroundings of the garden in that picture to know there will be lot of moss.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've been reading these posts along with every other bit of lawn care info I can find, I wish I had done my research ahead of using evergreen 4 in 1. Two weeks ago I thought I'd give our old front lawn a new lease of life, just looking to green it up really. I opted for the 4 in 1 not really realising it was weed killer as well as greener. I thought the granulated mix included grass seed and so I put extra down on the bare Patches. i used a whole pack meant for a 100m sq lawn on our tiny 4m sq lawn! I now realise how utterly ridiculous this sounds. By the next day most of the lawn had turned black. I jumped on line and to my horror I knew I had boobed. I watered heavily to try and flush the stuff through and did so everyday for a week. The moss did die off and went brown but the lawn also looked quite bare and brown in patches. On the hottest day (last Friday) I raked as much dead thatch and moss out as I could, used a fork to aerate (back breaking and I got sunburned terribly for my efforts) I overseeded with a mix of fescue and rye. It's been another week now, watering lightly 2/3 times a day and thankfully the lawn is getting back to a nice green although the new seed hasn't germinated 8 days in. still have bare patches but I'll get some patch magic monday. Think seeded too soon actually. Thanks to all of the advice on here, I never knew just how much time, blood sweat and tears using evergreen was going to lead to. I have faith though that time will be the best healer and the grass will have a good chance to recover.
Yes, you've seeded far too soon. The weedkiller won't have been washed through yet and that affects germination. If you're going to water, water thoroughly for an hour, then leave it for several days. Watering lightly will do nothing for the grass.
It needs to recover, and I certainly wouldn't start putting any more 'stuff' on the grass.
I'm afraid it comes down to a very simple solution - read the instructions before using weedkillers, feeds etc. These products all contain a lot of chemicals. Used correctly, they work without any problem. Used incorrectly - they cause damage.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you fairygirl, I thought as much, wasted a bag of good new seed then but live n learn I guess. I'll keep watering more heavily and flush the chems out more before over seeding, it had never been raked I don't think so it must also be in shock from that. I'm hoping for some mixed weather, warm but showers too as I'll not be around so much after next week to baby sit it. What's the verdict on miracle patch? or can you recommend a good fast growing hardy grass seed that comes with its own top soil?
My tired weed infested moss ridden lawn, which took me me 2 minutes to mow the Dandilions. Was getting ripped up and turfed, expensive back breaking work. Along came Dad cut so called lawn, scarrified it with electric lawn rack, mowed again, aerated with fork ( prod into ground wiggle repeat). Application of Evergreen 4 in 1 with a spreader. Hand application direct to the big and I mean big triffid weeds.
As i expected major parts of lawn went black bare patches where massive dandilons were. what grass there was needed a cut agin in a weeks time. Looking greener. Another scarifie and cut ....... looking fantastic.
Next top soil and grass seed in select areas due to big weeds dying.
Brilliant tonkcy. I've a giant bag waiting to go and I've been putting it off in case I give myself a nightmare of a job. I even considered doing it in bits. I might still. At least I know it can be done. Thanks for that. And thank your dad!
Posts
I have used Evergreen 4 in 1 for donkeys years and never had a problem. But then I always read the instructions, When I was a beginner I weighed out the required amount for 1 square meter in a plastic cup using the kitchen scales, marked a line on the cup, went into the garden, marked out 1 sq m with canes so I had an idea of what the area is like. And only then did I apply it.
If you didn't follow these simple steps before you used it, then it is perhaps not surprising you are having problems. It's the user not the product that is at fault.
Hogweed ... I do exactly the same ... a line on a yoghurt pot and a very clear image of what 1 sq metre looks like. Done it every year ... did it this year ... the moss went black and I raked it out, the weeds died, the grass grew ... OH has just cut it and it looks great.
Read the instructions and follow them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
How long should it be left before raking out the dead moss?
The moss can be raked out as soon as it turns black.
I've never had an issue with weed and feed either. It's important to use the correct amount according to the instructions. Even an over applied feed will cause problems.
It's also easy to think you don't have much moss, and it's only when these products are applied that you find out there's more than you realise. To be honest - you only need to look at the surroundings of the garden in that picture to know there will be lot of moss.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've been reading these posts along with every other bit of lawn care info I can find, I wish I had done my research ahead of using evergreen 4 in 1. Two weeks ago I thought I'd give our old front lawn a new lease of life, just looking to green it up really. I opted for the 4 in 1 not really realising it was weed killer as well as greener. I thought the granulated mix included grass seed and so I put extra down on the bare Patches. i used a whole pack meant for a 100m sq lawn on our tiny 4m sq lawn! I now realise how utterly ridiculous this sounds. By the next day most of the lawn had turned black. I jumped on line and to my horror I knew I had boobed. I watered heavily to try and flush the stuff through and did so everyday for a week. The moss did die off and went brown but the lawn also looked quite bare and brown in patches. On the hottest day (last Friday) I raked as much dead thatch and moss out as I could, used a fork to aerate (back breaking and I got sunburned terribly for my efforts) I overseeded with a mix of fescue and rye. It's been another week now, watering lightly 2/3 times a day and thankfully the lawn is getting back to a nice green although the new seed hasn't germinated 8 days in. still have bare patches but I'll get some patch magic monday. Think seeded too soon actually. Thanks to all of the advice on here, I never knew just how much time, blood sweat and tears using evergreen was going to lead to. I have faith though that time will be the best healer and the grass will have a good chance to recover.
Yes, you've seeded far too soon. The weedkiller won't have been washed through yet and that affects germination. If you're going to water, water thoroughly for an hour, then leave it for several days. Watering lightly will do nothing for the grass.
It needs to recover, and I certainly wouldn't start putting any more 'stuff' on the grass.
I'm afraid it comes down to a very simple solution - read the instructions before using weedkillers, feeds etc. These products all contain a lot of chemicals. Used correctly, they work without any problem. Used incorrectly - they cause damage.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you fairygirl, I thought as much, wasted a bag of good new seed then but live n learn I guess. I'll keep watering more heavily and flush the chems out more before over seeding, it had never been raked I don't think so it must also be in shock from that. I'm hoping for some mixed weather, warm but showers too as I'll not be around so much after next week to baby sit it. What's the verdict on miracle patch? or can you recommend a good fast growing hardy grass seed that comes with its own top soil?
My tired weed infested moss ridden lawn, which took me me 2 minutes to mow the Dandilions. Was getting ripped up and turfed, expensive back breaking work. Along came Dad cut so called lawn, scarrified it with electric lawn rack, mowed again, aerated with fork ( prod into ground wiggle repeat). Application of Evergreen 4 in 1 with a spreader. Hand application direct to the big and I mean big triffid weeds.
As i expected major parts of lawn went black bare patches where massive dandilons were. what grass there was needed a cut agin in a weeks time. Looking greener. Another scarifie and cut ....... looking fantastic.
Next top soil and grass seed in select areas due to big weeds dying.
Best this lawn has ever looked .
Now routine every spring.
Brilliant tonkcy. I've a giant bag waiting to go and I've been putting it off in case I give myself a nightmare of a job. I even considered doing it in bits. I might still. At least I know it can be done. Thanks for that. And thank your dad!