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End of October too late for grass seed?

Hi,
I'm about to use the Evergreen Autumn 2-in-1 on my mossy lawn. I understand that I then have to leave it 2 weeks for the moss to die before

 scarifying and raking out the moss/thatch? Would it then be too late (end of October in the UK) to grass seed the lawn? Or will I have to put up with bare patches over the winter and grass seed in the early spring?

My lawn also has weeds in it, so I presume this needs to be treated in the spring when they are starting to grow?

Thanks
Rob

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Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    A couple of weeks ago I raked and scarified my lawn and removed a heavy load of moss without using moss killer or any other treatment.  I then immediately top-dressed with lawn soil and over-seeded with grass seed.  It's all looking good now apart from a few small weeds - they won't flower and seed over winter.

    I'll use Evergreen 3 in 1 (or 4 in 1) in the spring - that'll deal with any moss and weeds that are there after the winter.  


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





  • Thanks - that's a help. I've already bought the Autumn 2-in-1 so being a Yorkshireman feel like I should use it rather than waste it. That means I won't get to scarify/rake for 2 weeks. Do you think grass seeding at the end of October will be too late?

    If it is, do I just leave the grass seeding until spring, after I've used some Evergreen 4-in-1 to attack the weeds?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    If you're asking me what I would do in your situation ... I'd wrap the 2 in 1 treatment in polythene and put it in the garage until next autumn.

    Then I'd scarify, rake, top dress with lawn soil and over-seed this week while the soil is still warm and damp. 

    In the spring I'd use 3 or 4 in 1 to deal with moss and weeds

    and next autumn I'd send my OH into the garage to find the 2 in 1 that he'd have moved somewhere else where I can't find it image


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





  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Night time temps are cold, but it's still relatively warm during the day. I'd do as Dove has suggested.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    It might be slower to germinate if you're in Yorkshire   image

    If I needed to sort a lawn, I'd now wait till spring, as the temps are too unreliable even through the day, unless I could cover it with plastic for some protection and warmth till it came through. You might get away with it, depending on your location and how the weather is in the next couple of weeks. If it rains heavily and turns cold it'll rot rather than germinate. Do you feel lucky, stannie?....image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • I have used 4 in1 feed and weed an it as left some awful patches on my lawn I have racked out a lot of moss and rubbish but it is now October and I wanted to know if it's too late to reseed these awful patches ?

  • Amanda198 says:

    I have useds 4 in1 feed and weed an it as left some awful patches on my lawn I have racked out a lot of moss and rubbish but it is now October and I wanted to know if it's too late to reseed these awful patches ?

    See original post

      

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Bit late in the year to be using 4 in 1 but you've done it so you may find you have to keep cutting grass for a bit longer than you would normally! 

    I'd say it's far too late unless you're in a warmer area and you get a few weeks of good weather. Grass seed needs to have temps of around 17 degrees to germinate. The 4 in 1 will inhibit germination too - you'd need to leave a few weeks after using it before sowing seed.

    It hasn't been consistently warm enough where I am, even during the summer, for seed to grow, but that's quite unusual. Normally, sowing in September ( farther south anyway) would be ok, but I think I'd wait till spring now unless you can cover it with polythene to get it going. It's more likely just to rot.  

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511

    This thread is a year old so OP has dealt with this already.

    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Yes - I was, of course, replying to Amanda's query  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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