I would be suspicious that the "dead" area (which you say was provided by the builders) has some pretty iffy soil under it, probably full of stuff they wanted to get rid of. Grass doesn't need a great depth of soil, but it does need some... and feeding, too.
If you can bear to raise the height of cut on your lawnmower your grass will always look greener. I know some will tell you to cut it very short, but I prefer my "lawn" (actually a mixture of moss, grass and "wild flowers", aka weeds) longer, greener and softer, so I never cut it shorter than about an inch and a half. It stays healthier, too, if you don't cut off all the green bit, which makes sense if you think of grass as a plant you are pruning with your lawn mower.
Last edited: 25 February 2017 16:15:23
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
so if thats the issue what would be your solution? it seems the "new" area is slowly deteriorating too - i have seen some "cobweb" type things on cold mornings, could it be mycelium causing this?
The "new" area will deteriorate unless you feed it. If you think about it, by mowing the grass you are removing the part which manufactures food by photosynthesis, so unless you put something back into your lawn the plants will begin to show signs of stress. I would guess the "cobweb" type things might be some sort of... cobweb, maybe. I wouldn't worry about that at this time of year. Almost everyone's lawn looks a bit manky in February!
One thing you could do with the area which looks very brown is to carefully remove a piece of turf and see what's underneath. If it's full of bricks and lumps of concrete you'd be advised to bite the bullet, cut your losses, and dig the area to prepare it properly for turf or seed.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Some weed and feed in spring will really help. You can apply a few times throughout the season. Regular mowing is key to getting a good sward - never take too much off. That way, the grass will always be healthy and will spread, making it harder for weeds to take over.
My grass was largely weeds when I moved here. In winter, the front area is mossy because of the aspect, but the spring feed and mowing is enough to keep it looking good. The back looks rough just now, but it doesn't take much to get it looking good again.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I agree with the comments about raising the cutter bar on your mower - that lawn looks as if it has been scalped It will look much better if, after raking and feeding ax had been suggested, it is allowed to grow a bit longer - raise the cutter bar and mow weekly.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You ask if feed is enough to bring the old area back. Unfortunately there's no way of knowing just by looking at the photo, but it's worth a try to start with.
Had it been dry for a long time when that photo was taken?
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Posts
I would be suspicious that the "dead" area (which you say was provided by the builders) has some pretty iffy soil under it, probably full of stuff they wanted to get rid of. Grass doesn't need a great depth of soil, but it does need some... and feeding, too.
If you can bear to raise the height of cut on your lawnmower your grass will always look greener. I know some will tell you to cut it very short, but I prefer my "lawn" (actually a mixture of moss, grass and "wild flowers", aka weeds) longer, greener and softer, so I never cut it shorter than about an inch and a half. It stays healthier, too, if you don't cut off all the green bit, which makes sense if you think of grass as a plant you are pruning with your lawn mower.
Last edited: 25 February 2017 16:15:23
I'd agree totally Liri - and if it was turfed, which it seems to be, it probably hasn't had much decent contact with any soil that is there.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
so if thats the issue what would be your solution? it seems the "new" area is slowly deteriorating too - i have seen some "cobweb" type things on cold mornings, could it be mycelium causing this?
The "new" area will deteriorate unless you feed it. If you think about it, by mowing the grass you are removing the part which manufactures food by photosynthesis, so unless you put something back into your lawn the plants will begin to show signs of stress. I would guess the "cobweb" type things might be some sort of... cobweb, maybe. I wouldn't worry about that at this time of year. Almost everyone's lawn looks a bit manky in February!
One thing you could do with the area which looks very brown is to carefully remove a piece of turf and see what's underneath. If it's full of bricks and lumps of concrete you'd be advised to bite the bullet, cut your losses, and dig the area to prepare it properly for turf or seed.
Is feed enough alone to bring back the old area?
Some weed and feed in spring will really help. You can apply a few times throughout the season. Regular mowing is key to getting a good sward - never take too much off. That way, the grass will always be healthy and will spread, making it harder for weeds to take over.
My grass was largely weeds when I moved here. In winter, the front area is mossy because of the aspect, but the spring feed and mowing is enough to keep it looking good. The back looks rough just now, but it doesn't take much to get it looking good again.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I agree with the comments about raising the cutter bar on your mower - that lawn looks as if it has been scalped
It will look much better if, after raking and feeding ax had been suggested, it is allowed to grow a bit longer - raise the cutter bar and mow weekly.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You ask if feed is enough to bring the old area back. Unfortunately there's no way of knowing just by looking at the photo, but it's worth a try to start with.
Had it been dry for a long time when that photo was taken?
no unfortunately it hadn't. it was taken on Saturday and its been quite wet.
When was it mown last? It looks from here as if it was mown recently. Mines not been mowed for months.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.