Lawn
fadsarmy
Posts: 6
Hello everyone, I'm a complete novice to gardening and would be grateful for some advice. I just moved into a new property which has a front and rear lawn, approximately 50 square meters each. The lawn needs mowing and there are quite a few dandelions growing. I don't think the lawn has been mowed since last autumn but is not particularly long. There are a few patchy areas where there is no grass growing. I would like to invest in a petrol lawn mower. I have the Mountfield SP164 in mind.
Should I go ahead and mow the lawn or do I need to de-weed it first? I was going to mow it then apply some feed and weed after a few days. Is this a sensible approach? When is the best time to plant some grass seeds? Thanks in advance.
Last edited: 03 May 2017 18:28:25
Posts
I would mow it now, wait a few days and then put weed and feed down. Water it in if it doesn't rain. All this is on the packet.
Scratch the surface of the bare area, sow grass seed thinly, rake it over, and again keep it watered. I always mix my grass seed with some compost before I sow - about 6 handfuls of compost to one of seed and then I just pat it down and water.
Hi
Give it a cut but take the mower to upper setting as opposed to a lower setting. I would then apply a quality weed and feed, moss killer to the lawn. Most of the weeds will be eradicated apart from perennial weeds such as docks and dandelions that have a deep tap root. To eradicate them will require another weed and feed as per instructions on the box. You can apply a spot weed to the leafs that will poison the weed and tap root over a period of time. Moss will go brown from the moss killer. This will require removing from your lawn using a metal lawn rack. Once the moss has been removed it would be beneficial to aerate the lawn with a garden fork or hollow tine fork. The tine fork will remove soil to create chambers in the lawn. This allows air light and water to permeate the sub soil and promote new growth. You can also top dress the lawn by applying a mixture of sieved top soil or John Inness compost with grit incorporated. Brush this mixure over the holes. The grit will give the holes made by the fork more structure so that they stay open .Finally, apply a good quality lawn seed dependant on the type of existing lawn you have. A good rye grass will give you a hard wearing grass. Also, apply a different grass seed in shade areas that you can get from GC. I would apply some sieved top soil or compost to the bare areas of the lawn before applying the grass seed so that it has a good base to grow from. Water well and do not lets the grass seed dry out
Within 2 weeks you will start seeing green grass shoots appearing
Many thanks to hogweed and greenfingers steve for some very helpful information. I have noticed there are many feed and weed brands available, is there any particular preference? I'd prefer to buy a large amount that would last me a while.
Depends how pernickerty you want to be IMO. Since you are new to the property, I would do as I've always done and just mow once a week and see how you go on. I don't use any feed n weed but then I'm not maintaining a bowling green/golf course.
Just another point of view.
Weed n Feed sounds so nice, doesn't it. What it is really is herbicide applied widely even to areas that don't have broad-leafed weeds to kill, and chemical fertilizer, which your lawn probably doesn't need if already growing lushly, and which will run into the natural water systems causing algae blooms and pollution. If you cannot pull out dandelions by hand (or leave them... just pull off flower heads before setting seed), then consider a spot herbicide for the plants you want to kill. Leaving some of the grass clippings on the lawn (without dandelion heads) is a great way to add nutrients naturally.
http://learn.eartheasy.com/2010/06/6-reasons-to-avoid-using-%E2%80%9Cweed-%E2%80%98n-feed%E2%80%9D-on-your-lawn/
I just mow (and remove grass clippings). I will remove really ugly, large rosettes of things like thistle but otherwise just mow things down. There is some moss, lots of lush grass and some flowers. . I don't fertilise but occasionally brush compost into it. I've purposely added low-growing wildflower seeds. My lawn is much greener than many lawns I see around and when mown, looks fine.
Hi Fadsarmy
Obviously, it all depends on how you want your lawn to look. I prescribed to do it my way because that is the correct method and processes to carry out to attempt to improve your lawn appearance. Ypu will be the best judge of that as you know how you want your lawn to look .
You can do minimal work as stated by Cloggie and Watery or do it correctly and have have a better rate of success.You will never be weed or moss free but it will be reduced and reseeding bare areas in your lawn will become less
Best of luck
Or do it "correctly" and contribute to environmental pollution, death of wildlife and contamination of water supplies/ rivers so you can have a sterile looking lawn.
If you don't want dandelions, pull them out.
Hi Watery
Doing it correctly is scarifying to remove moss, aerating to improve drainage, applying a feed and weed to boost your lawn and control weeds
As for pollution and deaf of wildlife, I do think you are looking at the worst scenario. I weed and feed my lawn once a year as it requires no further maintenance, apart from mowing, due to scarifying and aerating I have carried out within the season.
I am not disagreeing just saying there are tried and trusted method for lawn maintenance that you do not seem to appreciate
I think that's a bit of an overreaction Watery. My garden is now full of wildlife, whereas it was a sterile, ugly, place before.
I'd agree with Steve - a weed and feed applied in spring and then regular mowing will improve any patch of grass immensely. I love my little lawns - the front one looked like a field when I moved in here a few years ago.It's now nice and tidy, which is only right when you live in a residential area.
As hogweed says - mow first then leave for a few days before applying. Water in if there's been no subsatntial rain after two or three days.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you all for your advice. Is there a favourite or recommended brand of feed and weed?