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[Closed] Lawn experts - save my manky weedy front patch!

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Have been ignoring my front lawn as it's tiny and basically pointless, but we're starting to look like the neighbourhood rednecks, just needs some old car parts scattered around...

Apparently the traditional spring routine is mow, feed, scarify.

It's too wet to mow right now, and I don't see the point, the grass cover is so thin! Could I just skip to feeding? Seems a goid idea if we have another few days of rain forecast...

Ta


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 4:58 pm
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Improve the drainage.

A hollow core tine fork and a bag of sharp sand should cost less than £20.


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 5:05 pm
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Gravel it like I have. Its so much easier.


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 5:07 pm
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if you feed and weed when grass is too long it just sits on the grass rather than down to the soil.

Depends how thin thin is, obvs.


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 5:10 pm
 nofx
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What about astro turf? If it's a small area it won't be too expensive. I'm pondering doing it with our front lawn. It's not used ,& it'ss full of bindweed & various other crap.


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 5:50 pm
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Don't gravel it unless you want all the neighbourhood cats using it as a toilet.


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 7:49 pm
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End game is hopefully to put some planters in to create some sort of bee/wildlife friendly patch, just want it to look decent in the interim for the retired couple next door! About 5 different varieties of weed in there right now...

Forecast for the week looking better than expected so might just stick with a cursory mow tomorrow (political decision, means I haven't completely ignored father-in-law's advice!) then scarify and seed/feed as required.

Then I can get back to the important stuff like endlessly swapping components between bikes 😁


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 7:57 pm
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I'm quite chuffed our front "lawn" is now over 80% moss and takes very little maintenance. Unfortunately the grass has all migrated to the rockery and borders instead. You win some..


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 8:01 pm
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If it’s that sort of space, why not take up the grass and use moss instead? My ‘lawn’, such as it is, is quite shaded, and is becoming increasingly mossy, which I’m doing nothing to discourage! I’m also trying to encourage wildflowers as well, to avoid cutting it too often.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lawn-substitutes/moss-lawn/how-to-grow-a-moss-lawn.htm


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 8:26 pm
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Just use Weed and Feed. When the moss dies, rake it if you can be bothered then chuck some seed down. Grass is a weed, give it a little help and "life will find a way".


 
Posted : 07/04/2019 9:03 pm
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I got 2 collies, that got rid of the moss.


 
Posted : 08/04/2019 6:18 am
 Nico
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End game is hopefully to put some planters in to create some sort of bee/wildlife friendly patch, just want it to look decent in the interim for the retired couple next door! About 5 different varieties of weed in there right now…

The general rule with plants (including grass) is "build it and they will come". Hence perchy's hollow-tined fork thing is the right answer. If you pump the soil full of fertilizer it will make it harder to grow your wild flowers later, as the grass will now be super vigorous. Either that or it will all run off into the drains anyway.


 
Posted : 08/04/2019 1:36 pm

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