[Closed] Lawn issues advice needed.

Most lawns are fixable, need to understand whats beneath them to be 100% (clay like mine just causes so much moss and thatch) , but for most a regime of feed and weed, scarifying, sand, overseeding and cutting very often and very short does the job.

Stick a mattress on it, sorted

Just keep cutting it. Grass grows faster than anything else, so eventually it will replace everything else if you keep it down. But weed and feed it as well, just maybe not just now. (Autumn and /or Spring)

We had the same - house had been empty for months and months and grass knee high. Moved in July and cut it straight back. The following spring it was fine -just needs the obvious care you'd give any garden.

the grass looks completely different and when cutting it back it looks really patchy. Can this be returned back to its former glory

Yes, just keep mowing it once a week if you can, or once a fortnight. It'll sort itself out.

As a gardener I've seen many a lawn ruined being left too long. Give it a go but it may not return to how it was it may always be rather tusucky and patchy forever as it tends to get very tough lower down when left long.

Artificial grass? Best thing we’ve ever done in the garden...

New to lawn care too here, I cut my lawn with the mower on the middle settings, have noticed its quite patchy with stuff growing through, am I best to go shorter to get more grass growing through?

oikeith - I would suggest you need to scarify then treat with some fertilizer/weed killer.

New to lawn care too here, I cut my lawn with the mower on the middle settings, have noticed its quite patchy with stuff growing through, am I best to go shorter to get more grass growing through?

There are two types of weed which grow in grass. Tall thin ones  like mares tail or dock and broad flat ones like daisies, plantain and dandelions.

If the grass is left to grow long, the tall , thin weeds can outcompete the grass for resources

If you cut the grass too short then the broad flat weed can outcompete the grass.

There's a sweet spot in the middle where grass is king because it's evolved to survive being constantly cropped by grazing animals.

Leave your mower on the middle setting and just cut it more often.

Mow it. Rake it. If the ground is compacted then aerate it - probably won't be necessary at this stage.
A good weedkiller - Verdone is what you need. Some lawn feed; there are plenty on the market either dry or water in. Your choice they all do the same job. Mow regularly to stop the perennial weeds such as mares tail or ground elder getting a hold. In autumn put on some autumn lawn feed which will promote good root growth over winter. Don't get uptight if it goes brown in summer. Grass will do that, but has a remarkable propensity to restore itself. If you find some bare patches then sow some lawn seed. keep treating the dandelions and plantains that will sprout up for the next year or two - the seeds will already be in the ground.

Other than than just regular TLC will suffice. Lawns are pretty indestructible, and once you get on top of it there will be little to do other than mow it, trim the edges and treat the ocassional weed.

If you want stripes then you will need a mower with a full width rear roller. A flymo or machine with 4 wheels won't give you stripes.

You could call in the Greenthumb men, but they will charge you an arm and a leg for work that you can quickle and easily do yourself - at a fraction of the cost.

You could call in the Greenthumb men, but they will charge you an arm and a leg for work that you can quickle and easily do yourself – at a fraction of the cost.

I don't think they are that expensive really once you take into account the cost of buying all the treatments (and of course their time). I tend to get them in for a year then leave it three or four years and get them back in again to keep on top of things.

They are in this year and did a spring feed/broad weed kill to remove moss + spot weed kill in problem areas of other weeds. They have just been in for a second feed, are back in August for another feed and weed then an over-wintering feed and weed in the autumn.

All of the above is why I hate lawns. That’s more work and effort than I put in to things I actually enjoy. Leave it as a meadow. 😀

As a gardener.... leave it, sow wild flower seeds and let it be a little wildlife haven

Can anything be done to promote regrowth of grass on the rock hard bare patches my kids and I have created playing football?

Can anything be done to promote regrowth of grass on the rock hard bare patches my kids and I have created playing football?

Yes. But if you are going to continue to play football then it may be a waste of time.

Firstly you will have to at least aerate the compacted soil. Hollow tines and brush sand in. If it is on the verge of being concrete it might be better to dig the area up. Break the soil clumps down into a fine tilth. Again add some sand. Replace and firm down. Sow seed, water and wait.

Easy to do and get good results but if footy is to be continued you'll have to get used to doing it again, and again,and again....

Can anything be done to promote regrowth of grass on the rock hard bare patches my kids and I have created playing football?

I see the bare patches of grass in our garden as visual proof that my girls are outside enjoying the garden and embrace it.

I see the bare patches of grass in our garden as visual proof that my girls are outside enjoying the garden and embrace it.

Yep granted, and I'm fine with it not being anywhere near perfect but falling over on grass is easier on the knees and when it rains it gets all muddy so if there is something I can do then I'll give it a go.

As a gardener…. leave it, sow wild flower seeds and let it be a little wildlife haven

Mine is a moss patch rather than a lawn. I'm tempted by this approach.

Definitely let at least some of it stay meadow and maybe sow some wildlower seeds. If your lucky you will get all kinds of beasties in the grass which the kids will find interesting.