Strengthen up a lawn for summer

[ScienceBoy]

My brand new lawn, laid last November isn't doing too bad but already has a few weak spots.

Tried to keep off it as much as possible but with no growth time it shows a few spots on the side I have kept the traffic to.

Putting in a shed after two months didn't help, it was necessary and I left it as long as I could.

So any tips for getting a strong lawn for this summer?

I have some seed left over from the last place but this lawn is 4x bigger!

It's also awfully bumpy, even the bits we haven't been on yet!

 

[Rooter]

roll it, aerate it, feed it, seed it.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

What Rooter said. The reality is lawns do not flatten of the own accord. If you wanted a flat one you need to do the prep work before laying turf. After that you are in roller territory.

Aeration is a big deal, keeps the moss away for starters. Feed it as mentioned.

You have not hit the growing season yet so don't expect much at this stage. Let it happen.

 

[Rooter]

You have not hit the growing season yet so don't expect much at this stage. Let it happen.

Just about to kick off darn sarf, gave mine the first cut of the year this weekend. Like SB, mine is a new lawn and needs a lot of love! but its looking ok.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I forgot you are both in a different hemisphere to me, ha ha. No growth since November due to temps. Not icy, just not warm enough.

 

[jdpjamesp]

First spring in the deep south for me and can't believe how early the spring stuff is happening compared to the frozen north.

 

[MrBrightside]

I've been reading up on a site called Lawnsmith which will give you month by month tips, this month it suggests ferrous sulphate application only so i'm off to homebase after work to buy a spreader and some lawn sand.

Next month i'll add weed and feed before hitting it with my electric scarifier a couple of weeks later and then hopefully overseed and top dress; does anyone know a good way of leveling, will towing a few 2x4s along work?

When people say aeration are we talking hollow-tine or electric scarifyer with the blades set low, the former to hire or have someone come in is expensive.

I'm getting into the whole lawn-porn thing but haven't a clue, i have a quote from Greenthumb for ~£250 a year for hollowtine and three treatments which looks good value as i think my lawn is over >200m2.

 

[DCB]

be careful, Greenthumb killed my mothers lawn with whatever they did to it

 

[Rooter]

When people say aeration are we talking hollow-tine or electric scarifyer with the blades set low, the former to hire or have someone come in is expensive.

I'm getting into the whole lawn-porn thing but haven't a clue, i have a quote from Greenthumb for ~£250 a year for hollowtine and three treatments which looks good value as i think my lawn is over >200m2.

I'm old school and tight. I will do mine by hand with a fork. My lawn is not huge though, approx 60m2.

Guy over the road has paid an independent guy to maintain his front lawn, it looks bloomin amazing! no idea on costs, but he is good!!

 

[Ross61]

be careful, Greenthumb killed my mothers lawn with whatever they did to it

Greenthumb have done neighbour's lawns for many years, they look very poor compared to mine. We virtually just cut the lawn and put a bit of seed down now and then. Considering we also have 2 dogs running about and doing their business every day, I don't understand why our lawn is so much better.

 

[fundy]

with the inside of house close to being done, soon time to get on with the external works bit more landscaping then time for a new lawn, this thread not filling me with cheer haha

 

[Rooter]

with the inside of house close to being done, soon time to get on with the external works bit more landscaping then time for a new lawn, this thread not filling me with cheer haha

Steve, if an idiot like me can do it, you should be ok.. I bought some quick grow seed from b&q for about a tenner, sorted the top out removing stones etc, then left it! Looks amazing! don't listen to Mendie if he starts on about buying turf, he has no confidence! lol

 

[Tashyboy]

Trouble is with rolling is that if you already have humps and hollows in it, you will still have humps and hollows. Unless you wanna fill in the hollows. Always try to scarify mine to get out the moss, but ideally you would want it a bit drier as wet damp grass can be a royal pita.
get a mower that picks up the grass, fly I one I borrowed off son in law a couple of years ago was rubbish. I have a Bosch and it is excellent. Plus it puts lines on your lawn.

 

[Rooter]

get a mower that picks up the grass, fly I one I borrowed off son in law a couple of years ago was rubbish. I have a Bosch and it is excellent. Plus it puts lines on your lawn.

Someone needs to try a mulching mower! My dad has one at his gaff in france and its epic! (as epic as mowers get!)

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Cut my lawn Sunday for the first time this year. I didn't bother going to a slightly longer cut than normal and went straight to the normal cut length. Almost filled my brown wheelie bin with the cuttings form the (big) back lawn and (small) front.
I will weed and feed in a couple of weeks, then scraify it. Will follow that with overseeding then sit back and let the birds feed away
I just use my Hayter rotary with powered rear roller for cutting....and has the benefit of levelling quite nicely

 

[SatchFan]

Apart from regular mowing, feeding and scarifying the biggest difference to my lawns has always ben top dressing. Somewhat hard work but worth the effort.

 

[Hobbit]

I inherited a scaby lawn just over a year ago. Hollow tined it after what I hoped would be the last frost(got it right), then weed and feed/top dressed. Got to say, its looking way better than any other lawn in the street!

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I inherited a scaby lawn just over a year ago. Hollow tined it after what I hoped would be the last frost(got it right), then weed and feed/top dressed. Got to say, its looking way better than any other lawn in the street!

Did the rest of the household complain after you hollow-tined it? We all know it does wonders, but still people complain

 

[Tashyboy]

Don't know what weather you have had darn sarf, but if I tried cutting my lawn the neighbours would have me carted off to the funny farm. There's nowt to cut.
You all know life is about wheels within wheels, well I sorted me head green keeper out wi some coal for the winter 😜. He in turn sorted me out wi some logs which were delivered. Anyway the day before I cut the grass. Me lines were straighter than a Roman rd. I could tell he was impressed. Ave told him I would be prepared to give his staff a talk on how they should cut the fairways at our pad.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Had 15degress on friday, today was 17.5 degrees......
I took 3 inches in plenty of places yesterday off my lawn yesterday.