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Need Help! Lawn is a mess

• Message 1.Ìý

  Posted by Gibbyni (U15164897) on Sunday, 26th February 2012

  Ok , I need some help, im a first time gardener (always had appartments) but have just moved to a house with a large back and front garden. My problem is, its in a right state.
  
  Its currently a mixture of 50% grass and 50% weeds. From what I can find out the previous owner didnt take care of it and some stage in Oct/Nov she moved out and someone cut it but left the cut grass on top. So over the winter it has gotten into a bad state.
  
  So my question is how do I fix it ?
  
  I know I should scarify it to get rid of all the dead and cut grass, aerate it, feed it and spray weed killer.
  
  My problem is what order and when do I do these things?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Hoc (U14458245) on Sunday, 26th February 2012

  Hi,
  You can get the grass looking pretty good with just a cut in about a month's time (high cut on lawn mower) and then throw down some Spring lawn feed and weed mixed granules from the garden centre. Keep cutting it regularly through out summer and it will beat most of the weeds. For a bit more effort, edge the lawn with a cutting tool or sharp spade and it will look 100% smarter.
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by rthorner (U1360306) on Monday, 27th February 2012

  I agree with Hoc - before you break your back with all the scraping and spiking, give it a chance to respond to some general care. Grass is tough! Cut it like Hoc suggests (use a mower that collects the cuttings, or if not then do scrape them up afterwards); perhaps give it some lawn weed-and-feed in spring (not quite yet) following the instructions on the packet, and definitely invest in some edge shears (neatening the lawn edge is probably the biggest-impact-for-little-effort job in the garden!). Good luck, let us know how you get on.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by bigolob (U14267071) on Monday, 27th February 2012

  Your first job is to apply SELECTIVE lawn weedkiller next month (March). to the weedy areas. This will kill off the weeds but not harm the grasses.
  
  Early April when the weed has been killed off, rake out the dead material and apply good grass seed to the bald areas - do not cover this with compost or soil as the seed will not germinate. It will take about 4 weeks for the grass seed to gereminate and when 1 inch high, give the lawn a 1 inch cut just to top the new grass and consolidate the roots.
  
  Do not feed the seeded area until about late July/August but feed the good area in mid March with Lawn Sand (get this from a local garden centre) which will kill off moss and green up the grass. As the season goes on, water as necessary (especially the new grass growth) and enjoy the better appearance.
  
  Try to remember the American tourist who visited Cambridge ans saw the magnificent lawns outside the Colleges. He went up to one of the gardeners and said "Hey Mack, (the usual American charm) how do you get a lawn like that". The gardener looked at him and answered "All you do is cut and feed the grass for around 500 years!!" In other words, do not expect a superb lawn in 1 year but treat it well and it will treat you well.
  
  Good luck.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Jo W (U15169869) on Thursday, 1st March 2012

  I've had a very similar problem recently- I wish I'd seen this before I rushed off and dug up half the lawn!!
  
  To be fair, the bit I dug was all nettles, no grass left, but I'm unsure how far to take it now! Don't want to remove the lawn entirely (looks messy and my guinea pigs will hate me) but think weed+seed is totally out of my budget! (Poor student just wanting sunbathing space!)
  
  Any more ideas?

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Gibbyni (U15164897) on Saturday, 3rd March 2012

  Thanks all, I had a proper look arund it today and it may not be in as bad a mess as I first thought.
  
  I will start cutting it in a couple of weeks, the next door neighbour did his yesterday but I still think its to cold here. (Northern Ireland)
  
  I have uploaded a few pics of the garden here
  
  
  
  Any Idaes what to do with it lol.
  
  I have a query about the trees but will post that on a different thread.
  
  Thanks for the help
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Saturday, 3rd March 2012

  I hope you like yellow as a colour because you are going to have a field of buttercups with the odd dandelion thrown in, not to mention the docks.
  
  The docks and dandelions seem minimal so you should be able to extract them with a Daisy grubber with out doing too much damage.
  
  The grass seems to be a bit thin possibly due to being crowded out with the buttercups.
  
  With a bit of luck regular mowing may kill off the buttercups or at least weaken them sufficiently for the weedkiller in a lawn weed and feed to act on them.
  
  Then you can tackle individual plants with the daisy grubber.
  
  But I have to warn you it won't be easy to get rid of them I'm afraid.
  
  See how you go on this summer then plan for next year by possibly forming a few beds to grow flowers / veg in this will reduce " lawn care"
  
  Then again you could scatter a few wildflower seeds and form a 'meadow' garden and these might crowd out the buttercups.
  
  Regarding the trees, when were the pictures taken?
  
  Whats on my mind is the berries, are they on now?
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Gibbyni (U15164897) on Saturday, 3rd March 2012

  All photos were taken today/yesterday
  
  As long as im able to have a garden where the kids can play I will be hapy waiting a few years to get it looking proper.

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by nofingers (U14902735) on Monday, 5th March 2012

  I hope you like yellow as a colour because you are going to have a field of buttercups with the odd dandelion thrown in, not to mention the docks.
  
  The docks and dandelions seem minimal so you should be able to extract them with a Daisy grubber with out doing too much damage.
  
  The grass seems to be a bit thin possibly due to being crowded out with the buttercups.
  
  With a bit of luck regular mowing may kill off the buttercups or at least weaken them sufficiently for the weedkiller in a lawn weed and feed to act on them.
  
  Then you can tackle individual plants with the daisy grubber.
  
  But I have to warn you it won't be easy to get rid of them I'm afraid.
  
  See how you go on this summer then plan for next year by possibly forming a few beds to grow flowers / veg in this will reduce " lawn care"
  
  Then again you could scatter a few wildflower seeds and form a 'meadow' garden and these might crowd out the buttercups.
  
  Regarding the trees, when were the pictures taken?
  
  Whats on my mind is the berries, are they on now?
  
  
  
  
  
  Ìý you mention in a message about the pictures about the berry's on the ivy, I have these on mine should I chop it back. i left them for the birds

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