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Best time to plant a lawn
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Jo W (U15169869) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
So I've done a LOT of reading on planting lawns... most seem to suggest digging the ground over, how to seed, how much to water, that sort of thing... but what I really want to know is when to plant it!
I've heard the date '21st March' thrown around a lot, but my common sense tells me its more about weather conditions than dates, so what should I be looking for?
Presumably the wamer it is, the faster the seed will germinate?
What about rain? Should I aim to plant on a day with a week's rain forecast afterwards? The ground is fairly well-draining but should I still worry that it would ruin the seed?
I want a nice-looking lawn as soon as possible (preferably usable too) as we're leaving in June and i'd like to use it before then!
To complicate matters, we're all leaving the hosue for 2 weeks on the 30th March, and can't water the garden. If it helps with the whole temperature thing, I'm near Derby... -
Message 2
Posted by kate1123 (U14824475) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
I do not mean to be rude but why do you want a lawn, if I remember correctly you will be away all summer, I would go for a large slate gravel, once it is down , no cutting, no watering, no weeding. If you have a party/bbq no damage.
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Message 3
Posted by AlinaW (U2220240) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
Your ideal weather is not pouring rain, but drizzle and mild. March-April is fine. You will need to water until the grass has germinated, and make sure that it doesn't dry out afterwards.
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Message 4
Posted by AlinaW (U2220240) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
I do not mean to be rude but why do you want a lawn, if I remember correctly you will be away all summer, I would go for a large slate gravel, once it is down , no cutting, no watering, no weeding. If you have a party/bbq no damage. No offence, Kate, but I would hate to stare at an expanse of stone.
Grass is good for wildlife, easy underfoot and pleasing on the eye - it doesn't have to be a perfect, weed-free lawn.
But each to their own. -
Message 5
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
A lawn takes a while to establish from seed or turf and you timings of not being there are not going to help this project at all.
Wet and warm are the best conditions-you could leave it till April in fact that is a good time but what happens after June?
Are you leaving permanently or is this temporary thing?
I have to admit to being puzzled -
Message 6
Posted by kate1123 (U14824475) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
Alina no offence taken, I was thinking of Jo's earlier questions where she mentioned that every summer she would be away for 3 months, she had also mentioned that she is short of time.
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Message 7
Posted by AlinaW (U2220240) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
Reading between the lines, Kate and Cody, I think that Jo is a student, and hence rich in energy, but strapped for cash ...
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Message 8
Posted by Jo W (U15169869) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
Haha Alina, you're totally right!!
I'm a student, living in a rented property. However, my housemate's dad is the owner and as such I've got free rein on the garden, particularly as it was such a tip when we arrived!! I'm going to be on the property for at least another year, maybe even another 3, so this is a long-term thing! We're only leaving for a couple of weeks in early April, then someone will be here who can water the garden. The latest we'll be here is mid-July, and then only for a couple of days between placements, so I'd like to have had a chance to use our lawn before then!
Despite this, I forsaw the problems with our time constraints so I'm doing the lawn in two stages. Hopefully we can relieve the pressure on the growing half of the lawn until it's settled by using the other half.
With regards to the gravel- it's not as nice to look at, it's more expensive, and it's really uncomfortable for sunbathing on! In addition, I envisage a few summer BBQ parties, and some friendly volleyball/frisbee won't work so well on gravel!
Hope that clears things up!! -
Message 9
Posted by kate1123 (U14824475) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
Jo that clears things up for me. I do not think I knew a single student who gardened, good luck
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Message 10
Posted by Jo W (U15169869) on Thursday, 8th March 2012
Looks like i'm the single student- I don't know any that do either! :P
Lots of sun with small chances of rain for the next week....should I plant then?
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Message 11
Posted by AlinaW (U2220240) on Friday, 9th March 2012
You can, but you will have to water daily at least. Make sure that you use a fine spray when watering, or you'll wash the seed into clumps.
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Message 12
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Friday, 9th March 2012
Jo-
it might still be a little cold on the ground surface for successful germination of grass seed-I appreciate you enthusiasm for getting going but you will be better off waiting till April-back to the wet and warm bit-there is no point in rushing this.
Getting a head start is fine but at the right time-when you see weeds appearing in the borders than that is a good time for sowing-I would not waste time and effort just yet -
Message 13
Posted by Jo W (U15169869) on Friday, 9th March 2012
The problem with waiting till April is it won't be till the 26th at the earliest, as i'm away until then- so then i'm worried it won't grow in time to be used in June?
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Message 14
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Friday, 9th March 2012
Jo
This is difficult -but sow a few days before leaving so back to late March again when the conditions are right and just leave it to nature-I am sure when you come back all will be fine-but you must not walk on it for 4 weeks at least
Gardening is not as easy as you thought???
I admire your spirit
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Message 15
Posted by Jo W (U15169869) on Friday, 9th March 2012
Hahaha! Not harder, just slower- i'm far too excited to have nice grass rather than the earth-pile that's currently all we've got, and so i'm desperate to get going! :D I'm also a perfectionist, so i want to get it 'right'- I should pay more attention to whoever it was that pointed out that plants do actually want to grow, and from my experience grass grows everywhere you don't want it to so it should take where I do want it to too! :P
I'll try to resist planting for now......
Even if all goes wrong, it's a learning experience!
I've got a visitor next weekend who claims to hate gardening. Tough, I'll want all hands on deck to make sure the lawn is ready for planting! :P
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