Lawn care

[blackrose]

After discussions on another thread, does anyone know how to have and keep the perfect lawn. Last year mine was looking good but it is in a sorry looking state at the moment, I found this site that gives some good advice..... www.lawn-care-tips.com/lawncaretips.html I must admit I like to trim it quite short but on reading the notes on the link that's not such a good idea. So I will be removing one of the spacers in my mower..

Here is another link to a lawn care forum forums.lawncare.com/forum/index.cfm?forumid=1

[Deleted]

Hi CB - I would recommend you buy The Lawn Expert by Dr. D. G. Hessayon

Perhaps you could have a look at and join in this thread too

[Susie Snowdrop]

There's one main tip that I would give anybody with a lawn. You have to treat it as another plant or plants in your garden and look after it as well as you look after the others!

The Dr Hessayon Lawn Expert book is excellent!

[oldmoleskins]

The only other thing I'dd add is that you should have the confidence to work with it... you can reshape and mend turf 'invisibly' very quickly and fill hollows at any time of the growing year with successive applications of a sharp sand/sieved soil mix and a little grass seed (though if you leave the tips of the existing turf showing, it'll grow through).

With a little patience, the scruffiest, most uneven patch can be made to look good and reward you.

Oh, and don't set the mower too low...

OM.

[blackrose]

One of my neighbours lawns, which was not turfed like mine is very lumpy underfoot, you can actualy feel the lumps when waling on it. What would be best for this one, they are thinking about ripping it up and starting again. Any ideas on this one.
Paul

[Deleted]

This is a relatively straightforward if long-winded problem to deal with. It also depends on how large or small the humps and hollows are, if they are major undulations over several feet, there's not really much you can do other than dig up the turf, level it all out and start again.

Assuming that you are not going to go to these lengths, each bump or hollow should be dealt with individually. The basic technique is one of cutting a cross with the centre being the middle of the hump or hollow, use a spade or lawn edger. The turf is then peeled back, then slide the spade underneath the turf to separate it from the soil to do this. You now have four triangles of turf peeled back exposing a square of soil, either remove soil from, or add it to this area to level it, peel the turf back, firm it down and water it.

Small hollows can be dealt with by adding a light sprinkling of sifted soil or potting compost onto the surface of the grass. The grass should be actively growing when you do this, don't add any more than 1/4 - 1/2" at a time. It can be repeated, but only when the area has gone completely green again and the grass re-established.

Don't be tempted to get a heavy roller, all this does it compress and compact the soil, it also rolls up the hills and down the dales without really leveling out the whole area.

[Deleted]

Try to avoid walking on your lawn when it is covered in snow or frost.

[Barbara]

if i have a bald patch, i get a card board box cut it down to about 4 inches line it with news paper fill it with compost, and sow lawn seed in it,it grows in a couple of weeks, dig out the patch, and drop it in.
barbara.

[Deleted]

That's a brilliant idea barbara