[scabs]

Hi,

A while back, I bought a special 'shady lawn' mix for my small garden. Then I bought chickens and there was no point laying the seed.

Well, the chickens have gone now and I can start to do the garden, but can I put the seed down this late in the year, or am I best waiting until spring.

Also, I read somewhere that you should give the seed a blast in the fridge before spreading... is this right?

As you can tell, I've never laid a lawn before!

[Yorkie]

September is a good time for doing lawns, not heard of putting lawn seed in the fridge first though 

[Sue33]

yes, late September is a good time for putting grass seed down, go for it

[scabs]

Great news, thanks very much!

I'll skip the fridge bit then! 

[arugula]

Hi Scabs,

I guess to some degree, it depends on which part of the country you are in, but around here (behind the wall  ) it wouldn't be advised to plant that near to the autumn. We would go for a spring planting instead. 

Lorna. 

[scabs]

Hi Lorna,

Hmmm... I'm in Manchester and whilst it does get 'proper northern cold', my garden is very well protected (a kind of sunken, secret garden) with quite a mild micro-climate...

Now I don't know what to do... 

[arugula]

Hi Scabs,

Sorry to confuse you  but I believe at least part of the reasoning is due to the amount of extra precipitation we would normally expect - too much damp will rot the young plants - and not just because of an expected temperature drop.

I  hope that hasn't made it even more difficult!

I used the word expected a couple of times there on purpose, because remember we're not getting seasons nowadays or they have turned crazy  :blink: so pre-autumn planting will probably be fine. At least if it doesn't work, you'll get another go in the spring!

Lorna. 

[Sue33]

might as well give it a go now, you know how busy spring is  you'll have a hundred and one "other" things to do !

[tode]

Go for it.

[scabs]

Yeah, I can always buy more seed.

I'm gonna do it... yay!!!

[richyrich7]

I'd sow now, should be damp but soils still warm enough to encourage germination, try a light super phosphate dressing, this will encourage good root growth important for lawns new and old 

[scabs]

Will do. Off to the library now to see if I can borrow the Lawn Expert!