[Neelam]

Hi to everyone,

We have moved in our property on the 1st of March and ever since I try to get this lawn growing.
I started out with the patches that needed to be renewed. There is no moss on the lawn but lots of rubble seems to be in the soil as I tried to get some ventilation to the soil with the rake.
The patches seemed to take ages before you could actually see new grass growing.

Meantime I have done this to the entire small lawn, have resowed at least three times with the result, that the four edges are growing like expected, health, dark and thick, but the main part, although not very high frequented, seems not to grow, gets yellow-brownish. I even water in the hot times if there is no rain foreseeable. I wonder what I shall do best. Fertiliser seems not to have any effect so far on this part.

If there is no hope, I guess by the end of summer I will dig it over, mix the soil with my rabbits manure and leave it till spring and then sow the whole area again? If so, what lawn seeds would you recommend to be hardy? The lawn has sun almost all day.

Thanks to all!

Neelam

[Goosegirl]

Mmmm - rubble.  Methinks that there is more of it than soil. The usual way to ventilate a lawn is to push a garden fork into it to a depth of 4"-6" then you wiggle it to make your holes for aeration. Try doing it in the worst areas and see if you can feel any "grinding" noises or obstacles preventing your fork getting into it. There may also be something else in the rubble that is affecting the grass seedlings. As it is only a small lawn, I think it would be best to dig it over and start again - at least you will know what's beneath the surface. If you do it now and incorporate well-rotted manure and some decent topsoil, it should be in a good state for re-seeding in autumn because the soil will still be warm enough to allow germination, and this is often the best time to do this. As for choice of grass seed, a fine-leaved ryegrass will be hardier and won't need high maintenance such as Johnsons Quick Lawn Grass Seed.

[Yorkie]

Just to add that grass seed doesn't germinate very happily in higher temps, which is why autumn and spring are the better times for sowing seed, and not summer.

[Goosegirl]

Good thought Yorkie - but why are the edges growing ok and the rest not doing well?

[Neelam]

First thing I tried to the lawn after moving in was to push in the garden fork. I gave up after a while, it just did not get through. Only with the rake, doing the same as with the fork, that worked, which must mean, it is deeper down what eventually will surprise me. Hubby said to be careful, I might find some treasures or dead bodies...

I don't want to dig it over before end of August as next weekend all my children are coming from Germany for their school summer holidays and I don't want them to end up in a big muddy field. But I certainly will do that and sowing it completely new. I mean, keeping rabbits I am not keen on perfect English lawn but would like the lawn grawing enough to be food for the rabbits. So far, what I can mower fits at the utmost into the hole of a rabbits tooth...

Thanks everyone!

Neelam

[JayG]

I know exactly what's under my lawn because it's the same as the rest of the garden - a good depth of soil, but very sandy. In practice that means that the grass is hungry and dries out easily, so if I keep it watered and fed it grows - if I don't, it doesn't.

Yours may well be suffering in the same way, and in patches, because there is more rubble than soil in those areas near the surface - I agree with Goosegirl that you need to have a reasonable depth of good soil to grow good grass, although as long as you don't have a waterlogging issue it doesn't have to be more than about 10cm, although more is obviously better.

[Neelam]

Ok, seems I have a bit of a treasure hunt to do by the end of August, maybe I can ask my professional digger bunnies for help...

Is there a soil that you would recommend?

Thanks!
Neelam

[Goosegirl]

When you do your Time Team excavation, you will be able to see how much top soil there is and if it is clay, loam or sandy, but try not to bring any sub-soil to the surface. Any reasonably good top soil (but not peaty) should do, but go and see it before you buy. After digging, you will find the surface level will have fallen so don't order any until you've finished. I'm not sure how much top soil you will need but you can either measure the width and length in feet and multiply the figures together to give you the square footage as an idea, or you could turf it.

[Neelam]

Ok, I will do that and see, where I get the best soil and preferably delivered as I have no transportation. Soubds kike I should use my kids staying with us as helpers instead of giving them a lazy time.

[Sideshoot]

Just to add that grass seed doesn't germinate very happily in higher temps, which is why autumn and spring are the better times for sowing seed, and not summer.

A good tip for germination is to put your seed in the freezer for a few days, take it out and sow it straight away, the change in temp encourages germination - this trick with carrots too