Lawns

OK, thanks for the comments everyone, I have a better picture now.Just two further questions before I contact the Bloke...* If I ask him to reseed it, what sort of month would it be when it started to look like actual grass, rather than just bare earth? * If I asked him to returf it, what...

Just for curiosity try putting some black polythene over the patch and leave overnight,in the morning turn it over and see if there are any critters there may need to try t a couple of times.

Yes they will be worm casts, at this time of year they do make a mess. In a way they do long term good as they aerate the soil and indicate it is in good health.

I'm not sure which is best first and your welcome.

Yes - fresh manure is no good for any plant, including turf or grass seed. If the soil's good already, it would be fine to just rake it over or give it a bit of forking to loosen it all, and then do the usual levelling and firming for the turf. You could keep all the manure for your beds and...

If it were mine( oh I wish!), I would continue the mowing regime including the fortnightly, cut to 30mm and let the clippings remain.On a bi-monthly visit, I should spot weed, concentrating on preventing any going to seed. This could be by chemical/vinegar or daisy grubber*.Concentrate upon a...

I find grass will grow through if you only have a slight depression any thing more than an inch and it might struggle. It's best done when the grass is growing strongly, spring mostly.You need to keep it damp.

Ants have never bothered us whatsoever and we eat most of our meals outside. I think they could possibly become an issue if you were sitting on the ground in traditional picnic fashion, but we eat seated at a table so never an issue.We too have lots of ants in our lawns, paths and borders and...

Great, thanks again and for the welcome

Could well be one of the slime moulds. If so, harmless and short lived. Slime moulds on lawns / RHS Gardening

As I said earlier, I'm no grass expert, mine is mostly weeds. I just tend to know a bit about the basics.My personal approach would be, scarify, feed and water and keep cut, and see how it goes.I think if you want to overseed, it might be best to wait a month or so, although it has been like...

Looking at the pic again, I don't see any really problematic weeds. I'm afraid weeds are a given when establishing new grass. But I wouldn't worry unless there's anything particularly challenging like brambles in there. Once the grass is stronger and you start mowing regularly, the weeds will...

Thank you

Like everyone else we all seem to have rotary type mowers these days which might suck up the seed rather than the cylinder mowers .Generally pre-germinate the grass seed in a bit of fine compost, just enough so you see the very fine roots emerging; they do seem to establish quicker before the...

Yes. Same stuff. Inevitably you will have a bald patch the size of the rosette after it dies, but that will fill in with something else fairly quickly if we ever get any rain. As you have small syringes, they work just as well, if not better. You dont even need the blunt needle. I've actually...

Hi, this is definitely different to the weed I originally posted about.

Do bumblebees not like clover? I have 1 buff tailed bee that visits but most are the common carder bees and loads of hoverflies. Also what's the hoverfly/hover bee that looks like it fights with other bees in mid air?

Yes this is what it is it looks like! Thanks for the response. I am thinking I will go out and lightly scarify? I will be going abroad for the month of July. Am I crazy to start any treatment now (as someone will mow the grass once a week when i am gone but wont go to the level of commitment...

How mature was the grass when you added fertiliser? Many fertilisers will damage young grass.Leaving the area 'somewhat soggy' would also not be beneficial, especially if the grass is young and hasn't developed a good root system yet.Was the pond liner removed/punctured before it was filled...

It will be difficult to eradicate the weeds completely, as seed can lie in the ground for years before germinating. Preparation of the ground will have disturbed them and watering of course, helps them grow.