Lawns

Thanks I was meaning ordinary sand from a quarry. I need to build up an area of around 2 x 3 metres by around 5 inches to get it flat and to a level flat surface. Could I mix it with say compost 50/50?Keith

Ah, sorry forgot about that.Only shade seems to be the divide between you and your neighbour to the South, or perhaps I have missed something? Is that a very high barrier? In Summer a 6' fence doesn't cast much shadow.Note that you can get a nice stripy lawn with bog standard grass seed,...

You'll have "grass" a month after sowing seed - it will look like green velvet, so to speak, to start with, but [from seed, rather than turf] it would be better to try not to walk on it / much during the winter. I suggest you dig a hole and see what it looks like underneath. If this used to be...

Heavy rain forecast for East Anglia on Saturday. That could wash seed away (you run that risk at any time of course, but avoid if it is forecast only other tangential thought is that many/most? spray-on chemicals (such as selective weedkillers) need a period of dry (often 6 hours, maybe 12...

Couldn't bring myself to press the "like" button Trunky Jenny

I think if I left plugs of soil all over the lawn, the missus would be pretty displeased when lad and I come in the house with them stuck to our shoes and trail them all over.

Oh and they said all there seed comes from america so could be why we nor they can identify the pest!!

I'll just reiterate what I said before - do it right or you'll be doing it again. Another thought - have you considered fake grass? You'll be amazed at how it looks (I was very sceptical before seeing it)

Wow! That's made a big difference Lesley.

Is the growth from bare patches existing turf, previously scalped by the mower, now regrowing? That would happen more quickly than seed germination. Prickly branches, e.g. Holly, scattered over the area can help. Or thin twine / cotton stretched between sticks criss-cross. Or sow some...

I resemble that remark

My first guess is the same as Kris Lords: heavy ground and compacted. If so needs aerating, sulphate of iron applied to kill the moss, which will go black "over night", and then rake it out - which is hard work! (or borrow/hire a machine to do that)

Good point. We get plenty of people here asking how to convert a bramble field into a decent lawn, and a service that did just that ("Soup to nuts") might well be appealing to new home buyers. They mostly pitch up here saying "How do I lay turf over concrete/scrub/whatever" so they are clearly...

to the corner Claire.

That depends. Almost all newer petrol engines are four stroke and have electronic ignition and even fuel injection (even some of the tiny engines). Its because they are much cleaner and more efficient. Older (and some smaller and cheaper) engines are two stroke. Two strokes engines are a bit...

With reference to your mulcher observation. I presume a dedicated mulcher, if so no problem running on lowest setting. It will IMO never look as groomed as if cut by a rotary or cylinder collecting clippings. I run a Viking Mulcher and its specification says 'A mulcher is designed to cut grass...

Indeed, but I was more concerned that it would restrict root-run (turf may dry out, and also be starved of nutrients as a result) and as the bark decomposes the turf will sink.

Hello and welcome gardenflop The experts may disagree, but I'd just cover it in sharp sand (not completely covered, the grass should still show through). There's enough green grass left for it to quickly take up the slack, and in my experience, grass find it easier to spread if the surface is...

Just as an FYI for everyone else. Cutting your lawn that short is the quickest way to ruin it. Cutting off all the leaves of any plant (which is what you're doing to the grass) will only weaken it over and over again until thins and dies ... that is unless you've got a specific bent grass (like...

I really appreciate these helpful answers. Thank you to all.