Starting lawn from scratch

Discussion in 'Lawns' started by hoofy, Jun 13, 2021.

  1. Liz the pot

    Liz the pot Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2015
    Messages:
    1,042
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +1,259
    Be careful adding material to it or else the height will increase.
     
  2. hoofy

    hoofy Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2018
    Messages:
    293
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Lancashire
    Ratings:
    +224
    Okay, I'd much rather not add anything other than fertiliser unless I really have to and it looks like I probably don't have to.

    Ideally I would like to keep the level as it is and use the turf I cut off to top dress it in the future.

    Baring in mind the soil test results I posted at the start of the thread, what should I put on to get the potassium and phosphorous up. I was thinking bonemeal. Is there a better product to rotovate/till into the soil?
     
  3. Liz the pot

    Liz the pot Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2015
    Messages:
    1,042
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +1,259
    There’s a bunch of pre fertilisers out there. The choice is yours to what you want to use to be honest.

    Barreto do some nice heavy duty rotovators. Hiring is the way to go as they run into the thousands to purchase.
     
  4. hoofy

    hoofy Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2018
    Messages:
    293
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Lancashire
    Ratings:
    +224
    I've decided to put myself in the hands of Progreen. I've ordered a soil testing kit this morning so that probably means the plot is going to stay as it is for another 3 weeks until the results are back and I have ordered the products they recommend to get me going. Then the plan is to rotovate/till the fertiliser into the plot and level and leave for another month or so before I seed it. Obviously killing anything that grows in the mean time.

    I've also decided to skip all the turf I took off and do it sooner rather than later while the sods are still easy to pick up without them falling apart and needing to be shovelled up. I really don't want a pile like that at the back of the garden for the next few years and I'm not sure I could really trust it to ever be safe to use as top dressing on my new lawn without risk of introducing course grasses back in.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Liz the pot

      Liz the pot Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jul 1, 2015
      Messages:
      1,042
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +1,259
      Progreen are good, I’ve had dealings with them. Agrigem is another and is who I tend to order from but both know what they are doing and give a good service.
      My local landscape supplier is not great sadly.
       
    • hoofy

      hoofy Gardener

      Joined:
      Sep 4, 2018
      Messages:
      293
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Lancashire
      Ratings:
      +224
    • Liz the pot

      Liz the pot Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jul 1, 2015
      Messages:
      1,042
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +1,259
      The seed looks good but there’s little info on the turf. Turf quality alters year in year out, not saying that’s bad but if you can I would pop along to look at the turf first.

      the choice then boils down to what you prefer, seeds take longer to have a nice looking lawn where turf is straight of the bat.
       
    • hoofy

      hoofy Gardener

      Joined:
      Sep 4, 2018
      Messages:
      293
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Lancashire
      Ratings:
      +224
      My issues with turf are the fortnight of watering and the increase in the height.

      I sent my soil sample off this morning so lets see what that comes back with. I might have to add some compost which gives me more height still.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Welshman

        Welshman Gardener

        Joined:
        Jun 14, 2020
        Messages:
        280
        Gender:
        Male
        Ratings:
        +514
        Unless you dig out some of whats there already……..i increased the hieght slightly when i reseeded my lawn, but there a slight slope on the garden and i was ok with increasin the lower level to get it flatter
         
      • Liz the pot

        Liz the pot Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jul 1, 2015
        Messages:
        1,042
        Gender:
        Male
        Ratings:
        +1,259
        once you get the soil test back it will give you an idea regardless which way you go to plan the fertilisation.
        These soil tests are normally carried out several times a year to see how the planned maintenance is developing but you don’t often see that in a domestic setting unless there’s an issue and say my customer wanted it.
        In domestic lawns the majority of gardeners will often act when they see an issue where in the sports industry the better grounds man will be taking action throughout the year.
        Progreen though may be able to help you with a program of treatments, some companies offer this or you can go down the route of deciding what’s required and this is a great way of learning.
        Personally I have a few lawns that are kept to a high standard that I work on and some i give extra above what the customer wants as it’s fronted for all to see.
         
        • Like Like x 1
          Last edited: Jul 1, 2021
        • hoofy

          hoofy Gardener

          Joined:
          Sep 4, 2018
          Messages:
          293
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Lancashire
          Ratings:
          +224
          Would there be a problem having the area prepared well in advance, say, end of July, with a view to seeding 6 to eight weeks later depending on the forecast? Would the top surface still be okay with a gentle raking before the seeds are put down?

          I'd like to be ready to go early if the weather was in my favour
           
        • Liz the pot

          Liz the pot Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jul 1, 2015
          Messages:
          1,042
          Gender:
          Male
          Ratings:
          +1,259
          Should be fine, might get a few weeds pop up but nothing that can’t be handled.
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Loofah

            Loofah Admin Staff Member

            Joined:
            Feb 20, 2008
            Messages:
            12,390
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Guildford
            Ratings:
            +21,168
            If it's ready then I'd be inclined to just get on with seeding
             
          • hoofy

            hoofy Gardener

            Joined:
            Sep 4, 2018
            Messages:
            293
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Lancashire
            Ratings:
            +224
            It's probably going to be half way through July before I get the soil test results and then a couple more weeks to organise delivery of all the amendments plus the tiller hire. Allowing for bad weather I think it might be tilled and levelled by early August and then allow a couple of weeks for weeds to show. Mid August would be the earliest I think I could seed but that would depend on the weather. If conditions weren't right then it would just be a waiting game.
             
          • Loofah

            Loofah Admin Staff Member

            Joined:
            Feb 20, 2008
            Messages:
            12,390
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Guildford
            Ratings:
            +21,168
            You're so much more patient than me :biggrin:
            Mine would now just be raked and seeded. Grass grew well before, no reason to believe it won't again but I do appreciate that your approach is vastly more technically thought through!
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Friendly Friendly x 1
            Loading...

            Share This Page

            1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
              By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
              Dismiss Notice