found this in turf...

Hi all,

new here so be gentle!

I found this in my 6 week old turf today:

any help identifying would be great!!

I also have a patchy/thin area and i'm not sure what's caused it? -


any ideas on how it happened and how to fix it?

Thanks!
Adam

 

fat controller - it was watered daily in the evening throughout the hot weather until it rooted well and then every other day - enough or maybe not?

wiseowl - no problem thanks!

 

Looks like a seedling of goosegrass (Galium aparine), they have long stems covrered with round seeds covered in tiny hooks, spend ages getting out of Pup's fur.

Young ones look like this, when older like 2nd pic

 

ahhh I see thanks Scrungree, any ideas only keeping it at bay?
is it going to be a case of harass the life out of it and don't let it get established?

 

Just for reference this is an area of turf about a metre away from the dodgy patch and my thumb in the grass for an idea of length - roughly 35-40mm after a cut.




thanks for looking!

adam

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Adam. Your turf isn't at fault regarding the weed appearance. Dormant seeds may have been in the soil below it and on germination have grown up through your turf. There's also the possibility of seeds blowing in or being dropped by birds.

Can I ask what sort of lawnmower you use and when the blade was last sharpened please?

 

Sheal - thanks for the info!

now, the mower... its a Briggs&Stratton petrol rotary thing. blades sharpened probably never...

 

The reason I asked about the mower was your last picture in post #7. It looks as though the blade is tearing the grass in preference to cutting it, that is usually the sign of a blunt blade or a Flymo which are notorious for it. It would help your lawn if you get the blade sharpened or replaced.

If the turf has only been down six weeks then there is plenty of time for it to fill out. When the lawn is mowed it's like pruning a shrub, taking off some growth will make it put out new branches, or blades in this case and thicken it up. If it's still a problem next spring then I would over seed it.

 

Thanks Sheal, will look into getting it sharpened I think as it's an oldish mower so not much chance of spares I reckon!