Will my lawn grow?

GET OFF HERE AND GET DIGGING

 

You don't reckon we're all going round to help then Spruce?

 

I would dig and break up as I go. But raking is when you've done all the digging. That's the lovely satisfying part. The ground is level, the air is warm..warmer..and back and forth with rake removing biggish stones and getting that lovely fine tilth. You will be amazed at the transformation and sense of satisfaction at this stage.

 

A bit of a state. But it's a start.

 

Work done so far looks spot-on to me.

 

Looking well!

What would be ideal, if you could manage it now, is to fill that trench with farm yard manure, then the next trench would go on top of that and so on and so on all over the garden.

This is known as double digging!

Double Digging

 

Lower spit would need to be loosened for that? (Maybe it has been, not clear from the photo, but as its quite a lot more effort I am guessing not?!)

Do you think that's necessary for a lawn? I doubt the grass roots will get that low to take advantage of it, although it would improve the soil generally of course.

My choice would be to double-dig the areas for flower borders, and incorporate rotted manure, or some other compost/soil improver, but personally I wouldn't bother for the lawn.

O/P said no funds for fertilizer so probably no funds for manure, however: worth checking around in case there are riding stables nearby that will let you take it away for free (usually you have to bring your own bag and fill it yourself, so you're doing their work for them and getting something for nothing). If you do that take it from the area where it is most well rotted: no / least steam coming off and most crumby / least indicate of straw still identifiable in the pile.

 

What a wonderful thread this is. Well done - you and your great little helper too. The soil doesn't look like very yellow/grey clay . And it's not a mud pie. Try to continue whilst the weather's in your favour. We'll all keep cheering from the comfort of our PCS!!
Jenny namaste

 

Not particularly but I thought if compost was available and the trench was exposed it would be the ideal time to do it!

Then in future when he might get the urge to turn the lawn over to a vegetable patch, then he would have better drained humus soil to work with!

As I said it was just a thought!

 

Its a good point investment for the future.

One of the joys of a large garden is that I can get a JCB into it when I want to dig a flower bed, so I don't worry too much about the effort, and concentrate more on getting the soil as well prepared as I can make it. I'd double dig down to Australia given half the chance just because it would lengthen the hire-time of the boy's toys!

 

No room to add anything, the soil is already 4" above the patio, and if I can help it, dont want to be lugging wheel barrows through the house as there's no rear entrance.

Also it's north facing so no good for a veggie patch, as they need sun even root vegetables or am I mistaken?

 

I reckon you are right. Very tough (and probably lots of disappointment trying to grow veg without lots of sun.

Can create a jungle effect in shade though.

 

Yeh but I don't have access to a JCB to deep trench the soil

 

Keep going Armature but don't put your back out in the process. It takes time to get this heavy digging stage sorted out and there's no point in trying to rush it and doing yourself a mischief. As the other members have said dig out as much rubble/polystyrene as possible. It's like decorating the house, the preparation you do now will pay dividends later.