Advice needed on inherited lawn

Just moved into a new build house about 18 months old but the garden has not been looked after. The goal is to eventually have a neat healthy lawn with areas to have some plants around the borders.



The whole back area dips quite a bit too, even more so on the right side. Also the growth on the wall is from a neighbours overgrown garden.

Basically, where do I start? and is it too late in the year to do anything at the moment?

 

Thanks for the quick response @Loofah, i forgot to mention, its not poo lol an unfinished 10 storey flat development was torched on the opposite street and what you see is the left over ash. Also i'm not sure if it meets the neighbours lawn on the right I can take a look when I can.

 

So I've begun work on this after finally having some long spells of dry(ish) weather, the above pictures are the first I did at the end of January.



This weekend I've further cut it down, there was a bunch of random things hidden in there like a spade and hair comb.

I've done a bit of reading and I'm confused is the next thing I should be doing is getting a moss killer and lawn feed on there or scarifying? There is a lot of dead grass/moss all over the place, some less than overs.

Thanks

 

That looked like pretty good grass so you have a good chance............you have cut it a bit short all in one go though.
So I would rake quite harshly getting up as much loose grass and moss and debris as possible.
Get a granual feed, moss and weed killer ,apply prior to rain.
Do not cut to short ever............often yes........short no.
First thing .......define that front edge to the patio with a spade or lawn edger.
I wouldn't worry to much about the dip ,when you have defined the borders etc. you will hardly notice it. Gives it a bit of character.
Good luck.

 

Thanks fellas, I will get some moss and weed killer on there as soon as.

 

Like @roders mentioned, the grass appears to have been cut too short and has kinda 'scalped' it.

Although this is not good for the grass, the pics show the areas of ground that are uneven, so it may be a blessing in disguise, as the deeper cuts into the grass/soil and the remaining greener areas show the troughs and peaks.

It's not going to be an easy job to get it level but before asking any further questions.... when the ground is really wet do your feet sink into the soil? I don't mean does the ground feel spongy.... but does footwear literally leave craters in the lawn?

 

No, my feet stay on top of the soil, no craters.

 

Just wondering as seen a fair few new builds where the builders have dumped tonnes of topsoil, simply raked it around and thrown a load of grass seed on top. After heavy rain, feet can literally sink right into the soil.

Your lawn looks like it needs levelling otherwise you could always end up with patches the are different colours to other parts of the lawn, as the mower will cut some areas short and leave others longer. The shorter areas will be prone to moss infestation as the grass will be weakened, if scalped.

It's not a huge lawn so a levelling project can be tackled in a day or two with a spade, some topsoil, enough seed to cover the lawn, a large plank (or ladders tied to a rope) and a roller, but not when it's raining. Gently rake the seed in after the topsoil is compresed and keep off it until the seed has established. May be woth aerating first though.

I'd say forget about scarifying or feed & weed and tackle the bumps and crevices as the bumps will inevitably lead to continual moss and aesthetic issues.