lawn conundrum

Discussion in 'Lawns' started by simon_the _shrub, Nov 14, 2011.

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  1. simon_the _shrub

    simon_the _shrub Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi,

    complete novice here -Just joined this forum, just moved house and just looking at the garden. Its half an acre of lawn and looks like it could do with a mow - weather's been so mild (even for Cumbria!)- should i bother mowing or just leave it until spring?...it just always seems so wet from dew etc...:what:
     
    simon_the _shrub, Nov 14, 2011
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  2. Jack McHammocklashing

    Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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    A pro will be along shortly, I am a novice just started
    My gut feeling would be how high the lawn was

    If over 2" under 3" then cut as soon as you have a dry day, and leave the cuttings as mulch
    Over 3" cut to 2" and bag to compost

    As I say I am new too, but that is my thoughts just to give you an answer

    Welcome to GC by the way, they help you lots on here
    From a kid with a cactus in a pot to Lord Snowdon and his patch :-)

    We even keep MONTY DON straight (in the gardening sence of the word)


    Jack McHammocklashing
     
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      Jack McHammocklashing, Nov 14, 2011
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    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      Welcome to GC :dbgrtmb:

      It depends on what sort of mower you have. If it's a rotary petrol motor then you shouldn't need to wait until the grass is completely dry - which doesn't happen all that often in Cumbria :D

      If it needs cutting then cut it. Otherwise it will only get more difficult to cut later. If the grass is long then it would be best to compost it and not leave it as mulch. Long grass as mulch is inclined to clog and rot which you don't want if you like a good lawn. Leaving the cuttings on the lawn to help feed it should be done when you are cutting short grass and when it isn't too wet.

      If the weather continues reasonably mild the grass will continue to grow for the next few weeks.
       
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        shiney, Nov 15, 2011
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      • Steve R

        Steve R Soil Furtler

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        Welcome to GC Simon,

        Forecast for here in Cockermouth today is for periods of sun, the grass will be damp first thing but later in the day should be dry enough to mow. In general if I need to mow the grass and it's still damp I willl do it to two goes, once over to get most of it off then lower the mower blades for a final cut later that day or even the next. But I would not cut it to the shortest I can at this time of the year anyway.

        Steve...:)
         
        Steve R, Nov 15, 2011
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      • *dim*

        *dim* Head Gardener

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        *dim*, Nov 15, 2011
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      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        Although a lawn feed would certainly improve it I think there certainly is a cost factor involved.

        We've been here for 40 years and it would have cost us the current equivalent of £5,000!!!!!!! :rolleyespink: over that period. We've never actually spent anything on the lawn and now, in places, it's 50% non-grass - but it's green and looks good.

        I cut my lawns regularly and in recent years, because of the mild winters down here, that means I end up cutting in December and January. This is fairly typical of my lawns where, as it's taken in January, you can see the squashed worm casts and some of the moss but the rest of the lawn looks like it's mainly grass - when it isn't :heehee:

        [​IMG]

        Dim, as a professional you need to make sure that your clients have the best you can do for them :dbgrtmb:. I have to get by with what I can still manage to do in the garden and a restricted garden budget. If I did all I would like to do in the garden it would cost between ten and twenty thousand a year :DOH:.
         
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          shiney, Nov 15, 2011
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        • Axl

          Axl Gardener

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          I've just looked at your garden and thought how familiar it looks, I'm sure I recognise that bench! Then it dawned on me I've seen that photo here before :phew:

          Time for more coffee methinks.
           
          Axl, Nov 15, 2011
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        • Lolimac

          Lolimac Guest

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          What i'd give for a garden/lawn like that ....:wub2:
           
          Lolimac, Nov 15, 2011
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          Thanks loli,

          that's about a fifth of the grass I have to cut :rolleyespink:, then there's all the hedges, trees, flower beds, veggie garden etc to do. It's getting a bit much for this old man :heehee:.

          Everyone say...... Aaahhh :D or is it Agghhh :loll:
           
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            shiney, Nov 15, 2011
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          • Lolimac

            Lolimac Guest

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            Aaahh...Nothing and No one grows old in a garden...just matures:dbgrtmb:
             
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              Lolimac, Nov 15, 2011
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
               
              shiney, Nov 15, 2011
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            • *dim*

              *dim* Head Gardener

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              Half of my clients want a pristine lawn right through the year and use me even during winter to tend to their gardens and lawn ... they live in large houses and drive flashy cars .... the lawn is one of their main focal points and they even demand I cut with stripes .... some pay a premium for me to mow on a friday or saturday so that when they get visitors on their weekends, their gardens look good ... they are very house proud

              they are always told beforehand of the different options as regards fertilizing the lawns .... they choose to pay ... I don't force them ....

              and if you compare their lawns to the neighbour's lawns, you will see why they prefer to spend the extra few pounds twice or three times a year ... the difference is huge

              1/4 of my clients are tight fisted and choose not to fertilize .... so I don't really care if they do or don't as it's no skin off my back ... I just work there once a week for a few hours and do the best I can during the time they pay me ... they are given the prices and I don't mark up the fertilizer (they get it at cost and are given a receipt) .... I just charge an extra hour labour to apply it

              the other 1/4 of my clients always winge and only use me to mow when their grass is 3 foot high and when their neighbours complain .... I don't even mention the word 'fertilizer' to them

              bottom line .... if you want a pristine lawn, you have to regulary feed it and also water it during the dry spells ... this is fact ....

              and if you cannot afford to fertilize, then you don't have to, but don't knock those who choose to have a nice looking lawn just because they can afford to do so and you can't
              :scratch:
               
              *dim*, Nov 15, 2011
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            • daitheplant

              daitheplant Total Gardener

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              If you want a pristine lawn you treat it as it should be, not waste money feeding it when it doesn`t need feeding. Also your clients pay your bills so don`t criticise them if they decide NOT to feed their lawns.:dbgrtmb:
               
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                daitheplant, Nov 15, 2011
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              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                Dai, well said :dbgrtmb:

                Dim, I think you must have misunderstood what I said. So I've carefully read it again and still can't find anything in what I said that is knocking what other people do :scratch:. Also, having read again what I said I can't see anywhere that I said I can't afford it. All I said was that I had a restricted garden budget. They aren't mutually exclusive.

                I've only said what I do. I don't criticise other people and I would never dream of calling people tight fisted, as I have no idea what people can afford - or want to afford. Outward signs of wealth don't necessarily mean they are wealthy and I don't judge people on their appearance.
                 
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                  shiney, Nov 15, 2011
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                • daitheplant

                  daitheplant Total Gardener

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                  Shiney, I am not refering to you, I am refering to *dim*.:dbgrtmb:
                   
                  daitheplant, Nov 15, 2011
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