lawn conundrum

Steve R · Nov 16, 2011

Fertilise a lawn here in Cumbria anytime except for our two weeks in summer, and before you can boil a kettle the rain will have washed it 10 miles downstream....I dare not even leave my mower out and turn my back...

Steve...

shiney · Nov 16, 2011

*dim* said: ↑
and, I responded to someone who implied that I am wasting clients money and someone who took a 'stab' at me with the remark of being 'professional'

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I'm not quite sure why you think it was a 'stab' at you .

Unfortunately you seem to have taken a compliment as an insult. It's exactly the purpose of smilies to show the difference. Which I thought you would understand as you frequent a lot of forums.

I simply explained what my position is towards my lawn ....

Dim, as a professional you need to make sure that your clients have the best you can do for them . 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:.

.....and, later, tried to explain that householders can have different priorities about their gardens. It appears that half of your clients either are not interested or don't want to pay out for pristine lawns. Nothing wrong with that :thumb:. Neither is there anything wrong with wanting to have a pristine lawn.

Being insulting or deprecating usually shows a lack of empathy or of trying to understand someone elses viewpoint. I've always accepted your viewpoint on GC, whether I agree with it or not, and haven't resorted to insults simply for having a different view. GC is well known for being a non-contentious site and insults, whether to members or not, don't sit well. That's what other sites are for.
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Kandy · Nov 16, 2011

I hope Simon The Shrub comes back on here to read all the good advice given here or whether he will be put off by some of the strong views given :D

Also this thread might have been better off in the lawn section as I keep forgetting where the original post is to catch up with it.{just a thought:D}

*dim* · Nov 16, 2011

shiney said: ↑
I'm not quite sure why you think it was a 'stab' at you .

Unfortunately you seem to have taken a compliment as an insult. It's exactly the purpose of smilies to show the difference. Which I thought you would understand as you frequent a lot of forums.

I simply explained what my position is towards my lawn ....

Dim, as a professional you need to make sure that your clients have the best you can do for them . 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:.

.....and, later, tried to explain that householders can have different priorities about their gardens. It appears that half of your clients either are not interested or don't want to pay out for pristine lawns. Nothing wrong with that :thumb:. Neither is there anything wrong with wanting to have a pristine lawn.

Being insulting or deprecating usually shows a lack of empathy or of trying to understand someone elses viewpoint. I've always accepted your viewpoint on GC, whether I agree with it or not, and haven't resorted to insults simply for having a different view. GC is well known for being a non-contentious site and insults, whether to members or not, don't sit well. That's what other sites are for.
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My initial response to you was polite and explained the different types of clients I work for and their needs

perhaps I misread your message, but it came accross to me that I am wasting my client's money by fertilizing their lawns in the fall ... you also used the phrase that I need to 'make sure'

I do know how smileys work and saw the 'Doh!' one that you posted at the end of your comment

My later stronger resposes were to Dai .... who often has strong viewpoints and is not afraid to air his views and throw insults around (at me) ... I must say that I do enjoy having a heated conversation with him from time to time and find his posts informative ... this was his 1st comment

daitheplant said: ↑
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.
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another of his quotes:

daitheplant said: ↑
I obviously know more than you AND the manufacturers put together.. You encourage plants to grow now and all that young growth gets killed off at the first frost.
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so, reading that, it gives me the impression that someone thinks I am ripping off my clients and wasting their money

and like I said previously, I'm not always right, as I am still learning, .... but I always say it as I see it ...

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shiney · Nov 16, 2011

dim, I would never say that you were ripping off your clients and I hope no one else got that impression. I think that most gardeners do a great job and that they are very much under-appreciated. It's hard work in, sometimes, hostile weather at a reasonable price.

*dim* · Nov 16, 2011

shiney said: ↑
dim, I would never say that you were ripping off your clients and I hope no one else got that impression. I think that most gardeners do a great job and that they are very much under-appreciated. It's hard work in, sometimes, hostile weather at a reasonable price.
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thanks .... no probs, and just wanted to clarify my position as regards fall/autumn fertilizing of lawns

I have always told and encouraged all my clients (those of which enjoy gardening), to join and read posts on this forum ....

so just wanted to ensure that in case they read this thread, they know the reasons why I have fertilized their lawns over the past few weeks

shiney · Nov 16, 2011

I'm sure that the ones you put down fertilser for really appreciate what you do but I hope the ones you called tight-fisted don't read this thread. :WINK1:

*dim* · Nov 16, 2011

well, suppose there is only 1 way to find out ... and like they say, proof's in the pud

I work at a small garden every thursday .... owner of the home lives in Japan and rents his home out to doctors who work at a nearby hospital ....

I was given the go-ahead to do whatever I want, and have landscaped the garden in an exotic/tropical style (I overspent the budget, but have paid for the excess from my own pocket and have treated the garden as though it were my own)

I have not fertilized the lawn for a while, so will buy some scotts autumn lawn fertilizer (with my own money) and fertilize and 'water it in' tommorow, as I have to work there tommorow anyway

will post pics of the condition of the lawn as it is, and update until spring on this thread

daitheplant · Nov 16, 2011

For it to be an honest test, you need to scarify, aerate and topdress the unfertilised area. Also. I do not have a degree, just some qualifications.

Phil A · Nov 16, 2011

daitheplant said: ↑
For it to be an honest test, you need to scarify, aerate and topdress the unfertilised area.
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Did that with my ex girlfriend, worked a treat

daitheplant · Nov 16, 2011

That`s where you went wrong then Zig, you topdressed when you should have un.... Could be kiddies watching.

*dim* · Nov 16, 2011

daitheplant said: ↑
For it to be an honest test, you need to scarify, aerate and topdress the unfertilised area. Also. I do not have a degree, just some qualifications.
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no .... the test will be to determine if autumn/winter lawn fertilizer makes a difference or not to existing lawn ... so no parts of the lawn will recieve 'special treatment such as aerating and top dressing' ... that will be totally pointless

I will merely add autumn/lawn fertilizer to one part of the lawn, and leave the other part unfertilized without doing anything else, and will not mow until spring

Kandy · Nov 16, 2011

Hi Dai,Could you give some advice as to why I have worm casts that have suddenly appeared on my front lawn and also what is the best way to get rid of them.Also what is the best stuff to use for topdressing the lawns after aerating...Thanks in advance

JWK · Nov 16, 2011

*dim* said: ↑
someone gave me this link discussing late fall lawn fertilizing ... (this paper applied to climates similar to the U.S. midwest and north and is from Ohio State University .... )

Benefits of Late Fall Fertilization | Turfgrass Pathology Program

I have not read the whole paper yet but I have other links from other universities that have done intensive research on the benefits of fertilizing lawns in autumn/winter

read and decide for yourself
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So you’re asking me to read something that you haven’t bothered to read yourself?

*dim* you are not getting the point here. What is recommended for the American mid-west has absolutely no relationship to Cumbria. Read Steve R's post, that's from someone who lives and works the soil in that location.

You know, customers are not always right and they will respect you if you disagree with them and tell them why. Applying nitrogen at this time of the year is a waste of time and money and is also very very very bad for the environment. It might green up the lawn for a week or two but it will be at the expense of lax growth that will get badly damaged when the frosts come.

Lolimac · Nov 16, 2011

ziggy searchfield said: ↑
Did that with my ex girlfriend, worked a treat
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daitheplant said: ↑
That`s where you went wrong then Zig, you topdressed when you should have un.... Could be kiddies watching.
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Never mind the kiddies,between you you're corrupting me...:D

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lawn conundrum

Steve R Soil Furtler F1 Racing Champion

shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

Kandy Will be glad to see the sun again soon.....

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shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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Kandy Will be glad to see the sun again soon.....

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Bare patches in lawn

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