soft lawn

Help please, I'm a newbie to this gardening lark. for the first time in 28years our lawn is very soft and sponge like underfoot, friends have told me that this is because of all the wet weather and poor drainage. What can I do to resolve this problem, or do I have to strip and relay the lawn??

 

Hello and welcome. Sorry I have no answer, but others here will no doubt.

 

Welcome to GC Waggie.

Because of the wet winter, gardens nationwide will be in a similar position, mine included and I have a well drained sandy soil. You say it's very soft under foot, have you got a lot of moss in it? It soon develops when the ground stays wet for long periods of time. At this point photo's if possible would be welcome please, they always help to see what condition a lawn is in and how best to put it right.

 

Thanks for your response Sheal.
It seems to be all over, both front and back lawns and yes there is moss in the lawn as well, I have used a hand grass rake which gets the surface clear of the moss but is not having an effect on the soft spongy feel under foot. I am considering buying a lawn scarifier, but these are very expensive some £300 to £400, However if this is the answer then I'll get one.

 

If you decide to scarify the lawn, which I'm not convinced is the answer (scarification wont do anything for drainage beyond letting surface water soak through more easily and if you scarify when its very wet, you'll do a lot of damage to the grass roots), then you could hire a scarifier. It will only cost you £30 or £40 for a weekend I think. For most people, I don't think owning a scarifier makes much sense. With the average sized domestic garden, you'll benefit from one maybe one weekend per couple of years, so with the initial outlay, maintenance, and finding somewhere to store it for all the time its not in use, I think it just makes more sense to hire one, save your money, and let someone else worry about maintaining and storing it.

 

Good idea, I'll look at a hire shop in my area,

 

I've just re-read you post Waggie. If it's the first time it's happened in 28 years then I suggest you haven't got a drainage problem, it's purely the soaking that Britain's had this last winter. Although surface water drains away fairly quickly the ground can remain saturated for weeks or months after. See how it goes throughout this year and next winter, hopefully we won't have the same amount of rainfall.

Are you living in the south-west? That would tell us a lot?

It would help with future questions and answers if you could put your area in your avatar box please. Gardening differs all round the country, particularly when weather and temperature is involved.

 

Hi waggie , as Clueless said you only use a scarifier at the most every other year . So hiring or buying a second hand one on Ebay is the best option. There are two types one with little wire hooks which rakes the lawn. A full scarifier has slitting blades. This ebay sale shows both . Actually £110 is a very good price for a 1200w scarifier ! I bet it will cost around £60+ to hire on for the weekend . Its well worth scarifying and top dressing your lawn every now and then , it really improved mine last year.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Einhe...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item5ae5ef93ad

 

I have an electric scarifier that I bought about five years ago, it's only been used once and I'm not even sure if it still works.

 

Your remark makes a lot of sense, I live in Tamworth Staffordshire, and we have all had lots and lots of wet weather through this winter. hopefully if we get a good dry prolonged period that would help to dry out my lawns. We'll see.