I think my lawn needs a miracle :(

Hi to everyone. I come seeking advice and knowledge from those in the know.

Okay I'm a total novice gardener and after a year or so in my new place have finally decided to get my finger out and do something with that ground outside I tentitivly call a 'garden'.
Well to put simple I look left - great garden, I look right - good garden, but mine well the lawn isn't really in a fit state to be called such.
If I figure out how I hope to provide pictures.

My issue is this, I want to either bring life back into, or re lay a lawn. the area is 3.48m * 7.58m (w * h)

The lower half (toward my kitchen window and away from the fence) appear in good health, bar one large-ish bald spot.
The top half of the lawn on the otherhand resembals no so much a lawn but a large collection of individual turf clumps interspaced by combacted dirt, and bald earth.

I'm at a loss

 

mow short .... rake it .... mow again .... scatter some grass seed .... then add some granular lawn fertilizer .... a few bags of topsoil ... rake and level and water daily with a sprinkler for the next few weeks

you can also buy those large tubs of chicken manure pellets .... put 2 cups in a watering can .... fill with warm water .... mix with a stick to try disole the pellets and water the lawn .... will stink for a day, but will sort the grass for cheap

 

Well *dim* may your partner beware. If this works, as I believe it would. I'd love you forever:happydance:

just to check - by rake it do you intend me to use a wide tine rack, or the standard solid 'garden' rake?

 

Hi Darklight,

Dim is correct in his instructions to you, but sowing seed and patching up a lawn is best done in autumn and spring.

Have a good rake, remove the moss and have a tidy up, but its probably best if you look to do the major work and seeding in a few months.

 

Shame was hoping to get at least one friendly BBQ or some such before summers end.

 

Have your BBQ!

I went to one last night surrounded by massive concrete slabs and 6 foot weeds!

All that counted was that the company was ace.

 

Well here's hoping things dry out tomorrow morning.
So far I'm just raking through. And scarily already filled a sack and a half.

 

there will be no problem to sow seed at this time of year .... just water frequently with a sprinkler (best to do this late afternoon or early evening)

should take 10 days for seeds to germinate in this weather

 

so seeding is that fine to sprinkle over a short-mown and raked lawn.
What steps should I take?

 

I also have major lawn problem with small patches of dead ground all over the lawn. Have scarified weed/feed and resown parts without too much success - also scattered nearly a ton of topsoil and brushed it in unfortunately it was earlier in the year when the drought was causing great difficulties.

I hope that you succeed 'darklight' - agree with Melinda re barbecue - do'n't need a nice lawn to enjoy good food and good comapny..

 

Is the ground hard? It looks quite compact.. before I seed I like to put holes randomly in the ground (aerate) which I find helps with yellow/brown patches, and helps it stay green.

 

Has there been much success restoring your lawn?

 

Well here's keeping our fingers crossed .
The lawns been mown. Cleaned (spread tine rake). Mown again. Fertilised. Seeded. Covered with a light mix of topsoil and compost. Lightly raked in. Watered.
So here's hoping and praying. Else its the unenviable and scary task of figuring out how to retrurf everything.

 

Darklight, try to cosset it as much as you can by keeping it nice and moist for the next few weeks.

 

Okay time to show how much of a newb I am to this.

What is 'cosset'?