A few questions from a complete newbie

Hi all,

We've just moved house, and for the first time we have a proper garden. The garden hasn't been neglected as such, but with the house being empty for several weeks before us moving in, the lawn areas were rather overgrown. I've taken out my shiny new lawnmower and hacked my way through everything this weekend, and it's looking a lot better, but there are an awful lot of things growing in the lawn that I'd like to try to get rid of.

Dandelions are everywhere. It dawned on me as I was half way through cutting everything down that scattering the seeds by cutting them was probably a bad idea, but that's too late to worry about now, it's done. There are also a lot of what I think are thistles, or something similar. Mowing has removed the bulk of these but obviously the roots and the base, flush to the grass, remains. There are also a couple of small patches of daisies and buttercups which again I've mown back.

My plan at the moment based on a brief chat with my Mum, who doesn't claim to be any kind of expert but knows far more than I do, is to use a lawn-wide general weedkiller first of all, and then to attack the specific areas that need attention (thistles, daisies, buttercups) with localised sprays of spot-weedkiller.

Does this sound appropriate? Is there anything else I should be considering?

 

I would use a weed-and-feed granular product. If the lawn has quite a high population of weeds then it will need feeding before using weedkiller, so might as well use a combined product.

Thereafter I would suggest just using a lawn fertilizer, and sport treating the weeds, because fertilizer is much cheaper than Weed-and-Feed, and no sense "weed killing" the whole lawn for a few weeds.

Cut regularly - twice a week when the lawn is growing fast, if you can find the time, but once a week for definite - as that will encourage the finer grasses and give the weeds a hard time.

Don't cut it too short, particularly if you've just had to cut it back severely for its first cut. Gradually work your way down to the height you want - depending on whether you are heading for bowling-green (adults to enjoy!) or football-pitch (kids to enjoy!)

 

Thanks for the prompt response, Kristen - that's very helpful. I realy don't know anything - I've never heard of "weed and feed" - I presume that's a combined fertilizer and weedkiller? Would you recommend any particular brand (if that feels too much like advertising, then no need to reply!)

i work away from home during the week, which makes life slightly difficult in terms of mowing more than once a week, but I'll certainly make sure I mow every weekend.

Oh and a slightly unrelated followup - there's a patio area which is in good condition generally but has a little bit of weed growth between the slabs. Can I deal with this just by cutting them down and slapping weedkiller down the cracks? Sorry if these questions are extremely basic.

 

I wouldn't bother cutting them down, choose a still day-to prevent any inadvertent fatalities and give them a suirt of round up. I think they need to be in growth for it to work.

 

Yup, its a granular fertilizer with selective weed killer in it - so one application does both jobs.

I use Scotts Evergreen Complete, but I have no brand loyalty and I would buy whatever was cheapest per sq. metre, or happened to come in a pack that was sized to fit my lawn.

See if the garden centre will lend / hire you a spreader. Put some newspaper down, run over it ten times, calculated the area of the paper that was covered, pour the granules from the newspaper into a container and weigh it (don't forget that the weedkiller will most likely be poisonous if using the kitchen scales!!), and then work out how many passes you need to get the recommended dose. Do each pass in opposite directions (which will even out any bits that are missed etc), and if you are up to four passes or more then you can make them half-way-off from the first set of passes. It isn;t that critical, but your lawn will look a bit daft for a while if you miss areas, or some areas get twice as much as other areas.

Apply shortly before rain is forecast, do0 not mow for 3 days before or after (bit tricky if you are only there are weekends - maybe miss the mowing that weekend) and water if it doesn't rain (you can water anyway - e.g. as you are only there at the weekend and don't want to risk it).

Do not use any grass clippings for the new few mowings around plants as a mulch, or on the compost heap (see packet for instructions).

Wash hands!

I think that's about it :thumb:

For the weeds in your patio you could put down a permanent (well, permanent for 12 months or so) weed killer, but I think they are dodgy things to use - it rains and they get washed onto the lawn, or into the flower beds ...

So my preference would be to get a ready-mixed spray can of weedkiller and just treat each weed that comes up. I recommend anything that contains Glyphosate as the active ingredient. This chemical will carry down into the roots and kill the plant throughout. However, it will take 2 weeks to work - so don't worry if the plant doesn't go yellow overnight!

A better suggestions might be Resolva which contains Glyphosate but also some other stuff (Diquat I think) and that will do the Glyphosate thing of down-into-the-roots to properly kill the weed, but also will kill the tops off over-night - very satisfying!

Do NOT get it on anything you want to keep ... it is designed to kill anything it lands on, of coruse ... make sure you only apply it when the weeds are actively growing (do not cut the weeds down and then apply it ) and make sure the weather stays dry for 6 hours after applying (the one downside of Glyphosate, although I think Resolva claim that their product doesn't have that drawback)

 

Gosh! Thank you so much for taking the time to give me so much information, it is very much appreciated. I will be at home for a couple of weeks very soon (paternity leave - first little-'un due any day) so that'll give me the chance to get cracking on this stuff, if I have any energy left to do so

 

:hehe: Really think you'll have time to tend the garden with a little one in the house?:ywn:
Sorry! only joking! I wish you both the very best with your new baby.

 

Cut the grass regularly throughout the season and start cutting 2nd week in march next year, you'll find that perenial weeds will disappear by the third season...and thats for spending nothing

 

Amanensia has the little one arrived yet?

 

Hi all - sorry for the delay - important things first, little Alexandra Elizabeth was born last Thursday at 2:25pm by emergency Caesarian. She gave us some scares but got here safe and sound in the end, and mother and baby are both dong very well. Here's a little piccie:



As far as the lawn goes, I did a weed-n-feed and it is looking better, but I think it's going to take a while before it's really in reasonable condition. I'll post a couple of photos when I get a chance and maybe there might be another idea or two. I'll also post some piccies (in the appropriate forum) of the various trees and shrubs - I'd like to know what I've got in my new garden! I rather get the impression that it's been rather well stocked with some quite nice things, although it was allowed to "revert to nature" somewhat before we got the keys. We haven't actually moved in yet (that's on Thursday) so I've been driving up to do bits and bobs around the garden in the meantime.