Aerating a lawn

Another simple &, cheap but affective way is to make some homemade ones

 

A stab in the dark I'd say between 2-3 inches or the other alternative if you just want to potter about your garden and is overlooked by everyone is

 

Seriously dodgy those Mowgley!

Thanks Jason. I can't risk anything like the above two pictures, I have an ankle that's pinned together and they'd be to unstable for me.

 

I know the feeling I had an operation on my back October 2013 I had 2 slipped discs for a year then I had an op which removed the pertruding parts of the discs so I have to be carful on what I do

 

Ok, I've taken on your advice and aerated the whole thing using a fork. Yes it was very hard work but rewarding to this that I was giving it a treatment that the moss would hate! I have used Moss Killer (soluble iron FE 20%) on the whole area to kill the moss. I reseeded the bad areas and most of the brown has now gone.

Please could you advise me on what I should now be doing with my lawn in order to get a good green spread of grass? As mentioned previously, I have sandy soil and the front and back both have 1/3 of each that is in the shade due to hedges around the perimeter.

What treatments and feeds would you suggest giving it now and over this year in order to get it looking good? I'd like to spray it with a feed now but not sure what to use, when to do it or how frequently to do it.

Thanks

 

Over the winter months the grass isn't in growth (usually) so it is pointless using any chemicals on it. When the lawns are actively growing and have had their first couple of mowing's, this is the time to think of putting down any chemicals for weeding or feeding, but avoid this if you still have a lot of frosts in your area. Instructions for the use of chemicals and when the best time is to use them will be on the pack. Make sure you stick to what they say as your lawns could be damaged if you 'overdose' them.

 

I've got a lawn feed and other bits in one pot called aftercut it feeds your lawn makes it greener and healthier but will use it in spring like sheal mentioned as his is when plant and lawn growth accelerates again

It says it:

Greens in sevens days
Kills weeds
Kills moss
Conditions and nourishes your lawn
Convenient single product with all three key benefits combined into one easy to use product.
Simply fold the spout into position as instructed...7 days later your lawn will never have looked so good!
Treats: 80m²

 

So you'd wait for a couple of cuts and then put down some spring/summer lawn feed. I've found one which is 11-5-5. Would it say this is a good option?

When would you think the grass will start growing? Just a rough idea would help.

Thanks

 

Sorry Chris, I'm not with you on the 11-5-5.

My lawns hadn't stopped growing totally this winter because of the mild weather until the cold spell recently suspended growth. The island stays slightly warmer than most other areas of Britain. It's difficult to say when the lawns will start growing, it's down to the weather. Some members on GC mow their lawns all year round avoiding times of frost of course.

I tend to feed mine in April and only feed them once a year even though I have sandy soil which is a hungry soil.

 

11-5-5 NPK levels.
Sorry.

 

I would wait yes but as others satin wait until grass starts regrowing mine will usually get first cuts March April time with a fine cut to cut tops of grass off before I do a second cut in couple of weeks later with normal cut, I am trying to get my grass strong as I have 3 kids and it will get trampled heavily

 

Sorry, I know absolutely nothing about NPK levels. You may think as a gardener I should but I don't study packaging or science to that extent. Any chemicals I buy for my garden are minimal which is why I only feed my lawns once a year. Any chemicals I do buy, I judge by content but not by the levels of that content.

It's not a problem that your lawns have their first cut March or April, feeding will wait until then. As long as the lawns are actively growing it will be fine. The only other time not to feed or weed is during drought conditions, as the grass will become stressed and outgrow it's strength.

 

Make sure you don't them on the wrong way up ! Obviously the last word in designer laces ?

I like the ease and simplicity of those rollers but the lawn bloke I spoke said they don't go deep enough.

I went into a large garden outlet to buy one and asked the fella who was on the section dealing with tools about these rollers.. He was I think an old fella who was well into gardens and had quite some experience. His advice was " Get thee fork out young fella me lad and get some blisters on thee hands" Not sure but I think he was from that Yorkshire ,,,,

He said the same as the lawn bloke. Get a fork and get stuck in !

So a question ? When should the next two hands full of blisters be gotten ? I was wondering if it may be a good idea to get the lawn aerated before real growth starts ?

 

As often or little as you like I read somewhere once in spring and once in autumn but everyone differant as I was told by someone to do once a month every month so I think it's a matter of personal choice I will do mine every month as our lawn is on a slope and don't fancy standing water on one side and my lawn will get hard use but most people will say once a year in spring

 

It is the best way I admit Charlie, but with a dodgy ankle, a dodgy back and a 60 x 50ft front lawn it isn't going to happen here!