Haven't a clue what i'm doing

Hi,

i'm new here and new to the gardening world in general. i've moved to a beautiful house with a big lawn at the front of the house with hedges, flower beds and 2 weird tree thing shaped like a ball and a medium sized garden at the back.

i was looking forward to gardening so much that i murdered the front of the house and i'm now doing the same to the back. my only wish is whhy didn't i seek help at the start.

well here i am and i've decided to start with the lawn. it was over grown and full of weed. soooo i bought a lawn mower and along with the power cord, i mowed the lawn. power cord was fixed, but alss, lawn is still murdered. Grass looks dead.

i'm not good with words so tomorrow i'll put up a picture and you'll see what i mean.

could someone please tell me what i'm supposed to do

yours sincerly

Lady in blue

 

Hello and welcome.

Good write-up there, it amused me, but I know its serious.

If the lawn was overgrown for a long time, then down at the ground, where no sunlight will have been for a while, the grass will be sparse and weak because its basically putting all its effort in at the bit that sees the sun, the stuff you've mowed off.

Its ok though (possibly, lets see the pictures first), because if it was alive when you mowed it, then it will most likely pick up. It will take a good while. There's no overnight cure. As the grass grows back, keep mowing it but if the mower you have has variable cutting height, keep it on the highest setting for a while. That will give it chance to soak up some sunshine, build up some strength, and also thicken up at the base. Regular mowing will also keep the weeds down. Grass is far more competitive than most weeds so as the weeds weaken due to repeatedly being mowed, the grass will gain strength and take over. Its a long road though, so patience and determination are needed.

 

Exactly what's been said above.
Lawns that have been left to grow very long often turn out to be really healthy because the grass has been allowed to put down a nice, deep root system. It should recover without problem, and will look really nice after a few mows.

 

Thank you very much. You both have been great help.

how often should I mow?

 

I won't be any help at all Lady-in-Blue, but I love the title of the thread, and I know that's definitely how I felt when we took over our garden seven years ago. Along with the excellent advice you'll receive on here, you'll learn as you go along, and like any experience worth having, it will provide you with moments of joy, desperation, hope and disappointment, but you'll quickly become addicted and you'll love it!!

 

Try to mow it as often as you can. Once a week is usually ideal, but you can sometimes leave it two. Any longer than that and you'll be back to a meadow in no time!

 

lorea

I'll mow once a week

I heard hot water is good for killing weeds growing on the paths. Has anyone tried this?

 

Yes, me. It also sorts out any ants nests under there too. It wont kill more stubborn perennial weeds like well established dandelions (which have a big tap root, most of which wont get hot enough to die), but it will make short of all the top growth, will boil any small weed seeds on the surface, and will weaken larger roots by denying them of their photosynthesis having boiled the leaves.

Just be aware that some bees build their homes below ground, and they're having a hard time already, so try not to boil them out if you know or think they're in there.

 

Bees? Underground? How strange. Will keep an eye out.

What about lawn feed or watering them?

 

Bees? Underground? How strange. Will keep an eye out.

What about lawn feed or watering them?

 

Yes, solitary mining bees. They make little volcanoes in sandy soil around this time of year (or a bit earlier, to be honest). Definitely keep an eye out for them, because they are lovely little bees, don't sting and are great allies in the garden.
http://www.buglife.org.uk/discoverbugs/bugofthemonth/tawnyminingbee

 

Thank you. Will keep an eye out.

so no lawn feed needed? or watering?