Lawn advice please

I have moved in to a new home and the garden is just soil(and a few weeds)anyway has anyone done a full lawn with seed or is it better to lay turf? I've been told it's the wrong time of year to lay grass seed is that right?

 

Hi Alanna, I seeded a part of my top garden last June and it worked fine. This was seed I bought at the Poundshop.

 

Thanks looks goodhowever that was June so the ground would have been warm, if I sowed seed at this time of year I've been told the grounds too cold so turf would be better if I plan on doing it soon.

 

I reseeded the back lawn September 2018 and I done the front lawn september 2019, seed ideal casue you know what you are getting / better suited for your conditions and its so much cheaper .

mid March / April for sowing grass seed now the ground to cold even though its bee rather mild so far , it not worth risking until later on.

 

Thanks I may wait until spring then and seed it , it's going to be a lot cheaper than turf. I will just have to keep on top of the weeds until then

 

I reseeded my lawn just recently. I can recommend the people I got the seed from.

Buying grass seed online - a recommendation

The main thing is preparation. Get it as level as you can, rake it to a good fine tilth, and gently cover the seeds when you do sow.

Weeds are always going to grow, especially as the seed is taking. You just need to let the grass establish a bit, then pick out the weeds before you mow each time. If you get them while they're small, it's much easier!

 

Thanks

 

As said above April onwards when the soil warms up, unless you are in a very warm southern spot.

When you buy the seed make sure you get enough to do the whole lawn as if you need to buy some more, say from a different source, it can look different to the rest of the lawn.

Have a look at sites like in this link or yubes on how best to prepare the soil, though it all depends on how level and how big your intended lawn is going to be and how much work you can, or want, to put into its preparation; just a rake over or a full dig etc

Also the type of grass/ seed depends on its use, if its just ornamental with only adults, then you can use fine grasses for a better looking loawn but for a typical family with childen and dogs etc you need a more robust seed mix.

Lawns from seed / RHS Gardening

 

For me. I'd go for turf.

I totally agree with Ricky on the point of considering what use/purpose the lawn will have to stand upto. So some knowledge of the various grasses available. For a lawn say, to show off the garden and obviously one that will probably have many pairs of feet tramping on it, and oh! yes, the pets. Here I would go for a seed mix of say, chewings fescue, Canadian brown top, a creeping fescue and a balanced quantity of perennial rye grass. Such a seed mix will provide you with good strong hardwearing sward. The creeping fescues will form a layer of vegitation close to the soil. This will for a time escape the mower blades.

Sadly the hard efforts of the gardener are often spoiled by the mower pulling up some of the grass.

Using turf. Provided the turf is purchased from a good turf nursery. The grass is mature and the roots are well into the soil.

 

Having bought turf before, my main issue is knowing what's a good turf nursery. It's in their interests to sow grass which grows really fast - but that may not give you fine-quality grass, and you may need to be mowing it four times a week to stop it becoming a hay field.

If you can find someone on here who can recommend a good local place, then great. Otherwise find the Facebook group for your town/area and ask there. Turf is heavy and bulky, so you aren't going to get a good deal from a supplier the other end of the country.

Seed is always going to be cheaper though. If you've got a large area and you don't mind waiting, that's my preferred option. The downsides if course are the time for seed to grow and establish, and reseeding the inevitable bare patches. You pays your money etc...

 

Both seed and turf have plus and negative points.
Turf is good at this time of year if you wish to go ahead or seed is another way once the warmer weather sets in.
The choice is yours which you go for but as others has stated the preparation is the key.

I remembered back when a customer I worked for wanted a quote from me to turf the rear lawn and they decided to go with a cheaper quote. After the turf was laid they asked for a cut, it was almost comical as I sank as I stepped on it and the mower joined me. They must have just thrown the top soil on and laid the turf, it was like going off road in a 4x4 and getting that sinking feeling.

 

@Liz the pot is it ok to put moss killer/fertilizer on the grass now? Or does it need to be warmer?

 

Hi Snorky.

moss killer can be be applied as long as frosts are not due and the same applies with an Autumn/Spring feed with moss killer added.
It really depends on the weather taking into account the weather forward say 2 weeks and if it’s granular or liquid.

we’ve been fairly lucky so far this year but Feb normally brings in a shock to the system.

looking ahead rain is due and temps look fine where I am, we just hope mr weatherman has it right.

 

Thanks very much for the advice @Liz the pot , I'll keep an eye on the forecast and then make a decision next week. Desperate to get the moss sorted before it starts getting even more out of control.