Lawn help please

My lawn is in a terrible state. I can't identify the weeds and I think there are leather jackets lurking as starlings are excavating:



Can anyone suggest the best way to treat this?

 

Encourage the starlings!! :D

This was discussed on another thread in the last little while, but I can't remember where. Compostee said she and someone she knows had encourage the starlings with bread - only thing is they now have a starling problem.... :rolleyes:

Once you've got rid of the leather jackets, you can start to aerate the lawn, as almost certainly it is compacted, and needs air and drainage.

 

Believe it or not, I scarified & aerated this lawn and reseeded a few areas in October!!! I guess I should repeat the process come April?

 

Oh, right! Is it a new garden, with possibly builders' rubble underneath? If so, that'll be the problem. Let us know if that's so, then we can tell you what to do - not much point if the garden's been there since the turn of last century!! :D

 

It's not a new garden so no builders' rubble, it's a neglected garden with overgrown stuff that I'm dealing with in terms of pruning.

We moved in last year and I didn't do anything much for the first season except wait to see what came up - mostly weeds as it turned out! I put loads of Spring bulbs in last Autumn and these are now making an appearance. I have plans for drifts of flowers in the borders and have started my seed-sowing programme in that respect.

Back to the lawn - Green Thumb was recommended to me but they don't cover my area, unfortunately. I think lawn sand might be an option as a first measure.

 

It certainly gives the impression of being compacted and in need of aeration, with the moss and those weeds.

I'd go for the use of a border fork, to dig into the grass to the full depth, wiggle it a bit, and keep going until you've covered the whole area. It's a big job, and tiring, but well worth it. Then brush in sand, or a top dressing mix, and reseed the worst areas.

If you feel extra energetic, you could dig out all the perennial weeds too, as that would certanly make it look better!

 

:eek: I think you're right!!

 

Update: Green Thumb called me today to say they DO do my area They are coming round on Saturday to do a free assessment! Yipeeeeeeeeee.