New Lawn Problems

Hi there

This is my first post

Got a new lawn laid about 5 weeks ago now, grass is really thick and healthy but hasn't been cut yet ( I live in Scotland and for past 2 weeks there has not been 2 dry days in a row!) It has been dry yesterday and today (so far!) so hope to cut grass tonight and then give it another cut at weekend if dry.

Problems are however, about 1 week after the turf being laid by a landscaper weeds started appearing between the joins before the turf had a chance to knit together. I guess these are coming from below but i have no idea how to get rid of them/prevent them (the weeds look like dandellion leaves but no flower)

Secondly, a few brown toadstools appeared and now the grass is covered in them! The last for about 5 days, go black and dissappear, leaving a strange black dust on parts of the grass!

What can I do to eradicate these problems?!? I paid a fair whack for the grass and was ensured no weeds would grow but when i call the landscaper he just says they are coming up from below and toadstools just happen sometimes.

Should i also be feeding the grass or using an aftercut liquid?

Many Thanks for help

C

 

Im no expert but if you had weeds after one week i would say thats not really on. Did the landscaper prepare the soil before the turf was laid? or did you do it yourself?

 

The turf needs to be rotted-through to the soil underneath before you mow it (otherwise the mower will pick up the whole turf and mangle it!)

I would think it will be fine after 5 weeks, but try grasping a turf at the corner and checking that it is hard to pull up (you are not aiming to succeed!)

Also, I expect it will be quite shaggy. Just cut a little off the tops, and granularly work it down to its final height. That will take several weeks. You may need to cut it at least twice a week to even have a chance of getting the height down much (without scalping it), so you may not succeed until next season. Don't rush the height-lowering process.

You can treat the weeds-in-the-joins with a selective lawn weed killer. However, there is a minimum time for new turf before it can be applied. Check the instructions.

And fire a salvo at the landscaper for not killing the weeds before laying the turf!

Lots of turf is delivered with so much Nitrogen in it that it won't need feeding for a while. If yours is really REALLY dark green still I wouldn't hurry to feed it, you don't want to be encouraging soft growth as we head towards Autumn - maybe look at Autumn-lawn-feed mixtures instead.

Ignore the fungus / toadstools. That's pretty normal (unless other folk have different views)

 

He got rid of the original turf, weedkilled the entire area and put down sharp sand before laying new turf so why weeds have appeared i'm not sure.

I will test the roots tonight before i mow and hopefully that should get rid of some of the toadstools also
The grass is pretty dark green but has little white flecks through it - rye?

I'll try get some photos and post tomorrow

Thanks for help

 

It sounds like your turf is doing just fine. The little white flecks are tiny grass seed heads/flowers, and will go when you mow. The toadstools are nothing to worry about at all, new turf tend to get them, and the weather that we've been having encourages them too.

I also wouldn't worry about the weeds coming through the turf. You will have disturbed seeds while you have had the area prepared, and the weather conditions have been optimum for these to grow. You will find that with regular mowing, at least once a week, they will disappear.

5 weeks is about right for giving it a first cut, so I'd do the test like Kristen said, and it should have taken hold by now. There may be odd places, that isn't as well rooted, but it should be fine.

Pictures would be great!!

Hope this Helps!

 

I'm in the 'don't worry about the weeds' camp. Mowing will get rid of most of them. The main thing is to have it establish well and it sounds like that has happened with regular rain over the five weeks. Relax and enjoy it I say.

 

Thanks very much guys for the reassurance! I mowed about an inch and a half off it all last night and although it still has a bit to go i will take it down gradually. My front garden soil is crazy with the weeds no matter what i do ( i like in a heavy woodland area with a big river so its very damp and humid at times) i was paranoid i was going to have the same problem with my lawn!

I have before and after photos and will post them once i upload them.

Thanks again for the advice

 

Re the weeds. I'd leave it until next spring and then apply a lawn weedkiller. If you don't want or need to apply to the whole lawn (to reduce chemical usage and/or reduce cost) you can use a sprayer and treat just the weeds. This is particularly effective with dandelions. However with things like clover it is best to apply from a watering can because of the spread.

 

I find that using a watering can much just run's off the plant - whereas with a sprayer I can cover the weeds just to the point of run-off. I use a very coarse spray, which doesn't tend to drift on the wind too easily, but I also choose a dry, still evening (insects / Bees already tucked up in bed!)