How can I lay a part lawn?

roseblush

Hi everyone!

I am need of some advice. I have a fairly smallish front garden that is part laid to lawn but with large flower borders. This was like it when I moved into my property 7 years ago, the borders are far too large for the size of the garden.

As I am not getting any younger (!) I have decided that after spending 8 hours cutting the grass and weeding the beds that my life needs to be simplified.

I am going to remove as many plants as possible, but what is left in the ground, could I put weed killer on them to kill them off? Or any other suitable method!

The border is about 2 inches shallower than the lawn, can I put ordinary soil that you get from the garden centre, that you would put in pots, down? I need a cheap option for this and currently my garden centre have bags on offer. Does anyone know if the seeds would take?

Also in the back garden I am thinking of putting bark down in the beds, does bark prevent weeds from coming up? Would I need to put a ground sheet, like you would use for stones, down?

Oh and one more thing, has anyone got any proven tips to kill off running bamboo (I've got the main bits out but it's reshooting) and how to kill off brambles for good!

Your advice will be well received, simplify and organise and going to be the new me!

Many thanks....Roseblush

wallbash

The border is about 2 inches shallower than the lawn,

To raise the border to the same height as the lawn is going to take a lot of top soil ........alternatively rake ( and then firm ) soil towards lawn and then construct a mowing strip . I used pavers ( could use bricks ) on a small bed of mortar. This eliminates the lawn edge , mowing is quicker.

As for seeds , I would think turfs, soil ( height) and grass in one package.

As for back garden , yes to a fabric layer first, but that bark has to be thickly spread.

Linda32

roseblush wrote: »

Hi everyone!

I am need of some advice. I have a fairly smallish front garden that is part laid to lawn but with large flower borders. This was like it when I moved into my property 7 years ago, the borders are far too large for the size of the garden.

As I am not getting any younger (!) I have decided that after spending 8 hours cutting the grass and weeding the beds that my life needs to be simplified.


Your right it needs to be simplified. 8 hours is an hell of a long time to be weeding and grass cutting. I have to ask, with respect does it need to be that perfect. Weeds are only plants in the wrong place. Some plants which are considered to be "plants" can be weeds as well if they overcrowd things. Wildlife like dandelions for example

I am going to remove as many plants as possible, but what is left in the ground, could I put weed killer on them to kill them off? Or any other suitable method!

You can put weedkiller on just about anything, plant or weed and it will kill it. There will likely be a warning on the bottle not to spray on a windy day. That is so that you don't spray on something you didn't want to spray on.



The border is about 2 inches shallower than the lawn, can I put ordinary soil that you get from the garden centre, that you would put in pots, down? I need a cheap option for this and currently my garden centre have bags on offer. Does anyone know if the seeds would take?

Yes if you want to, this would be fine, but I have just seen the next answer. Are you wanting to make it level to carry on the lawn. This seems expensive and a lot of work.

Also in the back garden I am thinking of putting bark down in the beds, does bark prevent weeds from coming up? NoWould I need to put a ground sheet, like you would use for stones, down?
Yes

Oh and one more thing, has anyone got any proven tips to kill off running bamboo (I've got the main bits out but it's reshooting) and how to kill off brambles for good!

With regards to bamboo and brambles. I would have to google that, as I've no idea what would kill those.

roseblush

Thank you both for your advice and after reading it, it does seems that I'm letting myself in for a lot of hard unnecessary work!

Linda, yes I did want to make it level and to carry on the rest of the lawn, what would you recommend as an alternative? I thought about turfing it but thought that would work out even more expensive than my first option.

Regarding the 8 hours mowing and weeding, in all fairness that was the first time for the year, but even on an average day it would take half that time. I wish it was perfect after all that work but the front garden is prone to weeds. On one side it is very shady and is full of that horrible carpet weed, takes forever to get it up. I also get loads of well rooted grass in the beds too, maybe I should just leave that and have an instant lawn

I will google about the brambles and bamboo, they are a nightmare in the back garden.

Thanks again guys