New Garden - lawn needs a lot of TLC - Where to start?

Wolfsbane2k

Hi.

I've just moved to a house with a significantly bigger garden than I am used to (200m2) , which has been overshadowed by a couple of large (10+ meter tall) oaks trees that were finally crowned last year.

This means that the lawn is full of moss, so I'm at a loss where to start. I'd like to keep the grass useable during the summer, meaning no/minimal chemicals, as I have a spaniel and a 18 month old running around on it, as well as me, the lumbering giant.

Given the trees ( which are TPO'd), i think the topsoil is also too shallow, as in some spots the dog has already (just from running on it) caused a few rips/tears of about 1/2 cm deep, and the roots are visible underneath. The squirrels aren't helping either.

I'm loathe to strip back, add topsoil, and start again, but feel this may be my best choice, especially as I can do that in chunks of the garden that are sectioned off.

Any other ideas?

Thanks!

I_have_spoken

TBH with a child and dog, you'd be best just gritting your teeth and accepting the lawn will be a bit rubbish for, well, years.

Best you can do is hire a rotary scarifier and hollow tine aerator, once the moss/thatch has been lifted then brush lawn sand about and finish with a lawn weed and feed.

Keep a bottle of water handy for when the dog takes a whiz on the grass

wallbash

Will a child and/or a dog worry about the moss?

I had to wait years til the kids and the rabbits were no longer around, then I gladly spent a fortune on getting a prize winning lawn.

Wolfsbane2k

I'm not to worried about the prze winning lawn, it's more about trying to increase its hardiness to children and dogs running on it.

With the moss, there is no roots so one slip and a large tear appears, which eventually will become mud, which will then get dragged into the house and the carpet.

So I'm wanting to increase the hardiness mainly.

Wolfsbane2k

I_have_spoken wrote: »

TBH with a child and dog, you'd be best just gritting your teeth and accepting the lawn will be a bit rubbish for, well, years.

Best you can do is hire a rotary scarifier and hollow tine aerator, once the moss/thatch has been lifted then brush lawn sand about and finish with a lawn weed and feed.

Keep a bottle of water handy for when the dog takes a whiz on the grass

Thank u for that feed back, most appreciated. This lawn sand is something I'll have to learn about, not used it before.

Thankfully we have taught the dog to go on a gravelled off area for number 1 and have a bit of lawn set a side where he goes number 2, so that helps a lot

bryanb

Astroturf?

Wolfsbane2k

bryanb wrote: »

Astroturf?

It's been mentioned, but i'd prefer to stay "natural" if possible...