Lawn died, remove turf or reseed

firely2327

To experienced gardeners out there!

I laid a turf lawn last year on a prepared soil (by gardener) and after about six weeks, once I'd left it for what I deemed long enough (the roots having taken in the underlying soil), I mowed it using a traditional push mower. A few weeks later there were a few bare patches and now it is a big muddy patch with a few blades of grass here and there. I hadn't treated it with fertilizer etc, just watered it daily.

My question is, should I reseed on top of the dead lawn or remove the turf entirely? I'll be selling the house next year so want a lawn ready for show for the pictures this time next year. Any advice welcome. Thanks in advance.

Marktheshark

You can not do anything until after the last deep frost.
In the meantime fork and air the soil thoroughly with a deadening fork.
Buy some peat and cover the garden by brushing it on to get the ground conditioned for when winter breaks.
Then around Late March if the winter breaks rake then seed and cover with peat again to force it to germinate.
Once it appears use a good lawn feed twice a week.
Dont cut until the grass you grow starts seeding or it bleeds and dies, this is usually 8-10 cm of growth depending on seed type.
By may you should have a nice lawn.

Mojisola

firely2327 wrote: »

I laid a turf lawn last year on a prepared soil (by gardener) and after about six weeks, once I'd left it for what I deemed long enough (the roots having taken in the underlying soil), I mowed it using a traditional push mower.

Did you raise the blades? A new lawn shouldn't be cut down to the same level that established grass can take.

rev229

My lawn has been reseeded on numerous occasions due to kids/dogs etc and still after 15 yrs it looks great!

Nile

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

I’ve moved your thread from the ‘In my home’ board to the ‘Greenfingered’ board, where it is better suited.

Regards

Nile

kerri_gt

I am no lawn expert but I did notice a few years back our council returfed some grass verges - over the course of the summer a lot of the turf dried and curled up - didn't even seem to have taken to the soil underneath, grass looked dead and it looked awful. Lo and behold after an autumn and a good period of rain, the grass all came back - you wouldn't even know the state it was in before.

Failing any signs of life from your lawn, I'd just reseed when the - weather is good enough, a lot cheaper and less hassle than re-turfing again - esp if you're thinking of selling where the buyers might not even keep the lawn.

[Deleted User]

Dead leaves from my Japanese Maple went all over my grass, I got most of them up but what was left have rotted in the ground and made patches on my lawn. Which seed would you recommend?

johncampbell01

maybe you would like to consider having artificial turf instead of the real thing? I mean, don't get me wrong, if you want to save up on time, maintenance, water and money, the synthetic grass does the trick. I have it installed on my backyard, and it's completely free wear and tear. Even my dogs don't inflict damage on it.

firely2327

definitely something I've thought of recently when I visited Carpetright. There were lovely samples at the door!. If it doesn't work out this year with the lawn I'll consider for next spring. The seed I planted in March has given a lovely lawn, however a week ago one corner of the lawn turned yellow and it looks terrible now. I've reseeded this area and topped up seed elsewhere, to thicken the lawn. Hopefully I won't need to go artificial in the end