Overseeding and adding topsoil; what order?

Naf

OK, so this might be more plain cheap than actual moneysaving, but I'm going to give it a go.

A couple of years ago I completely killed all the grass on my front lawn because it was just awful. I dug over about 6 inches then reseeded the whole thing. It went pretty well for a while, but now lots of the grass has just died away. I've tried just directly overseeding, but that hasn't helped.

I was at Wickes yesterday and there was a good offer on some topsoil. So I've bought some in the hope that it'll improve the lawn, as well as some new seed.

My question is whether it matters if I add the soil first, then seed; or seed first, and spread soil over the top. Its not going to be much of a layer of topsoil that I'll add. Probably not even an inch, really - like I said, this may just be cheap rather than actual moneysaving haha.

TonyMMM

You need to work out why the grass died before doing anything else, or the chances are it will just die again.

Grass is pretty hardy stuff - if it dies off it is usually because of water-logging and drainage problems or a lack of light.

poorly_scammo

TonyMMM wrote: »

You need to work out why the grass died before doing anything else, or the chances are it will just die again.

Was just about to post this. You can get different types of grass for different growing conditions - rye grass for example is coarse and therefore suited to areas of high traffic. There are grass varieries for areas of shade, sun etc.

Not every type of grass will suit every type of lawn. And as Tony above points out, most types of lawn grass are pretty hardy so something must have gone hugely wrong for it to snuff it.

Have you had cranefly larvae (leatherjackets)? They can eat the roots and kill parts of a lawn.

By way of example, the grass in my back garden is suffering. This is due to a number of factors: it's north facing and given the amount of rain we've had this winter, the ground is struggling to absorb the water. I've been out with the fork to alleviate this but it has only made a small amount of difference. Also, I haven't scarified it for about two years. Neither have I fed it. Consequently, it has been overtaken by moss which has replaced the grass. I haven't been able to get out there as much recently (ill health) so it is suffering.

Lawns need a surprising amount of care. Could this be an issue for you?

Naf

Water logging could potentially be an issue, although that's more of an issue in the back, where the grass isn't dying lol. It is mostly the edges which have died, where the hedge provides more shade - but it's hardly dark there. The grass did seem to survive just fine for a few months.

xyz123

Have a look on lawnsmith website and their YouTube channel. Its pretty much one stop place for everything a common gardener would want to know about lawn... Their seeds are really good quality as well.

Whatever you do make sure.
1 if weather is dry start watering the area about a week before planting seed
2. Get some fertiliser, either starter fertiliser or low dose of slow release lawn fertiliser
3.after putting down seeds have a roller go over it or just walk on seeds. Good soil contact is essential..

TonyMMM

Naf wrote: »

Water logging could potentially be an issue, although that's more of an issue in the back, where the grass isn't dying lol. It is mostly the edges which have died, where the hedge provides more shade - but it's hardly dark there. The grass did seem to survive just fine for a few months.

Then it is probably too little water - the hedge is taking it all and the grass is drying out.

Naf

TonyMMM wrote: »

Then it is probably too little water - the hedge is taking it all and the grass is drying out.

Anything I can do to help alleviate that?

glasgowdan

Lawn will never grow well in these patches. You should just change the areas to small shrubs instead.