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Fixing this lawn

Hi all,

I'm a tenant and am looking for a cost effective way to fix this lawn. Would love to just have a nice flat lawn that the family (young kids) can run around on, have a picnic on etc.

I'm really terrible at gardening so really need a step by step. 

There is so much weed, I tried digging it all up and have made a right mess.

Thanks!


Comments

  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,858 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Start at one end and do a foot at a time. Put all the plants in a bag or wrap in a tarpaulin (£1 or so at Poundland) 
    Then a rake to get up whats left. Cheap ones from a local store or home chain place.

    You need it smooth and no stones on the surface.
    Tread down firmly.
    Then right time of year for grass seed. Meadow turf is tough enough for feet.
    Ironmongers tend to be cheapest and sold loose.  Measure the area both ways before you go and write it down to get the right amount of seed.
    Either staff or Google will give you the amount.

    Sprinkle the seed and lightly rake the top of the soil over it a bit then tred down again.
    Water in.
    Don't let anyone walk on it for a couple of months. That would be the hardest bit  :D 

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  • I don't see any actual plants in that mix?

    I'm not an experienced gardener but I had a similar problem in my garden after an extended building project. I've gone in hard with the rake and removed every last shred of debris (the wheelbarrow will be your friend here) before mowing over it, which let me see what I am working with. Am repeating this whilst its still the growing season and plan to have that small section re-turfed next year. As a tenant I would probably not want to stretch beyond a packet of grass seed at sale price.


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  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 17,318 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Spray with weedkiller, and then cover the area with a tarp or sheet of heavy gauge black plastic. Leave well alone for a few months to allow the weeds to die off - I'd leave it covered until early spring... The weeds will be much easier to dig out along with any lumps of rubble & stones (nice dry soil is easier to work than wet). Level, firm, and spread seed.Give it a light rake over, then water well.
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  • Marb6145ky
    Marb6145ky Posts: 30 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 27 September 2023 am30 7:47AM
    Here's how I did mine (though there were slabs of concrete in it so had to remove those too... 

    1. Dig out the top 2-3 inches of turf with a spade
    2. Rotavate/Till the soil down to 6 inches (try borrowing one as you'll prob never need it again after this lol)
    3. Level out with a hard landscaping rake
    4. Use a pallet with string (or roller) to roll the ground flat
    5. Wait 2 weeks then apply weed killer then wait a further 6 weeks
    3. After 6 weeks, apply pre-seed fertiliser (bought based on size of area from The Relentless Gardener)
    4. Mix in some top-soil from local garden centre
    5. Apply grass seed at 40g per m2
    6 Rake seed into the soil while keeping it as level as possible
    7. Hang CDs across the ground and kept watered - watched it bloom

    https://www.relentlessgardener.co.uk/product/pre-seed-starter-lawn-feed/




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