How do you get good grass in your garden?

Posted by Important_Ad716@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 10 comments

Place I moved into was overgrown, been cutting it roughly every 10 days. I am in Scotland so with work and weather sometimes its a bit longer between cuts. But ite been a year and it still looks a shit. Any advice?

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10 Comments

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CyborgPoo@reddit

I use lawn feed in spring.

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lil_red_irish@reddit

Go for a clover/moss lawn, much better for the environment and won't turn brown when there's not enough rain. Also feels much nicer on bare skin, so nice to walk barefoot on a clover/moss lawn. A whole grass lawn is a fairly recent thing. While clover and moss lawns are making a come back due to their low maintenance and better performance for the environment, and helping our poorly hit pollinators.

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Important_Ad716@reddit (OP)

Not enough rain isn't the problem in scotland.

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tmstms@reddit

Lucky you! E of Scotland can be too dry!

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tmstms@reddit

1) "Weed and feed" (many preparations are sold by brands like Aftercut, Evergreen etc) 2) Grass seed (highest quality, *bent* not *fescue*, don't go for 'patch magic' etc 3) Spot treatment of weeds with lawn weedkiller - go on hands and knees. 4) Don't mow too often! 5) lawn sand (against moss, but weed and feed should do the trick already).

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Throwaway100562hd@reddit

Grass seeding is the obvious answer, but you need to ensure the soil has enough nutrients so some fertiliser may help. Aerate the lawn first if you can. Then put the fertiliser down then re-seed a couple of weeks later. I do this and then after the first couple of mows I introduce compost into the lawn. I use old wheeled bins to compost; use a sieve to get out any stones and hard bits; and rake a thin layer onto the preexisting lawn so all the compost falls between the grass blade. Works wonders.

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schmerg-uk@reddit

I try not to be a lawn fanatic as I have few of these things but... Sunshine and not too much shade - it's hard to grow good grass where there's shade and water run off from trees etc Decent soil - the soil under most lawns has been compacted and has little organic matter left, esp in clay areas... I rake a tonne of compost over my lawn each autumn, rake it again a few days later to ensure the blades are not buried, and few days later you can't see the compost, but the worms will appear, eat the compost and take it down into the oil which provides Drainage - waterlogged soil leads to rubbish grass, adding organic matter helps the drainage (more so, in my experience, than does adding sand etc but it'll depend where you are) Feed - I try to keep "chemicals" down (yeah, I know, water is a chemical etc but you know what I mean) but even throwing a few handfuls of various feeds or pelleted chicken manure etc over the lawn and letting the rain water it in helps. All that grass you cut is nutrients being removed... add some back from time to time. Not too many weeds - if the lawn is healthy the weeds won't be able to compete, but most weeds are a sign of lack of the above (moss == too much water run off and not enough sun etc)

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vminnear@reddit

Our lawn was rubbish and neglected at the start of the year, it's much better now although it's not quite there yet. Best thing we did was put down some fresh lawn seed where it's patchy and keep mowing it before it reaches that overgrown stage.

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Garrett8319@reddit

I play the flute. Ever since I started doing this my grass is greener and more luscious.

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Important_Ad716@reddit (OP)

I pour lager on mine. That way, it grows half cut.