[treascon09]

Hi all,
I have been cutting the grass (original field) around the house for the past 4 years now and always planned on a proper lawn at some stage. The pics attached are taken today half way through cutting . About 1 weeks growth on the part not cut. Anyway my question is would it be worth all the work of spraying, ploughing, rotovating, levelling, raking, sowing etc or is there an easier way to make a decent looking lawn? Its approx 1000m2 and any ideas of the cost involved? Seed I imagine would be the biggest cost? Am I right in thinking this month would be the best time to tackle such a job? All advice welcome

[Greengage]

that does not look too bad, i would use weed and feed next spring, spray for moss in autumn and feed then scarify next spring and feed again

[michelle M]

I'd leave it too, just a feed to green it & it looks better than a lot of lawns. We're in process of doing the same thing, but had to because it needed drains & loads of humps & hollows which need leveling. otherwise wouldn't go to expense or bother

[jdquinn]

Yep, that doesn't look too bad. Although pictures never tell the full story. If you think you would be happy for it to be just 'greened up' then its probably the way to go, but if you think you still wouldn't be happy then a new lawn is what's required.

I've just done my lawn as it was full of weeds, very patchy, soggy and lumpy even though it had only been sown 3 years ago but I was never happy with it from day one. I bit the bullet and bought in 60 ton of good screened top soil mixed with coarse grit sand for drainage, at a not inconsiderable expense, to top cover my 800sqm lawn. I'd say I've spent around 80 hours (almost entirely single handed) in total using the following methods:
1. Killing lawn with Glyphoste based weed killer
2. Scalping the lawn with lawn mower
3. Hole punching with a hired aerator to improve drainage and compaction
4. Scarifying to remove thatch and dead grass
5. Digging out a few lumps and bumps
6. Using rough soil to add a height to some areas around my new fence
7. Top covering the entire area with screeded top soil
8. Rough raking the level
9. Screeding with a large kerb stone and 7ft timber fence post
10. Light fertilise with a low nitrogen fertiliser
11. Sow out by hand ( wanted to use a spreader but time not on my side)
12. Lightly rake the seed into the soil
13. Gently roll with a half filled water roller
14. And finally Wait!

I used almost 2 bags of Bauemgarten Amenity grass mix for good durability at a cost of £55/bag. I think good quality grass seed is the most important part as it seriously reduces the weed content. My seed was sown 2 weeks from tomorrow night and already I have around 35mm growth from just one type of grass in the mixture. The other types are just starting to open now. There are extremely few weeds rearing their heads.

There is already a nice deep green covering although a bit patchy I'm confident that over the next few weeks it will thicken nicely. Every morning when I leave the house there is a noticable difference to the covering.

Anyway in my eyes, for me, the work was worth it although people passing by probably thought I was mad killing, what looked like to passers by, a perfectly good lawn.

The decision as they say is all yours.

[Sive]

It would be interesting to see a male/female breakdown of opinions here. Men seem far more obsessive about "lawns"......sure once it looks reasonable and green and is nice to walk on that's enough for me.

[treascon09]

Thanks all for the replies

The thing that bugs me most about the grass that's there is the unevenness of the ground. So I think the only answer is to import topsoil or plough and rotovate what's there.. I will most likely go for the latter.

Will keep ye posted

[sgmgarden]

Please do keep us informed treascon09, with pictures if possible

[treascon09]

UPDATE

10 days after spraying. Seems to be working

I assume I have to wait until its completely died back? Or could I mow it now as short as possible then plough it?

[forest flame]

the roundup or weedkiller you used will have done its job getting to the roots by now so you would be safe to work away.personally i would only plough if the drainage was bad and you have a lot of moss otherwise i would just topdress with soil to level out the bumps and re seed.lot of work either way but no point in creating work either.only my opinion hope it helps

[sgmgarden]

Definitely seems to look like its working which is good news for you. Your lawn will be perfect again in no time

[treascon09]

No going back now!

[sgmgarden]

You're right, there definitely is no going back now! It will all be worth it in the end, can't wait to see the results of your new lawn

[treascon09]

Lawn sowed on 22nd September 2013.

[medieval knievel]

[Qzy]