How do I top up /rejuvenate my lawn?

I need to do something to improve my grass too.

It started growing a few weeks ago so I gave it a light mow, but since then it's hardly grown. Dog is trampling it too and I have raked a load of moss out of it.

Is it possible to have a nice green lawn with a dog?
 
danlightbulb said:
Is it possible to have a nice green lawn with a dog?
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I have a dog also so will find out!

danlightbulb said:
Is sharp sand the right sand to use for top dressing, if I mix with some topsoil as well?
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I believe sand isn't necessary to mix in unless you have drainage issues, and sharp sand has too much salt in it? I could be wrong! Suppose it depends on ratios
 
I seeded last year and need to scarify this year. Any recommendations on a manual scarifier? I tried my rake and it got a chunk out but can still see plenty of thatch and clumped up old grass cuttings and grass that died. For aeration was thinking just use the garden fork and see how I get on after scarification.
 
ddoubleep said:
I seeded last year and need to scarify this year. Any recommendations on a manual scarifier? I tried my rake and it got a chunk out but can still see plenty of thatch and clumped up old grass cuttings and grass that died. For aeration was thinking just use the garden fork and see how I get on after scarification.
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I just bought an electric wired scarifier from screwfix for 70 quid

I didn't do any secondary aerating, not sure if that's correct procedure..
 
Just forked over half the grass, and spread some fertiliser on it. Will do other half this afternoon.

Meant to rain later so that's perfect timing.

Then let it grow for a while before cutting and top dressing?
 
Buffman said:
I just bought an electric wired scarifier from screwfix for 70 quid

I didn't do any secondary aerating, not sure if that's correct procedure..
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I saw a video on that yesterday and seemed decent enough. I just have a small garden and was thinking the manual one might be easier to store for the few times I needed it.
 
I did out first cut over Easter weekend, scarified too, it was quite patchy as we had some building work in October/November which saw off quite a lot of the grass and the moss took over.
Reseeded and added top dressing and I've watered it twice a day. Very little happened for the first 2-3 weeks and I was getting concerned it wasn't going to take, but as the weather has warmed up this past week it's gone crazy, looking really good so far.
 
Cut relatively lower than normal over the weekend > Scarified with a rake > Aerated with a fork > Overseeded / Fertiliser > Scattered compost and a quick roll over and thankfully the rain came to get things going. Lets wait and see...

Seed used is Premiership Pro 24 incase anyone is looking.
 
After 2 weeks/14 days mines looking like the below. Going well in some spots and a bit patchy in others.

Also some weeds going through.

Anyone know when I can use a "4 in 1" fertilised and weed killer across the lawn? I presume it's at least 6 weeks if not longer

jLLAh0O.jpeg
 
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You should really wait until your new grass is well established before using 4-in-1 stuff as you risk scorching the new blades.

6-8 weeks after you see the blades coming through should be ok though.


It's taken 5 weeks for my seed to start showing... Too damn cold at the start. It should be ok now with the temps warming
 
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The prep work over the Coronation weekend has paid dividends. Overseeding bits have come through and starting to make a difference. The lawn is very green and should be able to give a cut soon and shave a bit of the top as it is starting to lean over in parts.
 
danlightbulb said:
I need to do something to improve my grass too.

It started growing a few weeks ago so I gave it a light mow, but since then it's hardly grown. Dog is trampling it too and I have raked a load of moss out of it.

Is it possible to have a nice green lawn with a dog?
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No, especially with bitches :) There's something normally in their urine that causes the grass grief.

I think you can feed bitches something to minimise it. 'Er indoors has the main lawn, a no go zone most of the time for the dogs. The dogs and I exist in what was a small back garden that became wrecked, but is being slowly brought back under some control as a habitable place to enjoy a beer on nice evenings.
 
Chris Wilson said:
No, especially with bitches :) There's something normally in their urine that causes the grass grief.

I think you can feed bitches something to minimise it. 'Er indoors has the main lawn, a no go zone most of the time for the dogs. The dogs and I exist in what was a small back garden that became wrecked, but is being slowly brought back under some control as a habitable place to enjoy a beer on nice evenings.
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I think following them round with a watering can and diluting it / using a rye grass mix helps

Mine as of yesterday, cut it twice (60mm then 40mm) apparently only meant to take a third off when cutting. I've (well mrs) has reseeded some missing patches

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It's the high nitrogen content in the urine that burns the grass. If you water it in, and thereby dilute the urine/wash it off the leaves, it will help stop it.
 
Richie said:
It's the high nitrogen content in the urine that burns the grass. If you water it in, and thereby dilute the urine/wash it off the leaves, it will help stop it.
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Yeah absolutley, but nitrogen is actually very good lawn fertilizer... just not in the high concentrations in typical pet urine.. so when you get burned patches form urine, that's whats known as 'fert burn', basicaly a nitrogen overdose, which kills a small patch of grass.

I guess what I'm saying is you don't want to put fertilizer on re-seeded burnt spots, as you'll just be adding more nitrogen.
 
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mattyfez said:
Yeah absolutley, but nitrogen is actually very good lawn fertilizer... just not in the high concentrations in typical pet urine.. so when you get burned patches form urine, that's whats known as 'fert burn', basicaly a nitrogen overdose.
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Yeah, sorry, I should have said that Nitrogen is great for grass and makes it grow fast, just too high a dose in urine so it needs watered down
 
Richie said:
Yeah, sorry, I should have said that Nitrogen is great for grass and makes it grow fast, just too high a dose in urine so it needs watered down
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No worries, I was just clarifying...

Any fertilizer will have an 'NPK' rating in the ingredients, Nitrogen, Phosperous and posassium.

Most 'lawn feed' is very high in nitrogen, and low in P and K. So basicaly not what you want to use for 'spot treating' burns from pet urine.
 
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