'Fixing' a lawn in 2 months!

[Squingy]

Out of nowhere the landlords decided not to renew our lease going to a shorthold tenancy meaning they can give 2 months notice for us to leave. Given the recent law changes, Brexit etc I'm certain they want to quit and sell up or something.

Problem is putting the polytunnel on the lawn meant the grass hasn't grown under so I'll need to fix that. Always knew I had to fix that but thought I'd have a WHOLE YEAR to do it!

Can anybody suggest the best way to start patching the lawn, short of purchasing turf?
If I start patching in pieces of grass and root how long would they take to establish? Should I start patching it now or wait till hotter weather?

I'm still hoping I'd get enough time to see my bulbs flowering without having to dig them up. Argh!

[veggiechicken]

Won't it regrow if you move the PT?
Or throw some grass seed on the bare bits?

[Squingy]

It would regrow in two months time?
Consider if the landlord decides to evict us say beginning of march and we need to get out by end of May (because there is nothing preventing them from doing that). If I start pelting grass seed like crazy by next week, would I have a full lawn by May, so as not to lose the security deposit?

And let's face it, they're going to calculate the area, buy that in the finest turf they could find to charge us for, then charge us double that for someone to install it, then the agent will add on a hundred or two for whatever they could think of....

I figured I would have to use fresh grass, patch the lawn with a piece of grass with roots every square foot or so, water and hope it would catch on?

It's a bit unfair really as most of that bare lawn was due me having to dig up ivy roots before they take over the whole lawn, which of course they wouldn't know squat about.

[bikermike]

can you ask nicely around any gardening contractors for turf off-cuts? could you scrounge a few slices of turf from other people

if you put seed down, put something over it to stop the pigeons eating it. When do you have to be out by? It would be easier to start in a month's time?

How long has the polytunnel been down?


does it *have* to be grass? (does the lease specify it?) if the garden just needs to be "in good repair", some weed membrane and a load of gravel would be quicker (and probably cheaper than turf)

[bikermike]

do you have pics of what the "lawn" was like when you moved in? you aren't generally obliged to make the place better than when you moved in.

Ivy grows very quickly...

[veggiechicken]

Any pictures, Squingy?
Maybe some of the lawn experts could advise.

[bikermike]

One other thought - is anyone near you getting their lawn replaced? keep an eye out for astroturf (*spit*) vans, decking carpenters vans etc. You don't need finest turf, just grassy(ish) stuff.

[veggiechicken]

I found this photo you posted last year - is this the size of "lawn" you're missing?

[lottie dolly]

Surely they will see sence and reason,do they know you have a tunnel,also they have to allow a certain amount of wear and tare,after all a home is to live in,garden included,have you spoken to them about the poly and lawn,if not i suggest it's the best way forward,just to see what they realy do expect,only then can you know what to do for the best,ask if you just dig it over so it's tidy,and leave as a veg area.

[Jungle Jane]

I’d put some grass seed down now,if you don’t have a full lawn by May you’ll have a good enough effort for them to see there was a problem & you sorted it. Take photos so you’ve got proof it was a small area & you sorted it out like a pro,they can’t complain,dont mention it wait for them to notice then they’ll have time to conclude it’s just grass they’re lucky this isn’t tenants from hell,some places are left in a right state so don’t worry. BFB is a good feed for the lawn but it’s not organic.

[veggiechicken]

Squingy, a year ago you said:-

I have a rental so unfortunately I can't go pog wild and dig up the backyard.

But the letting agent and landlord seem understanding. There were two muddy spots and a large open spot to the side of the house which of course have already been dug up by myself.

I kind of half asked for permission to "put beds" and "plant trees" and the agent said "it's your place you can do as you like...within reason."

If they object, I can regrass it as good as before but I wouldn't be able to do that to a large area!


https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ml#post1591982

IF you took the house on with muddy spots, they can have it back with muddy spots!!

[Scarlet]

How big is the "lawn" you have smothered? Can you dig it over and make a flower bed? Just plant a few nice bushes in it or cover it with a load of marigolds/easy grow flowers?

[mrmauy]

I don't think you should be overly worried. If when you leave you reseed the area and take photos to show you have done so then you have carried out what any reasonable person would expect in order to put right. Does your tenancy agreement have a usual clause along the lines of "gardens to be maintained and kept free of weeds with grass and hedges trimmed"?

If you can show that you put down seed to restore a lawn upon vacating a property then the property ombudsman would be extremely likely to rule in your favor should you dispute a deduction.

There are loads of guides on fair wear and tear etc. and having been on both sides of the rental agreement the general rule is any improvements the tenant makes also should be offset against any potential negatives - so if you've also repainted somewhere or improved something that can be added to your argument.

[Squingy]

Thanks folks. I've read the comments, slept on it and I'm a lot calmer and rational now. The photos on the tenancy agreement are these

They are old photos, and I didn't note the lawn wasn't that lush when I took it on. You could just see the ivy off the fence which had, by the time we took on the place, crept onto the lawn and knocked back a bit of the grass. VC'S photos are more what the lawn was like.

Bikermike Poly's down a year.

Garden maintenance clause is in there Mrmauy.

When I saw the ivy poking out, I went into crazed gardener mode and before long I was pulling up feets of ivy, whatever bits of grass went along with it. I think I saved the rest of the lawn, but in so doing so really mucked up that bit. And off course it was already dug up so may as well plant something there right? Plenty of time to grow back the grass right? DOLT!

Trying to import the photos of what it looks like now,
...
no luck. It's way more than fair wear and tear, the grass is all gone as the plastic from the buried poly prevented it from spreading in.

It's a relatively small town I just moved in last year and I don't feel comfortable asking anyone for anything. Sometimes people don't even answer when I say hello, so to avoid any old ladies beating me off with a broom I'm not going to ask for 'imported turf'.

On the plus side, I've realised I don't need to, as I've received an allotment last month which is fortunately, (strange to say), grassed over. So I should be able to transport that to 'patch it'.

I will follow the advice and wait till it gets warmer. I'll also buy grass seed and keep the receipt in case it comes to that.

Keep the lawn advice coming please as I don't know what I'm doing.

[Scarlet]

Trying to import the photos of what it looks like now....
no luck

Click on this :https://tinypng.com

Upload your photos, takes two clicks and then you can save them back to your computer. It takes seconds.

It reduces the file size and then you can upload as normal.