grass seed, some growing some not.

[4390evans]

I bought a 10kg bag of grass seed part rye, and its been down a while now but some of it has not grown and where it hasnt grown weeds have set in!

Its not like there is one big patch that is not growing there is just random patches all over. I feel like pulling the lot up again.

Any advice guys?

[andy_j]

Over seed the bare patches. Grass seed gets eaten and moved around before germinating. Give it a mow, water well then over seed it with a bit more seed.

[Bigmallly]

Pigeons & Blackbirds adore grass seed, did you net it & water it well.

[arpoet]

Grass can be very funny stuff to grow from seed in summer. In this heat I would not worry too much now but be ready to over seed the bare patches in autumn.
also, depending on the mix, it may be creeping underground ready to pop up when the conditions are better.

[ButternutSquash]

It is too hot now. In my experience autumn is best. Grass does sometimes grow patchily, with some areas sprouting later, maybe due to differences in moisture levels in soil. Mine was patchy, but looks fine now. Weeds are to be expected, both from the soil, and from bird poop. The only answer I know is a chemical such as verdone, applied once the grass is strong. I applied some last week, and by the next day creeping buttercup was a gonner.

[dim]

you can seed anytime as long as the soil temperature is greater than 6 degrees C, and as long as you keep the soil moist for a few weeks, and when you water, water when the sun sets

you can use a Scotts fertilizer spreader to seed the area

the other trick is that once you have seeded, you need to cover the seed with compost ... I usually buy a few bags of John Innes #3 and throw a thin layer of compost to just cover the seed (I use my hand to do this)

it's also good to use a garden roller over the seed (before you add the compost) .... this 'presses the seed into the soil

it should take 8-10 days for the seed to germinate

this year (so far), I have seeded 5 lawns (I'm a full time landscaper)

[4390evans]

fab thanks for the advice, I have been watering it every day with the hozelock sprinkler leaving it on for 30-60 mins.
I used a seed spreader to do it but think its a bit goosed so might have to buy a new one.
Should I use sand also when I sow more seed ?

[dim]

its best to use a heavy compost such as John Innes #3 ... you only need to cover the seed 1-2mm ....

if you are doing a small area, you dont need to buy a new fertilzer spreader ... broadcast by hand ...

also remember that you cannot use weed and feed fertilizer for 6 months after seeding, but after the 2nd mow, you can use a lawn fertilizer that has no weedkiller/moss killer ....

I like the Scotts lawn conditioner that has high nitrogen (NPK of 22-5-5) .... there are 2 varients of this fertilizer (a plain one and one that has weedkiller/mosskiller) .... so get the plain one ....

[ButternutSquash]

You can use verdone after two months, although you only use it between April and September according to the maker, although a Devon October is quite unlike a Scottish one. Personally I hate weed and feed, for many reasons including difficulty of application and you end up spending all your time mowing the lawn. I am tempted to feed with blood fish and bone for slow release, but I am concerned that all the cats, foxes and badgers will converge on my lawn.

[4390evans]

Well Ive spent near 8 hours over 2 days weeding and Im only half way down, Im gonna mow then re-seed! If this dont work Im gonna rip it all up and turf it :/

Wish I hadnt started it now x

[Strawberry patch]

Well Ive spent near 8 hours over 2 days weeding and Im only half way down, Im gonna mow then re-seed! If this dont work Im gonna rip it all up and turf it :/

Wish I hadnt started it now x

It will be all worth it when its finished 4390evans,Lovely green lush lawn