Lawn Advice Please

[out in the cold]

We have fairly heavy clay soil with a reasonable topsoil on top of it, around 6 inches deep.

Last year I was the beneficiary of a bit of spare lawn turf from a neighbour who was making some flower beds and whadda ya know, his offcuts pieced together to just about cover the area we were going to use as a lawn. (Serendipity or what?)

Anyway, a combination of the poor drainage and my dogs peeing on the lawn has basically killed it and so I am about to start over.

I have planned to remove the turfs from the top and stack them upside down behind the shed so I get the topsoil back after the grass rots.

This should remove the necessary volume from the lawn to let me put in some sand and gravel to help with drainage and then I can lay New turf back on top.

In theory, I should plant this a fair bit down (say 6 to 8 inches deep, or perhaps more) then respread the topsoil back on before laying the turf.

As this is quite a lot of digging out and double handling, I thought I should check with the combined knowledge of the grapevine, in case I don't need to double up the work, or there is a better approach.

I would appreciate your comments and advice. Thanks in advance

[out in the cold]

Oh, I forgot to say that we plan to make it a pooch free lawn from now on, as that is basically half our problem....

[redser]

I think with the year we've had it's worth considering that some of your problems might be down to the persistent wet, dull and cold weather. I've seen so many posts on forums where people are considering digging their lawns up because they've gone so far downhill. Just a thought, maybe a renovation would be easier, cheaper and quicker?
We are normally known as the Emerald Isle over here, more like the yellowy brown isle at the moment.

[alldigging]

Anyway, a combination of the poor drainage and my dogs peeing on the lawn has basically killed it and so I am about to start over.

Our lawn looks awful too but with the weather it's had on it I am not suprised.

However.
Unless you can stop your dog peeing on it there is NO point in spending time and money sorting it out.

[out in the cold]

I realise that this has killed the lawn, but it was boggy to begin with before the cold weather set in and the rains came sideways. It was at that point that the pooches were let on the lawn...

I am gonna sort out the drainage seeing as I am starti.g over.

Our lawn looks awful too but with the weather it's had on it I am not suprised.

However.
Unless you can stop your dog peeing on it there is NO point in spending time and money sorting it out.

[Glutton4...]

Have a search for Leif's recent question on lawn resurrection - that should answer your queries. If you want to post pictures, that may help, too.

[Glutton4...]

Sorry, OITC, I wasn't being flippant, I'm off out, and thought it would be quicker for you to look it up, than me to retype it. Not blowing my own trumpet, but I used to work in commercial landscaping, and have spent many an hour, erm, 'playing' with lawns.

No, I don't miss it, not one little bit.

[out in the cold]

Cheers G4.

I never thought you were being flippant at all. I have had a wee look.

Enjoy your night out

[out in the cold]

I was thinking whilst digging (as you do).

As you can see from the photo, it is not a big area I am trying to fix.

What would be the pros and cons of digging perpendicular trenches which slope towards the veg beds?

Being used to dealing with drainage in terms of simply shipping water, I was wondering whether effectively digging a series of shallow land drains and a trench which will be filled with sand and aggregate would work.

The drawback that I am considering is whether it might lead to very uneven growth of the turfs, but am not sure if say 3 perpendicular trenches might be enough to compensate for this.

It means less digging and less cost for sand and gravel, which is why I am considering it.

Thoughts?

[out in the cold]

Here is what I meant.

Should I continue my two shorter feeder trenches on a bit?

[veggiechicken]

It looks like an archaeological dig, OITC I can't help with your drainage questions though - sorry

[Aberdeenplotter]

I've been scratching my head wondering what I'd tell a customer if presented with your problem and asked for a remedy. Taken me a while but I now have the answer. ------ Move house . Seriously though, It really depends on the quality of finish you are looking for and if it is a good even finish you want that won't show up your herringbone drainage scheme it is going to be difficult. Turning it on its head a wee bit, and thinking what I'd do if it was my garden, I'd take my photos along to my local golf course and speak to the green keeper and ask his advice. My instinct is to prepare the whole lawn area and think about putting a layer of shingle minimum 4" then a layer of Sharp sand/concreting sand not building/cementing sand , couple of inches and then your tops soil. It will cost a fair bit in terms of cash and application but then this is a long term investment.

Easy to suggest from my armchair I know.

[out in the cold]

I am not really that fussed about the finish, as long as I have grass to sink my tootsies into on the 4 days per year we get enough sun to sit out in it.

My main problem is the boggyness and the fact it never dries out really.

I will take a toddle over to the golf club and see when the greenkeeper might be available AP, cheers.

[out in the cold]

There is around an inch and a half each of 10mm gravel and sharp sand in the trenches from today...

[Two_Sheds]

My main problem is the boggyness and the fact it never dries out really.

I just wouldn't bother trying to grow a lawn, then. But that's me, always trying to find the easy/lazy solution


btw, I stood on a lovely bright green, squishy comfy lawn today. Looking closer, there was hardly a grass blade in it: it was mostly dandelion, daisy and moss, but boy it was green