Restoring a lawn

[cpm82]

Hello forum,

I've given my lawn a battering over the last week or so spending time tidying for spring planting etc.

The lawn has become muddy and bare in places. Pretty depressing in all honesty!

When is a sensdible time to apply new seed, scarify and aerate?

Also what type of seed should I aim for? May have answered my own question here but I'm looking for something sturdy and general purpose.

Thanks

C

[Kirk]

Scarify is to get rid of the dead stuff, so when weather allows I would say now if the soil is firm enough to take it. You could just turn it into mud at the top if wet.

Aeration that again need a bit of firmness as really you need to lift the ground and get something like sand or sand+compost in the newly creates space. If wet you arew likely to just return to mud.

Seed wise no idea, the fine ones that look good need a fair bit of care and the low care ones tend to be not the most attractive. I tried assorted ones and eventually gave up and sort of killed all the grass off.

Lawns are seemed to be considered "easy", they are not. My last patch of grass I need to add a boarder to (thinking 12 foot of decking) and then take it up, level, add 2 layers of weed suppressing mat then cover in slate chippings.

I would be tempted to scarify when it dries a bit, then aerate with a couple of bags of compost - try the B&Q ericacious stuff when aerating. The ericacious stuff seems pretty fine and so better for getting in.

[Snadger]

If you want a hardwearing lawn you need to have a seed mix with Turf Type Perennial Ryegrass in it.(lolium perenne) This will mean you shouldn't really be cutting below 25mm though.

[Cadalot]

Best time to sort out is end of March depending on how much rain we have had.

[bario1]

What's the best grass seed for a lawn shaded by trees?

[ESBkevin]

Grass is all but dormant at present. You will get a fork in deep to aid drainage and air the roots but then you must stay off it a while. If you have any or can get some, dress the area with a mix of fine compost and sand, the worms will take down the compost and airate somewhat better than you can but they won't enjoy chemicals. In about 6-8 weeks when growth starts you can apply seed to patches or indeed all of it. Dress again about June with yet more compost so the worms go to town and the root mass gets stronger.

[Jimmy]

You could always rotovate it and plant spuds for a year. Spuds should sort out the soil.
Then re-sown the lawn.
Or just keep it as a veg plot.
Jimmy