Lawn condition poor due to compaction during construction

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 83

My lawn is generally poor due to compaction during construction of the house and heavy soil i.e. clay . I have taken some photos of it at present

Would a 'feed and weed' get rid of the weeds and help the condition of the lawn? Is B&Q's own brand of feed and weed sufficient or is the brand Evergreen, as recommended by Which magazine, much superior?

Finally, what would be the easiest way to aerate the lawn - it's about 400m2 and therefore too large to use a fork on.

Exclamation

Edited by moderator to add descriptive title............... see rule 11 http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about27.html

verge

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 83

GPI · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:31 am Post subject:

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 83

I always collect the grass cuttings so there doesn't seem to be any moss and little other dead matter - should I still scarify it?

A scarifier is expensive to hire - €50 - would this electric one on Ebay be any good
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/eletric-scarifier-lawn-raker-with-collection-basket_W0QQitemZ220211729731QQihZ012QQcategoryZ71272QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

An aerator is even more expensive - €70 per half day - would these lawn aerator shoes be nearly as good

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAWN-AERATOR-SHOES_W0QQitemZ200207685717QQihZ010QQcategoryZ112594QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

cooler · Silver Birch Tree Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 174

None of those pages will display for me Yorky, bits of the address missing or something. For what it is worth the lawn shoes are a waste of time as they dont go deep enough and you will look like a plonker wearing them. Razz

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 83

Have edited the post - should be working now.

BlackBird · Silver Birch Tree Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 165

Both look really Mickey Mouse to me. Possible waste of money alert as I reckon a garden fork is much more effective at spiking. And we all have garden forks.

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 83

I've persuaded my local hire shop to get a hollow tine aerator and it should be arriving soon. Could anyone provide a step-by-step guide to lawn renovation i.e.

Should I aerate or scarify first?
Should the soil plugs from the aerator be left on the ground or collected ?If so how?
What sort of sand should the holes be filled with and what is the best way to do this?
I've got some organic lawn feed - should I use this last of all?

Thanks in advance for any answers to the above and any other tips.

birdie

cooler · Silver Birch Tree Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 174

jashar99 · Hazel Tree Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Mayo

there is a nice 3min video on BBC's gardeners world website, see video projects

verge · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 9:54 am Post subject:

Two good ones here as well Spring Lawncare, How-to Video
_________________
Q. What is the best soil for growing plants?
A. Your soil.

Yorky · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 83

Thanks for your replies but:

I can't find the Gardener's World video

What sort of sand should the tined holes be filled with and what is the best way to do this?
I've got some organic lawn feed - should I use this last of all?

cooler · Silver Birch Tree Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 174

Sharp sand or grit sand should be used, not any of that soft plastering sand that most people have lying around. I know I have. Sharp sand is just that, sharp, and it has a larger particle size than soft sand. Grit sand is commonly used as a bedding material for paving.
But it can be easy to get the two mixed up so go to your local garden centre and ask to see their horticultural grit, it is similar to this that you need. Who knows, the garden centre may sell it in bulk at a decent price, otherwise you will be contacting your local quarry. Over time the sand that you brush in can become hard, so I suggest you mix it 50/50 with moss peat before spreading initially to prevent this.

Best way to do it is to spread liberally with a wheelbarrow and shovel then brush in or work in with the back of a flat rake. Don't worry if you cant make it all disappear by brushing, just so long as you have no heaps of it covering the grass and blocking out light. The rain will do the rest.

Apply the lawn feed a week or so after hollow tining and sanding to give the lawn a boost.

Now as a matter of interest how much is the aerator costing you to hire a day Yorky?