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Community Forums => The Lounge => Topic started by: Mark_Porter on July 10, 2014, 06:43:35 PM



Title: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on July 10, 2014, 06:43:35 PM
I am useless at all things garden related. I have no idea how to maintain even the most simplest of things - whether it be my 3 rose bushes or just the back lawn.

Need some help from fellow blondes, Google is not getting me very far and results so far have been terrible. I don't want to spend hours primping and pruning. I just want help with the basics.

So, firstly, this is my front drive way :-

(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab297/mporter123/Driveway_zps8bde3a0a.jpg) (http://s873.photobucket.com/user/mporter123/media/Driveway_zps8bde3a0a.jpg.html)

It's the embarrassment of the street. I once bought something from B&Q and squirted it onto the green bits and in the cracks. All that seemed to happen was that a few big bits shriveled up while most of the patio just looked worse as it was covered in white stains. What do I need to do to make this go away and not come back?

Hoping to be able to post improvement pictures in the thread.

Next installment - hanging baskets.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Graham C on July 10, 2014, 08:28:34 PM
You could pull the weeds out then put weed killer down to kill the roots.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: david3103 on July 10, 2014, 11:30:50 PM
Weed killer and then have a go at clearing what's left, most of it being dead. I got a patio weeding tool from B&Q that helps clear the roots away,
http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/garden-tools-equipment/garden-hand-tools/weeding_tools/Good-Patio-Weeder-10767678

Then brush sharp sand into the gaps between the bricks which should, theoretically, keep them clear or fresh growth.

You may need to repeat this process but the second time is much easier than the first will be.


PS I'm not a keen gardener, but I do like sitting in a tidy garden and have spent much of the past year rectifying the damage caused by a very long period of doing little more than cutting the grass.
Now I'm adept at removing self-seed ash trees, including roots. Cutting back overgrown ivy and even managed to reseed a bald part of the grass which had suffered from being beneath the trampoline.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on July 10, 2014, 11:33:50 PM
When is a weed not a weed?

Gonna have a good go at this Saturday morning.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: david3103 on July 10, 2014, 11:36:13 PM
When is a weed not a weed?

Gonna have a good go at this Saturday morning.

I work on the basis that everything that grows where I don't want it to is a weed. All the greenery in the cracks on the drive is a weed on that basis.
It's a useful definition because it allows me to keep the daisies in the lawn because they are colourful :)


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Junior Senior on July 10, 2014, 11:55:10 PM
As David says get a weed brush / block paving tool. It's essentially a long broom handle with a small but very stiff wire brush on the end. Gets right in the cracks. Then weed killer in the cracks too. You could then pressure wash it to make it look proper smart


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: sharky_uk on July 11, 2014, 12:57:57 PM
Once you have removed the weeds and power washed you should brush in some kiln dried sand between the blocks rather than sharp sand.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: pokerfan on July 11, 2014, 02:38:48 PM
As David says get a weed brush / block paving tool. It's essentially a long broom handle with a small but very stiff wire brush on the end. Gets right in the cracks. Then weed killer in the cracks too. You could then pressure wash it to make it look proper smart

Get a wire brush head for a drill, does the job in no time.

Would avoid pressure washing unless you want to resand the joints.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on July 12, 2014, 07:24:54 PM
Went to B&Q this morning to buy the bits. I saw 4 people with pencils behind their ears, it's like another world.

(http://i62.tinypic.com/1679enl.jpg)

It looks a bit messy so might have to give it another go in the week. I haven't put the weedkiller everywhere yet either so might give that a top up later tonight.

That weed scraper thing David advised is brilliant!! Got all the crap out from between the pavings. Only problem was I realised I don't own a broom or brush so had to try and get it all into a bag by hand.

I did buy some sand but couldn't find kiln dried. I got building sand (soft sand), will that be ok? Do I just tip it onto the floor then brush it all in between the gaps? Need to invest in a brush next.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Eck on July 12, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
Got my drive cleaned today guys made a cracking job of it. They are coming back to put the sand down and will be using this (http://www.dansand.co.uk/products/polymeric-block-paving-fix/). First time they are using it but figure it is worth a go.

Kev B is probably your best bet for advice, I'm sure his business is fitting driveways.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: tikay on July 13, 2014, 08:36:18 AM


I saw 4 people with pencils behind their ears

A wonderful line.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Kev B on July 13, 2014, 11:08:27 AM
Hi Mark.

Firstly spray weed killer but you must do this while the leaves are still on as they will take the weed killer to the root. Block paving brushes are good for keeping on top of soil and moss build up in the joints. If the surface is just dirt then you may be able to clean it off with a patio cleaner and scrub with a stiff brush using good old elbow grease.

(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee61/Bloot58/untitled_zps0292ddd1.png) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/Bloot58/media/untitled_zps0292ddd1.png.html)
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee61/Bloot58/imagesENKHBILN_zpsf178a894.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/Bloot58/media/imagesENKHBILN_zpsf178a894.jpg.html)

If it is really bad then pressure washing is the best option. This will blast out some of the jointing sand but not all. Just top it up when the drive has dried out. Kiln dried sand is about £3 a bag probably a little dearer from B&Q etc.

For a more permanent solution clean and seal the driveway. My recommendation is to use Resiblock sealant. There are other cheaper sealants but they are not permanent. It's something you can do yourself, alternatively go to the website and they have a list of installers in all areas.  http://www.resiblock.com/

(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee61/Bloot58/images_zps228d2efe.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/Bloot58/media/images_zps228d2efe.jpg.html)


If you need any more help or info just PM me.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on July 26, 2014, 10:18:50 AM
Thank you for the excellent patio advice. It is looking much better now. Needs another couple of go's but much more respectable.

I need to sort this out now:-

(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab297/mporter123/hangingbasket_zps73c81a98.jpg) (http://s873.photobucket.com/user/mporter123/media/hangingbasket_zps73c81a98.jpg.html)

I have one either side of the front door. At the moment they just have some compost/dirt in from last year.

Are the pre-made versions of these usually good value or am I better filling them myself? I have some compost/dirt in the shed that I got last year but it's open, will this be OK? I assume I need to change the dirt from last year..

If I make them myself then what sort of plants do I need to be looking for? They would be getting a fair bit of sun.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: TightEnd on July 26, 2014, 10:32:01 AM
much cheaper to do it yourself,and much more satisfing too

last years compost fine, with some plant food from the garden centre to freshen it up.


all happy in full sun:

ivy geraniums

verbana (quite a few varieties available)

Calibrachoa/million bells

Diamond Frost Euphorbia

about 10 or 15 plantings in total, max, the latter three of these will really fill out, overhang etc


obviously daily watering once planted

hopefully your baskets have drainage? if not replace with those that drain, the new plants won't want to be sitting in a pool of water, they need a feed and then for the water to drain out


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: tikay on July 26, 2014, 10:47:06 AM
Thank you for the excellent patio advice. It is looking much better now. Needs another couple of go's but much more respectable.

I need to sort this out now:-

(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab297/mporter123/hangingbasket_zps73c81a98.jpg) (http://s873.photobucket.com/user/mporter123/media/hangingbasket_zps73c81a98.jpg.html)

I have one either side of the front door. At the moment they just have some compost/dirt in from last year.

Are the pre-made versions of these usually good value or am I better filling them myself? I have some compost/dirt in the shed that I got last year but it's open, will this be OK? I assume I need to change the dirt from last year..

If I make them myself then what sort of plants do I need to be looking for? They would be getting a fair bit of sun.

Had to chuckle at "I have some dirt from last year" & "I have some dirt in the shed".

What sort of gardening term is "dirt" if I may make so bold?

Can we buy "dirt" at the Garden Centre?

I'm joshing of course, but it really made me laugh, sorry!


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on July 26, 2014, 11:18:04 AM
I wanted to say 'compost' but then I am not sure it is compost. Had to satisfy the curiosity, here it is hidden under odds and sods:-

(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab297/mporter123/dirt_zps0274a5d2.jpg) (http://s873.photobucket.com/user/mporter123/media/dirt_zps0274a5d2.jpg.html)

Don't you have an allotment? Thought you would be an expert...

I did get a couple of bags from a garden centre originally, I just wasn't sure if they had some sort of use by date or they lost their nutrients.

I will write those names down and pay a trip back to B&Q at some point. They have drainage in that when you tip water in them it dribbles out the bottom onto the front door step.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: tikay on July 26, 2014, 11:20:25 AM
I wanted to say 'compost' but then I am not sure it is compost. Had to satisfy the curiosity, here it is hidden under odds and sods:-

(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab297/mporter123/dirt_zps0274a5d2.jpg) (http://s873.photobucket.com/user/mporter123/media/dirt_zps0274a5d2.jpg.html)

Don't you have an allotment? Thought you would be an expert...

I did get a couple of bags from a garden centre originally, I just wasn't sure if they had some sort of use by date or they lost their nutrients.

I will write those names down and pay a trip back to B&Q at some point. They have drainage in that when you tip water in them it dribbles out the bottom onto the front door step.

Good work Mark.

I've had a gardening expert examine that photo, & he reckons that is a child's pushchair & a golf bag.

Love the Hanging Basket explanation, too. Water dribbles ongo the front step. Yup, gotcha.

You must excuse me, I'm not dissing you, but I've got some fires burning elsewhere, & this thread is so theraupautic!


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: TightEnd on July 26, 2014, 11:23:38 AM
could you please tidy your shed up?

ocd palpitations here

thanks


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: tikay on July 26, 2014, 11:26:04 AM


Oh deary dear, what have I started....



Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on July 26, 2014, 11:30:59 AM
That child's pushchair also doubles up as a golf trolley on occasion.

The zoom out shot would have you far more worried. It's impossible to store old bits of cupboard, fish tanks, cardboard boxes, golf gear and garden paraphernalia neatly.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: RED-DOG on July 26, 2014, 11:45:36 AM
much cheaper to do it yourself,and much more satisfing too



This is excellent advice for virtually any situation.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: vegaslover on July 26, 2014, 12:59:52 PM
Thank you for the excellent patio advice. It is looking much better now. Needs another couple of go's but much more respectable.

I need to sort this out now:-

(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab297/mporter123/hangingbasket_zps73c81a98.jpg) (http://s873.photobucket.com/user/mporter123/media/hangingbasket_zps73c81a98.jpg.html)

I have one either side of the front door. At the moment they just have some compost/dirt in from last year.

Are the pre-made versions of these usually good value or am I better filling them myself? I have some compost/dirt in the shed that I got last year but it's open, will this be OK? I assume I need to change the dirt from last year..

If I make them myself then what sort of plants do I need to be looking for? They would be getting a fair bit of sun.

Defo do it yourself, flowers this time of year are usually very cheap as it is later in the season, they will also be mature so can fill the baskets


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on May 08, 2019, 09:48:30 PM
Gone are the days when a few weeds caused us problems.

We now have issues with a lawn.

(https://i.ibb.co/zxMQJXB/Garden.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xLkXH1B)


I mowed it a couple of nights ago and you can see where the lawn has been laid. Its really patchy and it's all in lines. It doesn't feel like a complete lawn but lines of turf with ruts of mud in between.

Any lawn experts about? I have picked up some grass seed, do you just sprinkle it about?


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: RED-DOG on May 08, 2019, 10:37:56 PM
Grass is the world's most successful plant. Just mow it regularly and watch it thrive.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Doobs on May 09, 2019, 09:49:48 AM
Grass is the world's most successful plant. Just mow it regularly and watch it thrive.

if only...

My front lawn just fills with weeds.  I use 4 in one lawn care, and it does seem to make the lawn grow more vigorously, but doesn't seem to kill weeds.   I also use a scarifier once or twice a year, but then the lawn looks a state after you have used it.

If you are putting seed down, I'd scarify it first, or something similar, then put a net over the repaired bit of ground for a few weeks.  Where I am, the seeds just get taken by the local birds if I don't put the net over.





Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on May 09, 2019, 04:40:44 PM
I might just leave the seeds for a month or so and see how it does with regular mowing.

I have only just moved in and the lawn was only laid a couple of months ago. Hoping it beds in a bit and looks a little more even after a summer of sun.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Doobs on May 09, 2019, 08:19:17 PM
I might just leave the seeds for a month or so and see how it does with regular mowing.

I have only just moved in and the lawn was only laid a couple of months ago. Hoping it beds in a bit and looks a little more even after a summer of sun.

Yeah, if it has only been there for 2 months, just let it fill in.   I would get some of that 4 in 1 stuff rather than grass seed for now.   If you do put seed down leave it for a couple of weeks before mowing and don't put seed down when it looks like a dry week ahead.   


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Supernova on June 19, 2019, 09:02:51 AM

Are any Blondes in a seed exchange and does it work for you? I ask as I was buying flower and veg seeds in small amounts online as I couldn't use them all in normal quantities and the shelf life was too short and then I googled seed swap and wondered if anyone had tried it?


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Jon MW on July 04, 2019, 01:24:05 PM
Bump for Supernova in case anyone missed it who can help.



But also - my wife likes the idea of using old chipped cereal bowls as pots for plants to put in our garden.

I can make the aesthetic work but I'm guessing this would mean plants/flowers with shallow roots and who can stand up to the occasional over watering (because of the lack of drainage through the bowls).

Anyone got any ideas of flowers or plants that would fit the bill? Or a way to put holes in cereal bowls without the bowl just cracking apart?


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: RED-DOG on July 04, 2019, 01:29:27 PM
Bump for Supernova in case anyone missed it who can help.



But also - my wife likes the idea of using old chipped cereal bowls as pots for plants to put in our garden.

I can make the aesthetic work but I'm guessing this would mean plants/flowers with shallow roots and who can stand up to the occasional over watering (because of the lack of drainage through the bowls).
(http://Anyone got any ideas of flowers or plants that would fit the bill? Or a way to put holes in cereal bowls without the bowl just cracking apart?)

It can be done.



https://www.eternaltools.com/blog/how-to-drill-through-plates


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Supernova on July 05, 2019, 10:18:58 AM
Bump for Supernova in case anyone missed it who can help.



But also - my wife likes the idea of using old chipped cereal bowls as pots for plants to put in our garden.

I can make the aesthetic work but I'm guessing this would mean plants/flowers with shallow roots and who can stand up to the occasional over watering (because of the lack of drainage through the bowls).

Anyone got any ideas of flowers or plants that would fit the bill? Or a way to put holes in cereal bowls without the bowl just cracking apart?

TYTY Jon MW!

Once you have cracked this, you might want to visit charity shops and the like for more pots for different heights, shapes etc if you are thinking of making a display somewhere (like next to a door) and not just random pots.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on March 31, 2020, 11:25:54 AM
Gone are the days when a few weeds caused us problems.

We now have issues with a lawn.

(https://i.ibb.co/zxMQJXB/Garden.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xLkXH1B)


I mowed it a couple of nights ago and you can see where the lawn has been laid. Its really patchy and it's all in lines. It doesn't feel like a complete lawn but lines of turf with ruts of mud in between.

Any lawn experts about? I have picked up some grass seed, do you just sprinkle it about?

(https://i.ibb.co/j5bGp5M/lawn.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9vc2MvT)

Why has this happened to my once lovely lawn?

How do I fix it?


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on March 31, 2020, 11:43:47 AM
(https://i.ibb.co/9w8LgwM/Lawn-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jV62fVp)

Jeez, look at the front compared to the Jones's over the road. Absolute state.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: vegaslover on March 31, 2020, 12:52:38 PM
Mostly due to the weather, most the garden near me look the same. Mine was fine, now looks very brown and downtrodden as me and my Son playing football in garden everyday.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on March 31, 2020, 04:15:06 PM
Yep, the garden was like an absolute bog for the last couple of months, front and back.

Am a bit concerned it won't come back to life though. I was going to have a go at it with a rake and I have some grass seed but I don't really know what I'm doing.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: RED-DOG on March 31, 2020, 11:04:58 PM
I recommend getting a mole.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: EvilPie on April 01, 2020, 07:49:44 AM
Yep, the garden was like an absolute bog for the last couple of months, front and back.

Am a bit concerned it won't come back to life though. I was going to have a go at it with a rake and I have some grass seed but I don't really know what I'm doing.

Raking and over seeding might make it look a bit nicer short term but I'd guess it needs something a bit more substantial if you want to compete with the Jones's.

I'm not an expert but I have a rough idea based on what has worked on my lawn which was also a bog at one point... Most of it is just common sense to me but there's a chance I'm way off the mark so please do your own research and feel free to tell me that I have it completely wrong. YouTube is a great resource by the way, just search 'lawn care' and you'll have hundreds of tips available to watch.

Assuming every other lawn in the neighbourhood isn't a bog then it's probably just that your soil is overly compacted so can't drain.

Ideally as you have a bit of time on your hands you want to build a soakaway in the bit of your lawn that gets the worst of it. Whichever bit gets the most surface water is where the water is naturally draining to so this is the obvious place for a soakaway. You just need to dig a big f**k off hole (the bigger and f**k offer the better) back fill it with some big rocks that leave lots of gaps, stick some weed protection fabric over the top of that then fill with soil and top off with turf/seeds. Simple but hard work.....

Hollow tine aerating will also help to relieve some of the compaction but it probably won't get rid of your 'bog' issue. That's where you dig out loads of cylinder shapes from the lawn which then gives it room to breathe a bit as it slowly settles back in to the gaps you've created. One of these things will do the trick: https://www.primrose.co.uk/-p-125164.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Iv0BRDaARIsAGTWD1sYPT9vQBo1sEqIzDfLfC6crY-7Tis9N5Rlmn2bDSL1BfhzHEqdjV0aAjmnEALw_wcB

I've never done this before as I have a natural aversion to hard work and it looks like a living nightmare. I did pay someone to do it for me with a machine last year and will probably do it again every year as I was very pleased with the results. I have a soakaway and also did the hollow tine aeration and my lawn looks decent despite having a dog regularly running around on it.

Your problem could just be that your turf hasn't knitted in to the soil underneath because both were compacted. That would mean that your grass only has a few cms of mud to grow in to which isn't great. Try digging out a small section of the lawn and see if you can lift it in a sheet, if you can then it's still turf and hasn't turned in to lawn...... Common sense (not expert knowledge) would suggest that the hollow tine aeration will help this knitting process. Cylinder through turf and soil underneath slowly gets filled and they therefore combine in to one.....

Good luck with it, hope to see some impressive results by summer....



Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on April 01, 2020, 09:11:27 AM
Yep, the garden was like an absolute bog for the last couple of months, front and back.

Am a bit concerned it won't come back to life though. I was going to have a go at it with a rake and I have some grass seed but I don't really know what I'm doing.

Raking and over seeding might make it look a bit nicer short term but I'd guess it needs something a bit more substantial if you want to compete with the Jones's.

I'm not an expert but I have a rough idea based on what has worked on my lawn which was also a bog at one point... Most of it is just common sense to me but there's a chance I'm way off the mark so please do your own research and feel free to tell me that I have it completely wrong. YouTube is a great resource by the way, just search 'lawn care' and you'll have hundreds of tips available to watch.

Assuming every other lawn in the neighbourhood isn't a bog then it's probably just that your soil is overly compacted so can't drain.

Ideally as you have a bit of time on your hands you want to build a soakaway in the bit of your lawn that gets the worst of it. Whichever bit gets the most surface water is where the water is naturally draining to so this is the obvious place for a soakaway. You just need to dig a big f**k off hole (the bigger and f**k offer the better) back fill it with some big rocks that leave lots of gaps, stick some weed protection fabric over the top of that then fill with soil and top off with turf/seeds. Simple but hard work.....

Hollow tine aerating will also help to relieve some of the compaction but it probably won't get rid of your 'bog' issue. That's where you dig out loads of cylinder shapes from the lawn which then gives it room to breathe a bit as it slowly settles back in to the gaps you've created. One of these things will do the trick: https://www.primrose.co.uk/-p-125164.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Iv0BRDaARIsAGTWD1sYPT9vQBo1sEqIzDfLfC6crY-7Tis9N5Rlmn2bDSL1BfhzHEqdjV0aAjmnEALw_wcB

I've never done this before as I have a natural aversion to hard work and it looks like a living nightmare. I did pay someone to do it for me with a machine last year and will probably do it again every year as I was very pleased with the results. I have a soakaway and also did the hollow tine aeration and my lawn looks decent despite having a dog regularly running around on it.

Your problem could just be that your turf hasn't knitted in to the soil underneath because both were compacted. That would mean that your grass only has a few cms of mud to grow in to which isn't great. Try digging out a small section of the lawn and see if you can lift it in a sheet, if you can then it's still turf and hasn't turned in to lawn...... Common sense (not expert knowledge) would suggest that the hollow tine aeration will help this knitting process. Cylinder through turf and soil underneath slowly gets filled and they therefore combine in to one.....

Good luck with it, hope to see some impressive results by summer....



Thanks :-)

Will do some digging both on Youtube and in the garden and see if we can get it back to something respectable.

When I was out fiddling out the front at the weekend, the old boy from down the road came to pass judgement and proudly told me he had astro turfed his whole back garden. Pffff, cop out.


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Doobs on April 01, 2020, 09:38:09 AM
Yep, the garden was like an absolute bog for the last couple of months, front and back.

Am a bit concerned it won't come back to life though. I was going to have a go at it with a rake and I have some grass seed but I don't really know what I'm doing.

Raking and over seeding might make it look a bit nicer short term but I'd guess it needs something a bit more substantial if you want to compete with the Jones's.

I'm not an expert but I have a rough idea based on what has worked on my lawn which was also a bog at one point... Most of it is just common sense to me but there's a chance I'm way off the mark so please do your own research and feel free to tell me that I have it completely wrong. YouTube is a great resource by the way, just search 'lawn care' and you'll have hundreds of tips available to watch.

Assuming every other lawn in the neighbourhood isn't a bog then it's probably just that your soil is overly compacted so can't drain.

Ideally as you have a bit of time on your hands you want to build a soakaway in the bit of your lawn that gets the worst of it. Whichever bit gets the most surface water is where the water is naturally draining to so this is the obvious place for a soakaway. You just need to dig a big f**k off hole (the bigger and f**k offer the better) back fill it with some big rocks that leave lots of gaps, stick some weed protection fabric over the top of that then fill with soil and top off with turf/seeds. Simple but hard work.....

Hollow tine aerating will also help to relieve some of the compaction but it probably won't get rid of your 'bog' issue. That's where you dig out loads of cylinder shapes from the lawn which then gives it room to breathe a bit as it slowly settles back in to the gaps you've created. One of these things will do the trick: https://www.primrose.co.uk/-p-125164.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Iv0BRDaARIsAGTWD1sYPT9vQBo1sEqIzDfLfC6crY-7Tis9N5Rlmn2bDSL1BfhzHEqdjV0aAjmnEALw_wcB

I've never done this before as I have a natural aversion to hard work and it looks like a living nightmare. I did pay someone to do it for me with a machine last year and will probably do it again every year as I was very pleased with the results. I have a soakaway and also did the hollow tine aeration and my lawn looks decent despite having a dog regularly running around on it.

Your problem could just be that your turf hasn't knitted in to the soil underneath because both were compacted. That would mean that your grass only has a few cms of mud to grow in to which isn't great. Try digging out a small section of the lawn and see if you can lift it in a sheet, if you can then it's still turf and hasn't turned in to lawn...... Common sense (not expert knowledge) would suggest that the hollow tine aeration will help this knitting process. Cylinder through turf and soil underneath slowly gets filled and they therefore combine in to one.....

Good luck with it, hope to see some impressive results by summer....



Thanks :-)

Will do some digging both on Youtube and in the garden and see if we can get it back to something respectable.

When I was out fiddling out the front at the weekend, the old boy from down the road came to pass judgement and proudly told me he had astro turfed his whole back garden. Pffff, cop out.

There is a fella very near us who installs artificial lawns, so there are a few near us.  I have taken a bit of pride from making my front one a lot better by scarifying, raking and reseeding last year.  My mum put a soakaway at the back of her garden and that significantly improved both her garden and the one behind.

You might have difficulty getting hold of stuff, as the garden centres and B and Q have closed around here.  I have been pretty good at stopping my deliveries for now, but judging by the stream of delivery vans, my missus seems to have taken the opposite view.  I don't know what others are doing.  I was looking at getting a cheapo greenhouse, but have put that on hold.  I guess I will struggle to get things to fill it with anyway. 



Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: EvilPie on April 01, 2020, 09:50:27 AM

There is a fella very near us who installs artificial lawns, so there are a few near us.  I have taken a bit of pride from making my front one a lot better by scarifying, raking and reseeding last year.  My mum put a soakaway at the back of her garden and that significantly improved both her garden and the one behind.

You might have difficulty getting hold of stuff, as the garden centres and B and Q have closed around here.  I have been pretty good at stopping my deliveries for now, but judging by the stream of delivery vans, my missus seems to have taken the opposite view.  I don't know what others are doing.  I was looking at getting a cheapo greenhouse, but have put that on hold.  I guess I will struggle to get things to fill it with anyway. 


Artificial lawns are brilliant for small bits of lawns where it's barely worth getting a lawn mower out for. I'm considering one for a section of my back garden that's really awkward. I have a reasonably large main lawn that's pretty easy to attack with my beast of a mower but then there's a raised area with shapes, steps and a tree that's an absolute to negotiate with a large mower. Artificial grass up there would be brilliant if I can get something that vaguely matches the main lawn.

Give it a couple of weeks and the DIY panic buyers will have got all their paint and garden supplies to tide them over for the next few years. We're in this for the long haul so if I were you I'd treat it as a holiday for two weeks and then look at projects once all the idiots have had their shopping fix.



Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: EvilPie on April 01, 2020, 09:56:24 AM
Yep, the garden was like an absolute bog for the last couple of months, front and back.

Am a bit concerned it won't come back to life though. I was going to have a go at it with a rake and I have some grass seed but I don't really know what I'm doing.

Raking and over seeding might make it look a bit nicer short term but I'd guess it needs something a bit more substantial if you want to compete with the Jones's.

I'm not an expert but I have a rough idea based on what has worked on my lawn which was also a bog at one point... Most of it is just common sense to me but there's a chance I'm way off the mark so please do your own research and feel free to tell me that I have it completely wrong. YouTube is a great resource by the way, just search 'lawn care' and you'll have hundreds of tips available to watch.

Assuming every other lawn in the neighbourhood isn't a bog then it's probably just that your soil is overly compacted so can't drain.

Ideally as you have a bit of time on your hands you want to build a soakaway in the bit of your lawn that gets the worst of it. Whichever bit gets the most surface water is where the water is naturally draining to so this is the obvious place for a soakaway. You just need to dig a big f**k off hole (the bigger and f**k offer the better) back fill it with some big rocks that leave lots of gaps, stick some weed protection fabric over the top of that then fill with soil and top off with turf/seeds. Simple but hard work.....

Hollow tine aerating will also help to relieve some of the compaction but it probably won't get rid of your 'bog' issue. That's where you dig out loads of cylinder shapes from the lawn which then gives it room to breathe a bit as it slowly settles back in to the gaps you've created. One of these things will do the trick: https://www.primrose.co.uk/-p-125164.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Iv0BRDaARIsAGTWD1sYPT9vQBo1sEqIzDfLfC6crY-7Tis9N5Rlmn2bDSL1BfhzHEqdjV0aAjmnEALw_wcB

I've never done this before as I have a natural aversion to hard work and it looks like a living nightmare. I did pay someone to do it for me with a machine last year and will probably do it again every year as I was very pleased with the results. I have a soakaway and also did the hollow tine aeration and my lawn looks decent despite having a dog regularly running around on it.

Your problem could just be that your turf hasn't knitted in to the soil underneath because both were compacted. That would mean that your grass only has a few cms of mud to grow in to which isn't great. Try digging out a small section of the lawn and see if you can lift it in a sheet, if you can then it's still turf and hasn't turned in to lawn...... Common sense (not expert knowledge) would suggest that the hollow tine aeration will help this knitting process. Cylinder through turf and soil underneath slowly gets filled and they therefore combine in to one.....

Good luck with it, hope to see some impressive results by summer....



Thanks :-)

Will do some digging both on Youtube and in the garden and see if we can get it back to something respectable.

When I was out fiddling out the front at the weekend, the old boy from down the road came to pass judgement and proudly told me he had astro turfed his whole back garden. Pffff, cop out.

In your situation I'd seriously consider artificial grass for the front lawn or even some other decorative low maintenance option.

It's a small area and barely worth transporting the mower from the back where I assume it lives in the shed. It's also always going to be bare at the edges because the paving sucks all the moisture away and that tree and couple of manhole covers really don't help. It's never going to be a beautiful lawn so anything other than grass is probably going to work better.

Why not have some nice bushes along the front, maybe a few up the sides and then just gravel it?


Title: Re: A Thread for Green Fingers
Post by: Mark_Porter on April 02, 2020, 09:31:08 AM
Yep, the garden was like an absolute bog for the last couple of months, front and back.

Am a bit concerned it won't come back to life though. I was going to have a go at it with a rake and I have some grass seed but I don't really know what I'm doing.

Raking and over seeding might make it look a bit nicer short term but I'd guess it needs something a bit more substantial if you want to compete with the Jones's.

I'm not an expert but I have a rough idea based on what has worked on my lawn which was also a bog at one point... Most of it is just common sense to me but there's a chance I'm way off the mark so please do your own research and feel free to tell me that I have it completely wrong. YouTube is a great resource by the way, just search 'lawn care' and you'll have hundreds of tips available to watch.

Assuming every other lawn in the neighbourhood isn't a bog then it's probably just that your soil is overly compacted so can't drain.

Ideally as you have a bit of time on your hands you want to build a soakaway in the bit of your lawn that gets the worst of it. Whichever bit gets the most surface water is where the water is naturally draining to so this is the obvious place for a soakaway. You just need to dig a big f**k off hole (the bigger and f**k offer the better) back fill it with some big rocks that leave lots of gaps, stick some weed protection fabric over the top of that then fill with soil and top off with turf/seeds. Simple but hard work.....

Hollow tine aerating will also help to relieve some of the compaction but it probably won't get rid of your 'bog' issue. That's where you dig out loads of cylinder shapes from the lawn which then gives it room to breathe a bit as it slowly settles back in to the gaps you've created. One of these things will do the trick: https://www.primrose.co.uk/-p-125164.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Iv0BRDaARIsAGTWD1sYPT9vQBo1sEqIzDfLfC6crY-7Tis9N5Rlmn2bDSL1BfhzHEqdjV0aAjmnEALw_wcB

I've never done this before as I have a natural aversion to hard work and it looks like a living nightmare. I did pay someone to do it for me with a machine last year and will probably do it again every year as I was very pleased with the results. I have a soakaway and also did the hollow tine aeration and my lawn looks decent despite having a dog regularly running around on it.

Your problem could just be that your turf hasn't knitted in to the soil underneath because both were compacted. That would mean that your grass only has a few cms of mud to grow in to which isn't great. Try digging out a small section of the lawn and see if you can lift it in a sheet, if you can then it's still turf and hasn't turned in to lawn...... Common sense (not expert knowledge) would suggest that the hollow tine aeration will help this knitting process. Cylinder through turf and soil underneath slowly gets filled and they therefore combine in to one.....

Good luck with it, hope to see some impressive results by summer....



Thanks :-)

Will do some digging both on Youtube and in the garden and see if we can get it back to something respectable.

When I was out fiddling out the front at the weekend, the old boy from down the road came to pass judgement and proudly told me he had astro turfed his whole back garden. Pffff, cop out.

In your situation I'd seriously consider artificial grass for the front lawn or even some other decorative low maintenance option.

It's a small area and barely worth transporting the mower from the back where I assume it lives in the shed. It's also always going to be bare at the edges because the paving sucks all the moisture away and that tree and couple of manhole covers really don't help. It's never going to be a beautiful lawn so anything other than grass is probably going to work better.

Why not have some nice bushes along the front, maybe a few up the sides and then just gravel it?


This is the other Jones's. They had a patch of grass on either side and just finished off pulling it all out and putting down gravel / slate. It does look pretty good to be fair.

Maybe I should think about another option for the front. Those man hole covers are an eyesore.

(https://i.ibb.co/hVp7Jq8/IMG-20200401-151108787-HDR-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5LqMg7c)

I started attacking the back garden yesterday. Lots of dead stuff coming up. I have ordered some grass seed and have some left over compost from last year. I think I will try and re-seed and see if that works. The garden is dry as a bone now but very little alive grass left.

(https://i.ibb.co/km1RX2s/thumbnail-IMG-20200401-145325993-HDR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WVtbfv4)