Gardening - what is this?

[Andy Bee]

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Please don’t do AstroTurf. It’s horrendous stuff. Dreadful for the environment.

I know, I know but the nature of my work means it can go long spells without me having the time to cut real grass. I love it when it's all nicely edged and cut but unfortunately time doesn't allow me to keep it like that.

[Jack]

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You sound all excited about that grass mate, if it's anything like mine you'll be cursing it come the end of the summer I'm seriously considering Astro turf for what's left of the lawn in my back garden and I'm going to attempt this resin and chips type surface to increase parking in the front.

We moved into a house 18 months ago which has artificial grass. I'm not going to change it, much, but it's not great. It gets dirty and the dirty doesn't disappear as it would getting ground into the dirt.

By the way. Has anyone got a vax wet and dry carpet washer (or similar) they want rid of?
I want to experiment using it to wash my artificial grass 😆
It might work ... or it might explode so I'm not wanting to spend much/anything finding out!
Cheers 🍻

[Andy Bee]

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We moved into a house 18 months ago which has artificial grass. I'm not going to change it, much, but it's not great. It gets dirty and the dirty doesn't disappear as it would getting ground into the dirt.

By the way. Has anyone got a vax wet and dry carpet washer (or similar) they want rid of?
I want to experiment using it to wash my artificial grass 😆
It might work ... or it might explode so I'm not wanting to spend much/anything finding out!
Cheers 🍻

You may be joking Jack but my mate actually hoovers his. It's pretty impressive and if you didn't know you wouldn't notice it was artificial although he used to work for Field and Lawn and gets the best of gear.

[greenlex]

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Looks good - what seed did you go for in the end?

I’m a grass nerd so my interest is genuine.

Got a ryegrass mix from RigbyTaylor. It’s an ultra fine dwarf mix called R9. Used for bowling greens and golf greens.
A mixture of straight 25% mix of each of Clementine, Alathea, Angelina and Cameron. Be interesting how short I can get it once it’s established. I’ve plenty left for overseeing it has to be said. Inadvertent I bought enough to redo my home golf course. 😂😂😂😂

[greenlex]

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You sound all excited about that grass mate, if it's anything like mine you'll be cursing it come the end of the summer I'm seriously considering Astro turf for what's left of the lawn in my back garden and I'm going to attempt this resin and chips type surface to increase parking in the front.

No not me Andy son. Can’t wait to get the cylinder mower over it.

[Moulin Yarns]

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I know, I know but the nature of my work means it can go long spells without me having the time to cut real grass. I love it when it's all nicely edged and cut but unfortunately time doesn't allow me to keep it like that.

Wildflower meadow instead, cut it in August and lift the cuttings. Think of the benefit to Pollinators.

[Mibbes Aye]

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Wildflower meadow instead, cut it in August and lift the cuttings. Think of the benefit to Pollinators.

I'm looking to make a hibernaculum, maybe two, once we get into autumn, with wildflowers on top. We get a few frogs and the like so it should hopefully be well used. It was the name that prompted me

[Andy Bee]

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Wildflower meadow instead, cut it in August and lift the cuttings. Think of the benefit to Pollinators.

I've actually looked into that MY and I love it. I'm going to get some pre grown turf for some of the back garden but I need an area for sitting/play area. I'm basically trying to make it more wildlife friendly but also useable with next to no maintenance if that's even possible.

[overdrive]

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We've been digging borders in our garden and it has been quite tough with the quality of "soil". Our house is a new build although we aren't the first owners of it (it is about 6 years old I think). We've dug up slabs, bricks, massive planks of wood, assorted bits of metal, other bits of rubble and lots of rocks. In fact, there are more rocks than soil. No wonder we were having issues with drainage on the grass that was there before. I've been trying to dig in some manure and compost along with putting down some bought top soil to try to improve things, but there is so much crap in there I don't think it is worth it now. There was a bit we were hoping to plant an apple tree but I think its roots will have nowhere to go. We might need to admit defeat, lay down some gravel and just put some pots there.

We were also planning on laying a patio ourselves but given how long it has taken for us to dig two borders and the rubbish we've found under there, we are dreading the ground prep part of the job. I think we will just have to bite the bullet and get someone in to do it for us despite the astronomical prices we were quoted for it before.

I gave up today on the border at the back of the garden in terms of trying to dig in compost and manure. Just so much crap (and large crap at that). Managed to get it relatively flat with patching bits with top soil and took advantage of an offer on blue slate chippings in Morrisons to cover it and we’ll get some raised beds. Done one side border ok but it was also tough but relatively small. Might try the other side border but if I encounter the same issue as at the back I’ll be doing the same though without the raised planters as they’d block light to some raised beds I’ve got for veg.

[Jack]

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You may be joking Jack but my mate actually hoovers his. It's pretty impressive and if you didn't know you wouldn't notice it was artificial although he used to work for Field and Lawn and gets the best of gear.

No, I'm not joking and I've already hoovered mine. Mrs Jackie went mental 😆 that's why I'm looking for a freebie vax type thing.

If I get one and it works I'll report back. It could be a wee business opportunity for someone lol. I'm so happily retired I doubt anything would tempt me to commit to anything other than a holiday!

[RyeSloan]

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No, I'm not joking and I've already hoovered mine. Mrs Jackie went mental that's why I'm looking for a freebie vax type thing.

If I get one and it works I'll report back. It could be a wee business opportunity for someone lol. I'm so happily retired I doubt anything would tempt me to commit to anything other than a holiday!

I have a small bit of Astro leading up to my garage door…I simply run the electric lawnmower over it at a high setting.

It doesn’t cut the Astro obvs but the suction that normally puts the grass cuttings into the grass box cleans it up lovely.

Basically what I’m saying is a cheap electric mower might do the trick.

Barring that you could get some free exercise and sweep the thing with a stiff broom! That said I’m normally puggled just sweeping the drive so if it’s a sizeable ‘lawn’ it might be best to do so over a couple of sessions

[Moulin Yarns]

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I've actually looked into that MY and I love it. I'm going to get some pre grown turf for some of the back garden but I need an area for sitting/play area. I'm basically trying to make it more wildlife friendly but also useable with next to no maintenance if that's even possible.

In my opinion, shrubs underplanted with herbaceous plants is as low maintenance as you can get. Most weeds will blend in with planting and any difficult weeds like nettle can be dug out or weedkilled. I have a lot of ground elder, pull the leaves at this time of year and you don't notice it for the rest of the year.

[Jones28]

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Got a ryegrass mix from RigbyTaylor. It’s an ultra fine dwarf mix called R9. Used for bowling greens and golf greens.
A mixture of straight 25% mix of each of Clementine, Alathea, Angelina and Cameron. Be interesting how short I can get it once it’s established. I’ve plenty left for overseeing it has to be said. Inadvertent I bought enough to redo my home golf course. 😂😂😂😂

I know the mixture well, I hope your mower goes low enough!

[greenlex]

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I know the mixture well, I hope your mower goes low enough!

Allett Liberty 43. Should go down to 6mm. Fingers crossed.

[Jones28]

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Allett Liberty 43. Should go down to 6mm. Fingers crossed.

Oh you luck bar-steward. Yes I should imagine you'll be fine at that!

[greenlex]

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Oh you luck bar-steward. Yes I should imagine you'll be fine at that!

I’ve only got one arm and one leg left to be fair.

[Andy Bee]

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Allett Liberty 43. Should go down to 6mm. Fingers crossed.

I'm now down the Allett rabbit hole, I've bought cheaper cars BTW. I can't believe I'm now reading about the benefits of Verticut, gawd I hate grass.

[Jones28]

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I’ve only got one arm and one leg left to be fair.

Have you got the cassettes for it as well?

[greenlex]

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Have you got the cassettes for it as well?

They are on the list for when needed. Verticut first as I’ve got an old scarifier that still does a job.

[greenlex]

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I'm now down the Allett rabbit hole, I've bought cheaper cars BTW. I can't believe I'm now reading about the benefits of Verticut, gawd I hate grass.

😂😂😂. Once you start on the lawn porn it’s a hard habit to kick.

[Jones28]

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They are on the list for when needed. Verticut first as I’ve got an old scarifier that still does a job.

Aw man, major lawn mower envy.

Is it the cordless or the petrol?

[greenlex]

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Aw man, major lawn mower envy.

Is it the cordless or the petrol?

Cordless electric. Very quiet. It’s very very good at keeping short grass short. Not so if it gets that wee bit longer. If that happens it’s best to remove the front roller and replace with two side wheels that come supplied. More an annoyance than anything else. This won’t be happening with the new lawn.

[Jones28]

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Cordless electric. Very quiet. It’s very very good at keeping short grass short. Not so if it gets that wee bit longer. If that happens it’s best to remove the front roller and replace with two side wheels that come supplied. More an annoyance than anything else. This won’t be happening with the new lawn.

Thats the dream.

One of these days.

My off-brand mower with Honda engine starts first time though.

I'd still keep it though, in case the grass got away from me.

[Jones28]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R8StYZQi_8

This is a decent channel for you lawn nerds out there, but also for those of you struggling in new build gardens.

[greenlex]

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R8StYZQi_8

This is a decent channel for you lawn nerds out there, but also for those of you struggling in new build gardens.

I do like a bit of Daniel Hibbert. He’s passionate and likes to chunter on a bit but I quite like that. It’s almost like he’s bumbling along but knows his stuff.

Another guy I like on youtube is a big Ulster man on Premier Lawns I think it is.

[Jones28]

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I do like a bit of Daniel Hibbert. He’s passionate and likes to chunter on a bit but I quite like that. It’s almost like he’s bumbling along but knows his stuff.

Another guy I like on youtube is a big Ulster man on Premier Lawns I think it is.

Big Robbie! Yeah they’re both pretty good. There’s another guy Ryan Knorr who’s based in the US but his lawns are phenomenal.

[greenlex]

IMG_6450.jpgIt’s coming on. Sown on the 12th May. Less than 4 weeks ago. Another 4-5 weeks to thicken out a bit and the jobs a goon un I think. Really pleased with it so far.

[overdrive]

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IMG_6450.jpgIt’s coming on. Sown on the 12th May. Less than 4 weeks ago. Another 4-5 weeks to thicken out a bit and the jobs a goon un I think. Really pleased with it so far.

Looks great. Our grass probably needs some TLC. We gave up any hope of being able to lay a patio ourselves (well the ground prep not the laying of the patio itself) after our experience of digging our borders and have someone coming in to do it. We are hesitant to do anything with the grass until then as no doubt they will wreck it a bit doing the work for the patio. That'll probably be the final bit of our garden project. Think we will just put some top soil over the dead patches rather than start from scratch.

[Jones28]

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IMG_6450.jpgIt’s coming on. Sown on the 12th May. Less than 4 weeks ago. Another 4-5 weeks to thicken out a bit and the jobs a goon un I think. Really pleased with it so far.

Looking good

I'm going on holiday in early July and want to top-dress before I go to give the stuff a chance to bed in without being trampled and chucked around by the kids.

Anyone used Caledonian Horticulture?

[greenlex]

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Looking good

I'm going on holiday in early July and want to top-dress before I go to give the stuff a chance to bed in without being trampled and chucked around by the kids.

Anyone used Caledonian Horticulture?

I used Caledonian Horticulture for my 70/30 sand soil mix. Goods were decent but delivery schedule for bulk bags was a bit sketchy. It did come within advertised time but don’t be in a hurry for it. Order now if you need bulk bags delivered and want to get it done in your timescale. Screened to 6mm but I did uncover a golf ball (titliest 3) in one bag. There were occasionally a big lump in it bigger than the screen size but it seemed to be all compost stuck together and not particularly well mixed that was easily broken down. Assumed it’s stuck together after screening or during transport. I’d use them again. I’ll be getting small bags for top dressing for sure.