Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Garden Advice for Noobie

  • 11-04-2020 11:42am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭


    https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y2sBchBBw1J1sJDb9

    Okay in new house picture above (hopefully viewable) and previous owner not attended garden at least 6 months. Borrowed lawn mower and cut grass at high level and then down to 40.Cut it again today. Pulled up some dandelions and nettles cut some with a shears. Still plenty around. Also grass looks kinda scorched or faded.

    Attached a few pictures. Just looking at suggestions to improve lawn and kill weeds there. Then I can look at maintaining it. Also any suggestions for the perimeter around garden. Is it case of getting shovel and digging everything up. I have the time just not the tools

    It's our first garden as last house was paved

    All suggestions welcome

    Thanks


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    A Weed & Feed should work on the grass about now! Lots are hard sell but most just work the same way from the same chemicals. Whether liquid or pellet when applying, do half up and down the lawn then the other half across and back - you will get a better coverage and less likely to get stripes. Might have to let it grow for a couple of days before and after. Don't cut grass too short. It might look neat but a little longer means it out competes the weeds. Could do with a bit of a raking too to remove thatch.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭Irish Gunner


    GrumpyMe wrote: »
    A Weed & Feed should work on the grass about now! Lots are hard sell but most just work the same way from the same chemicals. Whether liquid or pellet when applying, do half up and down the lawn then the other half across and back - you will get a better coverage and less likely to get stripes. Might have to let it grow for a couple of days before and after. Don't cut grass too short. It might look neat but a little longer means it out competes the weeds. Could do with a bit of a raking too to remove thatch.

    Cheers

    Okay weed and feed just googling that any recommendations that I can get locally if open or online. That used on lawn and perimeter around to get rid of nettle and weeds

    I've no rake that is one tool I need. I cut it last weekend for the first time and again this weekend


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭Irish Gunner


    Can anyone recommend a good weed and feed that I can get online

    Cheers


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,895 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    you might not need it. there's no obvious signs of weed infestation, and the grass will look yellow if you've taken it back from being unkempt anyway - the bottom of long grass stalks will yellow due to there not being as much light available to photosynthesise.
    just keep cutting it on a high setting for a while and it'll recover.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭Irish Gunner


    you might not need it. there's no obvious signs of weed infestation, and the grass will look yellow if you've taken it back from being unkempt anyway - the bottom of long grass stalks will yellow due to there not being as much light available to photosynthesise.
    just keep cutting it on a high setting for a while and it'll recover.

    Some weeds in the grass maybe not evident in pictures

    Also plenty of weeds including nettles around the ages

    If I do apply weed and feed to these that kill them

    Thanks


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    Also plenty of weeds including nettles around the ages. If I do apply weed and feed to these that kill them.
    It is likely the weed and feed will kill or negatively affect everything except grass. Thats what it is supposed to do. You could just hoe the boarders - looks like they could do with it and a couple of cms of topsoil/compost.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭Irish Gunner


    GrumpyMe wrote: »
    It is likely the weed and feed will kill or negatively affect everything except grass. Thats what it is supposed to do. You could just hoe the boarders - looks like they could do with it and a couple of cms of topsoil/compost.

    Cheers

    Okay didn't know that weed and feed was only for grass.

    So saying get a hoe and get up the weeds and nettles in the boarders. Some of them roots firmly set in as was trying to get them up with a hand trowel


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    You don't need a full sized hoe for the few beds you have - one the size of your hand trowel will be easier to control around the plants in the beds. If you keep taking the growing tip off weeds they will eventually succumb and die.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭Irish Gunner


    GrumpyMe wrote: »
    You don't need a full sized hoe for the few beds you have - one the size of your hand trowel will be easier to control around the plants in the beds. If you keep taking the growing tip off weeds they will eventually succumb and die.

    Cut weeds with shears and used hands to pick them up. Have a small shovel going to dig up what I can. Some weeds amongst plants that we like to keep. Once I dig out the weeds I just replace soil with compost. Nettles are sore. Any way of killing weeds first and make easier to pull up

    Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    There are other weedkillers, anything with Glyphosate will kill everything - weeds, roots, plants, bees, insects and humans allegedly. To be honest you have such small area in beds, a quick till of the soil once or twice a month will keep most weeds under control.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    You need to till the soil to aerate the beds - that will disturb and probably kill most weeds. If you plant more wanted plants that will smother new growth. It is not like you have an acre of planting area. You don't need to dig out weeds just stop/interrupt their growth cycle by depriving them of sun/food. Removing the "green" tops starves them and they die.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭Irish Gunner


    GrumpyMe wrote: »
    You need to till the soil to aerate the beds - that will disturb and probably kill most weeds. If you plant more wanted plants that will smother new growth. It is not like you have an acre of planting area. You don't need to dig out weeds just stop/interrupt their growth cycle by depriving them of sun/food. Removing the "green" tops starves them and they die.

    Okay I scarifyed the lawn today think that what it's called. Grass bit patchy and faded. Going to try weed and feed if I can find it anywhere

    Started to dig around the ages trying to get weeds up and using our hands to pull off leaves.

    Hoping to get this done soon depending on supplies


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭Irish Gunner


    Going to try and get weed and feed online try to get it done soon enough. Take it if I do it and doesn't rain soon after I need to spray garden myself?

    Going to try dig out the weeds in the perimeter also. Is it best to dig everything up including soil and throw it into bio degradable bags and replace it with compost?

    Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    Going to try and get weed and feed online try to get it done soon enough. Take it if I do it and doesn't rain soon after I need to spray garden myself?
    Follow the instructions on the container.


    Going to try dig out the weeds in the perimeter also. Is it best to dig everything up including soil and throw it into bio degradable bags and replace it with compost?

    Don't do more than is necessary. Take the top off the weeds - they wont thrive if they don't gave a green presence above ground.

    Is it best to dig everything up including soil and throw it into bio degradable bags and replace it with compost?

    That's a bit of overkill.
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=665


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭Irish Gunner


    GrumpyMe wrote: »
    Follow the instructions on the container.

    Don't do more than is necessary. Take the top off the weeds - they wont thrive if they don't gave a green presence above ground.

    That's a bit of overkill.
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=665

    Cheers

    After doing the weed and feed what would be the next step?

    Do I need to put down grass seed to get lawn back to good standard and then maintain it.

    Still searching online for decent lawnmower also


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    The "weed" will kill off the weeds for the most part - and the "feed" will green up and get the grass looking healthy. Don't cut grass too short or the weeds will compete again. You might need to rake up the grass thatch but your grass should sprout again and fill any spaces.
    Thatch = https://tinyurl.com/ybq58au3

    A push cylinder mower will cut that in about ten minutes and give you a good workout. Get it sharpened once a year and it will produce fine results. Go East / West one cut then North / South next cut. Alternate directions will give you stripy lawn!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,785 ✭✭✭Irish Gunner


    GrumpyMe wrote: »
    The "weed" will kill off the weeds for the most part - and the "feed" will green up and get the grass looking healthy. Don't cut grass too short or the weeds will compete again. You might need to rake up the grass thatch but your grass should sprout again and fill any spaces.
    Thatch = https://tinyurl.com/ybq58au3

    A push cylinder mower will cut that in about ten minutes and give you a good workout. Get it sharpened once a year and it will produce fine results. Go East / West one cut then North / South next cut. Alternate directions will give you stripy lawn!

    Thanks weed and feed to arrive this week sometime so possible next weekend start on it. Pulling up dandelions left right and centre

    Have a rake like this https://www.google.ie/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alamy.com%2Fstock-photo-scarifying-garden-lawn-to-remove-moss-using-leaf-rake-102354195.html&psig=AOvVaw3_Jt1wGloig-T11_-Vl3g6&ust=1587461020030000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCPjK56PX9ugCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAF

    So used that after cutting grass or do I have to use it more ?

    Borrowed an electric lawnmower 1800w and works grand. The days as a teenager cutting parents lawn with a push mower haunt me so electric lawnmower I will get in the near future:)

    Need to get some peatmoss for the borders and try to dig up the weeds. Was looking at a blank canvas first but will try to turn the weeds and bin them and put some moss down

    Hopefully post an update soon but any suggestions tips please let me know as then I have to start on the front. But not much grass out there

    Thanks


Advertisement