Kitchen Garden Forum

I have taken over looking after a garden where I work. The gardeners who have been looking after the lawns and borders for two years have been really pathetic. Each week I would see them arrive, cut the lawns on a very high cut, blow the grass and leaves into the borders and leave, after half an hour. My clients are not gardeners so dont know any different. (Their advert on their van said that they were lawn specialists.) (Not) They would come and sit in their van for ages drinking coffee and then do as little as possible. No weeding,

My problem is that the grass is really bad, it grows this way and that with a very thick mat and lots of moss. If I do what I think I should which is scratch the thatch away and weed and feed the the lawn will initially look so bad that they will sack me on the spot.

I am frightened to cut the grass in case it is so bad they will sack me on the spot.

The borders have been smothered under leaves, blown there from the lawns. Ivy allowed to grow over the the borders and smother the trees.

I have removed fifteen bags of leaves, weeds and rubbish from the borders in three weeks.

I am worried now that I will make a mess of the lawns, all I want is a nice grass lawn. Nothing special just attractive.

Please can anyone give me some advice I would really appreciate it as I am having sleepless nights thinking I have taken on too much.

Hello Catherine
It seems to me that the lawns need scarifying (scratching). This is well worth doing but very tiring. My minitiller has scarifying attachments but even using this is hard work. If you have a large area it might be worth hiring a machine. The lawn does look a mess afterwards but there is no way round this. It will very soon recover though as the grass gets into its spring growth. March/April is the best time. You will have to explain to your employers what needs doing and that the lawn will soon recover - I'm sure that they will understand.
As far as weeding and feeding goes I would suggest a spot weeder to get rid of the deep rooted perennials. Then take stock of what you've got. See how the lawn gets itself back into shape. Feeding just seems to encourage a lot of growth and that means more mowing! Are you after something like a bowling green or just a neat and tidy lawn with a few daisies?

What mower have you got? A rear roller type with a grass box will always give a far better finish than a rotary with just side wheels.

Hope this helps

John

Hi Catherine,
I think that you should take the time to explain to your customers what is needed and what the initial result will look like and then it will not come as such as a surprise. Then with their consent carry on with the advice given by John.
JB.

Dear Catherine, John and Johnboy are quite correct about talking to the owners. Tell them the problem with the lawn, moss and a build up of thatch) explain what it needs, (scarifying) and that it will look worse before it gets better,then let them make the final decision.
Early Spring when the grass is just starting to grow rapidly is the best time, as it soon fills the bald areas.
And when you cut the lawn for the first time, whether you have scarifed
it or not set the mower high so that it doesn't scalp it,you can reduce the height over several cuts.

By the sounds of what you have already done, the borders must be a great improvement already, so i'm sure theyhave noticed that.

Most of all, try and enjoy what you are doing, gardening should be fun, and whatever happens you will doing a better job than the other lot.

Don't forget we are all here to lend you as much support and encouragement as you need.

I agree about scarifying the grass. The worse a condition it's in, especially if there's a lot of moss and thatch, the greater the need for scarifying. I'm sure if you explain to your clients that all this stuff is uffocating the grass and its roots, they will understand the need for this basic work to be done before any further steps can be taken to improve the way it looks.

It is very hard work though. The good thing is that grass starts to grow very quickly again at this time of year so it won't be looking patchy for very long.

Dear Catherine, just another thought, down this way we have a lot of lawn care companies, and for one off jobs like scarifying they can work out cheaper than hiring machines.

Just a thought, as it might take a little pressure off you.

On the question of large amounts of moss removed from lawns I can't remember whether I've asked this question before, but can it be stored and used as a garden mulch around plants or between rows of vegetables, or is there some component in the moss which wouldn't make it good for this purpose?.

I shortly have to start scarifying our back lawn which has developed a lot of moss and although I leave a pile somewhere for the birds to use for nest making, there's bound to be lots left over which I might as well use for some good purpose if possible.

Thank you for all you suggestions. Sorry not to reply to you all sooner as I am having problems with my internet.

Thats the nice thing about this site there are always helpful suggestions to any problem you might have. I am going to try and have a conversation next week with her and see what I can come up with. But when they are not gardeners they dont understand.

Just noticed that I have been posting on this site for two years on the 29th Feb. Where does the time go.

Catherine wrote:Thank you for all you suggestions. Sorry not to reply to you all sooner as I am having problems with my internet.

Thats the nice thing about this site there are always helpful suggestions to any problem you might have. I am going to try and have a conversation next week with her and see what I can come up with. But when they are not gardeners they dont understand.

Just noticed that I have been posting on this site for two years on the 29th Feb. Where does the time go.

It goes quicker than you thought Catherine. It's actually 3 years

After speaking to the bosses, is there anywhere you can put up a notice (a noticeboard being the obvious place!) to say what's happening with the lawns so you can give reassurance they will look wonderful when you've finished?

(And then you can come round and sort out my moss and mud patch!)

Gosh PJ thats another year gone. I can't obviously count. I made that post sitting in bed this morning recovering from a particularly bad head cold, that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Catherine wrote:Gosh PJ thats another year gone. I can't obviously count. I made that post sitting in bed this morning recovering from a particularly bad head cold, that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Wasn't a hangover was it Catherine

I wish that was all it was PJ. I started with a head cold a week last Wednesday, courtesy of my OH. Ended up in bed for two days, (not woman flu) I ended up with antibiotics on Monday. He had antibiotic for his head cold the week before.!!!!! So I am just starting to improve today. Might start sowing seeds tomorrow.