Good afternoon All.
First off congratulations for the new fresh look Phil. My ipad seems to work much better.
It has been several months since I have been an active JNR member. A lot of things have been going on and I am rather glad it was winter when life got crazy!
Moving forward. For those that may not know I am starting up a premier lawn care business based in Hamburg, Germany.
The tax number will hopefully arrive this week. The tax number will allow the purchase of a shiny new lawnmower
http://www.frjonesandson.co.uk/products-page/machines/mowers/wheeled-rotary-self-propelled-mowers1/lawnflite-pro-21-cut-553hws-pro-self-propelled-wheeled-rotary-mower/
and the Stihl Kombi system. (Maybe from Mr Jones or maybe from my local dealer here in Hamburg).
Anyway back to my original question...
To over seed my old tired lawn that is not even flat and to use as a benchmark for what one can achieve from a run down lawn.
Or
Do I lift all the old turf. Approx 100sqm and then purchase premium grass seed to create a lawn that I would like to use for my portfolio and for marketing.
Both options naturally will be used for marketing / portfolio reference.
One point I must mention is that I am trying to push an organic business model.
I appreciate many of you would only use the roundup method, then seven days later another application then lift and dispose of the old turf by mid febuary (weather permitting). Yes I am pa1/6 qualified.
However bio and organic are key words and very trendy here in Hamburg.
So do I double dig and let it settle for a month then top soil and sow
Or do I physically remove the top two inches of turf dispose of it then lay some manure and sand as a bed and then top soil ready for seeding?
Hopefully you will find attached photo graphs. The quality is rather low to allow me to post 20 pictures (a picture paints a thousand words) at a smidgin over 3mb.
Many thanks in advance
Regards
Views: 39
Replies
Removing 10 ton of topsoil from site is hardly environmentally friendly compared to one application of glyphosate, even if technically more 'organic'. How about inverting 150-200mm sods and leaving until Apr/May, then cultivating and reseeding? Be ready for all the dormant weed and grass seeds to germinate, but with tender care your new sward should outgrow these as it thickens at its optimum height.
I offer free application of lawn herbicide to all new lawn customers in following season if necessary....mainly to alleviate customer's initial concerns when lawns (and weeds) first get going. Fewer than 5% of customers have availed themselves of this facility.
For a company offering lawn care to prove your company credentials, it would be best to treat with weed and feed method along with some top dressing and over seeding
You are not expecting all potential clients to have a new lawn installed prior to you commencing treatments are you.
If you decide to lift the old lawn cut as short as feasible then use a petrol turf cutter, turn sods upside down add top soil to level then apply new turf. cut as required once bedded, Leave for 6 months prior to application of any feed or weed control
Hi there John.
Thanks for the reply.
The inverting certainly sounds like hard work but not as bad as double digging!
Back in autumn I was hoping to get all of this done ready for spring yet unfortunately I have not been able to achieve this.
I had use of a cheap and cheerful rotorvater last year so i may borrow that or hire one for a day.
Please do not tempt me with glyphosate!!!!
I'm with Lawn lover, start a regimented programme, but you want to be looking at aeration (Hollow cores) along with an iron treatment to kill the moss followed by scarify.
Depending on weather maybe you could over seed when you scarify?
I think it would be a much better way to advertise yourself to be able to say to a potential client look what I achieved without the disruption of lifting and relaying turf. I can do this for you and it will save £££ on the cost of lifting and relaying the turf.
It is also a much more proactive process
I would only go down the route of lifting and existing lawn if the soil underneath wasn't suitable or non existent...
Hi lawnlover
Yes that has sort of been my thought process.
My original intent was to lay a complete new lawn.
Now because of timing etc I will look at "sprucing" up my existing lawn.
Methods will probably include hollow tine, with a good quality top soil together with seeding.
Yes by keeping the existing lawn to use as the perfect demonstration will add great value and true representation.
The weed and feed has been playing on my mind.
Which weed and feed products do you highly recommend. I can always off the weed and feed to those clients that ask for it.
I just wish I could keep everything 100% organic'ish!
Robbie thankyou for your much proactive reply.
Greg
You could try and do it without weedkiller, apply a heavy dose of Iron, and it will hold back your weeds for a period, also raise your cutting height and cut more often.
http://www.pitchcare.com/shop/organic-fertiliser/index.html
Also, stay clear of your manure, as it breaks down it will create an uneven surface creating bumps ect, chances are it will also create a nice thatch layer for problems later on too.
Gregory Roberts said:
Cheers Robbie.
I have spent many an hour looking at the pitch care site.
I know there is another topic running at the moment todo with iron or lawn sand I believe, I will investigate that other thread swell.
As for pitch care, how do you rate them for competitive pricing? I know they have a site over here down by Bavaria that seems to be awfully expensive.
What a fantastic top tip for the manure, never in a million years would I have thought that I would have a thatch and some what undulating surface due to it.
I now have to begin my research for a great value hollow tine machine or a manual type (any ideas for which machine offers the best bang for buck as my money has gone on the aforementioned lawnmower and konbisystem. Oh and which solid core aerator do we recommend please?
Thank you again
Greg.
If I was back in the UK , I would offer an Organic care package however my core model would be based around proven products that work.
I hope this Organic decision isnt going to be the vain of my life!
Hi greg, done loads of renovations like that,for me iron sulphate spray, two weeks later heavey scari, hollowtine if poss !! over-seed when temps are ok, 13 degree,s upwards plenty of water, before - after photos will be sound !!
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