Lawn Renovations

W@P

W@P

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Thought I would start a thread where we can showcase our lawn renovations.

I am a bit of a lawn freak. And every year come end of August, it is time to do some renovations of my lawn. Living in the MP Highveld, winters are not kind to our lawns.

I will post updates as I go along. Anyone is welcome to join and show their progress.
My lawn area is about 100sqm

My general tools of the trade are as follows:
  • Scarifier/dethatcher. I have a little Black & Decker that has been going strong for 4 renovations thus far. Still on the original tines. I have bought spare tines from the UK for when it is time to replace them. This thing rips out all the dead grass/moss/thatc and spits it out. Kikuyu likes to be roughed up like motherfscker and then it bounces back with a bang. If you do not have one of these, using your normal mower on its lowest setting works fine.
    • 1756012374405.pngPic off the web.
  • Spike roller for aeration and flat roller for levelling /compacting topsoil/lawndressing.
    • 1756012853038.png

  • Lawn leveler for leveling out your bumps and dips with topsoil/lawndressing. I use a professional reel mower, and they like a lawn to be as level as possible for best results.
    • 1756013001559.png

  • Then comes my baby. The Professional Reel Mower for those chasing the perfect lawn stripes. I have a 17" model with a bulletproof Honda motor. No idea how old she is. Got her second hand. But these things last a lifetime if cared for. I mow my lawn myself, the garden engineer does not touch this one. If it happens that he needs to mow the lawn I have a Professional Hi-Vac petrol mower for him.
    • 1756013185375.png

  • For the edges, I got an Ingco battery-operated edge trimmer. I also use myself.
    • 1756013473177.png

This is mainly it. Also have an Ingco battery operated knapsack sprayer(best thing ever) for the treatment of weeds if they pop up.


My process starts as follows:
  1. Mow the lawn short if not short already.
  2. Run the scarifier/dethatcher one or 2 rounds over the entire lawn.
  3. Push/pull the heavy ass spike roller over the entire lawn. Make sure to water the lawn a day or so beforehand so that the spike can penetrate nice and deep.
  4. Overseed some areas that might need help with Kikuyu seeds or any other seeds if you want to create a type of hybrid lawn. I get my seeds from Grasses and Greens Supplies in Edenvale. They are the best. Do not buy the shiit on the shelves.
  5. Put down topsoil/lawndressing and spread it out using the lawn leveler, or you could use a heavy-duty outdoor broom or a rake.
  6. Do a couple of passes with the smooth lawn roller to compact and set the seeds nice and tight with the soil, and it also helps with the levelling.
  7. Water !!!
I give it a week or 2 to pop up and the soil to settle before my first mow. At this time, you can also add some fertilizer. I generally use Omnia's Greensulf 35, 2:3:2, or a nice all-arounder that I am going to try for the first time now is 5:1:5

Here is a nice reference card from Grasses and Greens
1756014320069.png


Important to give plenty of water if you put down fertilizer to prevent the lawn from burning.



Second post to follow...
 
My lawn is in very bad shape. I have neglected it pretty much for the last 12 months due to personal issues.
However, I feel good and have some vigor again to get it back up to standard.

This is what it once was and what it can be again.

1756016154047.png

1756016409121.png

This is what it currently is. I feel ashamed. But will bring it back to its former glory.

1756016277198.png

1756016344478.png

I have some really troublesome spots that need attention.

So today I start with the scarifying. That little Black & Decker will fill about 5 black bags from my entire lawn as it is atm. Amazing how much kak that thing rips up and spits out.

If all goes well tomorrow I will water to soften the soil for the spike roller to do its job on tuesday. And do the topsoil and seeding as well. Oh and the smooth roller.

Then I am off to the holiday home to start that lawn project for the first time. There I have about 500sqm of lawn to do.
Gonna be a busy week.
 
Well done! I'm too lazy / rather spend time in the garage, but I love looking at a beautiful lawn. Mine looks like the second one because it hasn't rained much this winter and I don't believe in water grass.

You need a bigger lawn, those top pics look stunning.

Next you need a nice hedge! Those walls make me depressed against such a beautiful lawn.
 
W@P said:
My lawn is in very bad shape. I have neglected it pretty much for the last 12 months due to personal issues.
However, I feel good and have some vigor again to get it back up to standard.

This is what it once was and what it can be again.

View attachment 1842920

View attachment 1842923

This is what it currently is. I feel ashamed. But will bring it back to its former glory.

View attachment 1842921

View attachment 1842922

I have some really troublesome spots that need attention.

So today I start with the scarifying. That little Black & Decker will fill about 5 black bags from my entire lawn as it is atm. Amazing how much kak that thing rips up and spits out.

If all goes well tomorrow I will water to soften the soil for the spike roller to do its job on tuesday. And do the topsoil and seeding as well. Oh and the smooth roller.

Then I am off to the holiday home to start that lawn project for the first time. There I have about 500sqm of lawn to do.
Gonna be a busy week.
Click to expand...

And this is why I’ve never liked lawns or understood the fascination.

It’s just a money and time pit with little to no real benefit, other than providing a flat surface.

Now granted as it stands my chickens have completely destroyed said flat surface, but once they are confined in a few months times I’m seriously considering the fake lawn option or even paving it all.
 
SauRoNZA said:
And this is why I’ve never liked lawns or understood the fascination.

It’s just a money and time pit with little to no real benefit, other than providing a flat surface.

Now granted as it stands my chickens have completely destroyed said flat surface, but once they are confined in a few months times I’m seriously considering the fake lawn option or even paving it all.
Click to expand...
Chickens. Fake lawns. Paving....


Sheesh I think you clicked on the wrong thread.

It's like one of those instant coffee posters trying to be relevant in a freshly roasted beans coffee thread.

:p
 
SauRoNZA said:
And this is why I’ve never liked lawns or understood the fascination.

It’s just a money and time pit with little to no real benefit, other than providing a flat surface.

Now granted as it stands my chickens have completely destroyed said flat surface, but once they are confined in a few months times I’m seriously considering the fake lawn option or even paving it all.
Click to expand...
Because it looks awesome. And the kids can put a water slide down and have a jol.

Paving and concrete is depressing...
 
SauRoNZA said:
And this is why I’ve never liked lawns or understood the fascination.

It’s just a money and time pit with little to no real benefit, other than providing a flat surface.

Now granted as it stands my chickens have completely destroyed said flat surface, but once they are confined in a few months times I’m seriously considering the fake lawn option or even paving it all.
Click to expand...
Sound like my neighbours.
When they moved in a few years ago it seems they thought a lawn is an expense and constant maintenance. So they removed all the grass and just left sand.
Now after a few years of their house(and the neighbours) being full of dust permanently, they laid new lawn at great expense a few weeks ago.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Because it looks awesome. And the kids can put a water slide down and have a jol.

Paving and concrete is depressing...
Click to expand...

I agree. Hence the fake lawn rather.

Problem is the kids have never really cared for it so that whole idea was nothing more than a delusion.
 
W@P said:
Thought I would start a thread where we can showcase our lawn renovations.

I am a bit of a lawn freak. And every year come end of August, it is time to do some renovations of my lawn. Living in the MP Highveld, winters are not kind to our lawns.

I will post updates as I go along. Anyone is welcome to join and show their progress.
My lawn area is about 100sqm

My general tools of the trade are as follows:
  • Scarifier/dethatcher. I have a little Black & Decker that has been going strong for 4 renovations thus far. Still on the original tines. I have bought spare tines from the UK for when it is time to replace them. This thing rips out all the dead grass/moss/thatc and spits it out. Kikuyu likes to be roughed up like motherfscker and then it bounces back with a bang. If you do not have one of these, using your normal mower on its lowest setting works fine.
  • Spike roller for aeration and flat roller for levelling /compacting topsoil/lawndressing.

  • Lawn leveler for leveling out your bumps and dips with topsoil/lawndressing. I use a professional reel mower, and they like a lawn to be as level as possible for best results.

  • Then comes my baby. The Professional Reel Mower for those chasing the perfect lawn stripes. I have a 17" model with a bulletproof Honda motor. No idea how old she is. Got her second hand. But these things last a lifetime if cared for. I mow my lawn myself, the garden engineer does not touch this one. If it happens that he needs to mow the lawn I have a Professional Hi-Vac petrol mower for him.


This is mainly it. Also have an Ingco battery operated knapsack sprayer(best thing ever) for the treatment of weeds if they pop up.


My process starts as follows:
  1. Mow the lawn short if not short already.
  2. Run the scarifier/dethatcher one or 2 rounds over the entire lawn.
  3. Push/pull the heavy ass spike roller over the entire lawn. Make sure to water the lawn a day or so beforehand so that the spike can penetrate nice and deep.
  4. Overseed some areas that might need help with Kikuyu seeds or any other seeds if you want to create a type of hybrid lawn. I get my seeds from Grasses and Greens Supplies in Edenvale. They are the best. Do not buy the shiit on the shelves.
  5. Put down topsoil/lawndressing and spread it out using the lawn leveler, or you could use a heavy-duty outdoor broom or a rake.
  6. Do a couple of passes with the smooth lawn roller to compact and set the seeds nice and tight with the soil, and it also helps with the levelling.
  7. Water !!!
I give it a week or 2 to pop up and the soil to settle before my first mow. At this time, you can also add some fertilizer. I generally use Omnia's Greensulf 35, 2:3:2, or a nice all-arounder that I am going to try for the first time now is 5:1:5

Here is a nice reference card from Grasses and Greens
View attachment 1842915


Important to give plenty of water if you put down fertilizer to prevent the lawn from burning.



Second post to follow...
Click to expand...
I have a Ransomes lawnmower.
I use organic fertilizer.
How long does that weed eater last on one battery charge.
 
upup said:
I have a Ransomes lawnmower.
I use organic fertilizer.
How long does that weed eater last on one battery charge.
Click to expand...
Lasts a long time, but I am knee deep in die Ingco ecosystem, so I have plenty of batteries.
But it lasts a couple of rounds.
 
SauRoNZA said:
And this is why I’ve never liked lawns or understood the fascination.
Click to expand...
Gravelled over our front lawn during the extended drought and never looked back.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Paving and concrete is depressing...
Click to expand...
So true.

Our house the previous owners paved like 80% of the property and I'm busy removing it to make way for grass and plants.

As for fake grass, watch out for summer days. I've heard stories that fake grass gets incredibly hot to the point you need shoes.
 
My bit of lawn is terrible. When they finished building I think they dumped a lot of junk/stone underneath, I probably have to dig up everything to get it all out.

Then I'm also on the edge of an estate and there's a big bloody leaf-cutter ant colony that spans across the edge. Every now and then I come outside and see the bastards carrying away some grass. They're pretty impossible to kill, they just laugh at me when I douse them with diatomaceous earth.

At some point it also got infected with those stringy things, they make little strings that connect between roots every 10-20cm or so, hard to get rid of. And then there's the thorn weeds, the complex gardener isn't going to waste his precious time pulling them out, instead he'll just cut/weed-eater them and get the thorns everywhere. Even when you pull them all out, a few months later you get a new batch coming out everywhere.
 
animal531 said:
My bit of lawn is terrible. When they finished building I think they dumped a lot of junk/stone underneath, I probably have to dig up everything to get it all out.

Then I'm also on the edge of an estate and there's a big bloody leaf-cutter ant colony that spans across the edge. Every now and then I come outside and see the bastards carrying away some grass. They're pretty impossible to kill, they just laugh at me when I douse them with diatomaceous earth.

At some point it also got infected with those stringy things, they make little strings that connect between roots every 10-20cm or so, hard to get rid of. And then there's the thorn weeds, the complex gardener isn't going to waste his precious time pulling them out, instead he'll just cut/weed-eater them and get the thorns everywhere. Even when you pull them all out, a few months later you get a new batch coming out everywhere.
Click to expand...
This happens often.

At my place, they compacted the whole stand with dollarite and laid sods of grass on top. So my foundations are rock solid, but I have to topsoil every year.

Also had a patch that was troublesome, and upon digging a bit, I found a patch/layer of concrete/cement. Where they mixed their mixes while building, and they just laid the sods on top of that. Fscking idiots.
 
Update:

So I filled this 200 something liter green bag and 2 black bags with dead grass. I could have filled another 2-3 bags going over the lawn again with the scarifier, but I had enough.

1756269104674.png

After that I gave some water for the soil to soften up for the upcoming spike roller session.

After the spiking. Could have done some more but I am happy with that.

1756269210295.png

1756269234338.png


After the spiking we worked and leveled the topsoil. Could have gotten a couple extra bags for better coverage. You would'nt say it but that is 12 x 50kg bags worked in there. Atleast I now know more or less how many to get next time. I usually went with lawndressing from Bark or Culterra, about 25 bags for my lawn. But I started buying from an old oom this time round. Then I overseeded with Kikuyu seeds.

1756269384545.png

Next up was the flat lawn roller to smoothen it all out and compress the seeds and soil mixture. Must admit this is the first time I used a smooth roller. Will do this everytime. I bought the fscking thing so now I have to.

1756269529236.png

Everything smoothed out. Next up is water.

1756269610236.png
 
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