Gardening...

[Cambridgecutie]

I really got into gardening during lockdown which coincided with a move to a new Victorian home with quite a large garden, much of which hadn't been touched in some 40 years according to neighbours.  I spent most of lockdown, dawn to dusk, attempting to get it into some semblance of normality!  I am now trying to improve the lawn.  Applied a moss killer and raked out a load of debris but its uneven.  Haha had the spirit level out earlier and the unevenness isn't too bad!  Was thinking of applying good quality top soil and reseeding.  Does anyone have experience of this?

[snow66!]

I really got into gardening during lockdown which coincided with a move to a new Victorian home with quite a large garden, much of which hadn't been touched in some 40 years according to neighbours.  I spent most of lockdown, dawn to dusk, attempting to get it into some semblance of normality!  I am now trying to improve the lawn.  Applied a moss killer and raked out a load of debris but its uneven.  Haha had the spirit level out earlier and the unevenness isn't too bad!  Was thinking of applying good quality top soil and reseeding.  Does anyone have experience of this?

I have sown grass seed, that's about it, Cutie!
Dont do anything with flowers or such, I only grow potatoes, I put in a few drills today!
Funnily enough, I was taking note of the ongoing lack of worms and other beasties while digging!
All that I dug up today was about a half dozen worms, nothing else, no beetles, no centipedes, nothing!
When we used to help our dad to plant the tatties 40-50 years ago a worm was unearthed with every spade full of earth [soil], And beside this, i'm sure everyone must have noticed that there is no longer a need for fly squash remover for your car windows! Remember when you're car windscreen was covered in red insect stains? When did you last see that?
No, whether its to do with global warming or just a phase, there is definately less flies, bugs and worms to be seen nowadays!
Oh well, that wont help your lawn situation, Cutie!

[Cambridgecutie]

CCs garden

Yes unlike you I have friends who like to party 

[Cambridgecutie]

I have sown grass seed, that's about it, Cutie!
Dont do anything with flowers or such, I only grow potatoes, I put in a few drills today!
Funnily enough, I was taking note of the ongoing lack of worms and other beasties while digging!
All that I dug up today was about a half dozen worms, nothing else, no beetles, no centipedes, nothing!
When we used to help our dad to plant the tatties 40-50 years ago a worm was unearthed with every spade full of earth [soil], And beside this, i'm sure everyone must have noticed that there is no longer a need for fly squash remover for your car windows! Remember when you're car windscreen was covered in red insect stains? When did you last see that?
No, whether its to do with global warming or just a phase, there is definately less flies, bugs and worms to be seen nowadays!
Oh well, that wont help your lawn situation, Cutie!

Yes you're right I have noticed a distinct lack of worms which act an natural aerators in the lawn/soil. 

I have an irrational fear of moths and thankfully hardly see any now.  At one time I would dread arriving home after dusk as they suddenly appear when any sort of light is turned on ie garden/porch etc. 

Apparently the demise of insects is in part down to the use of pesticides which I am guilty of using for weed control     I don't recall my dad ever using any. 

I have tried to make the garden low maintenance.  One side I've gravelled.  When I cleared it, which took weeks, due to 40 years plus overgrowth, I found a fallen tree brought down by Ivy.  I have left the tree and planted Pachysandra under it which acts as a ground cover.  This area also has a couple of Elders and Hazel trees.  I have also put in ornamental grasses. 

The other side is lawn which I am attempting to improve.  One border is full of lavender and the other a mixture of annuals and perennials.  I would grow a lot more but the summers are so warm and dry and it is too time consuming with all the watering.  So I have designed it to be as low maintenance as possible with a lot of drought resistant plants. 

[Cambridgecutie]

Oh I forgot at the centre is a large, careful how I say this, Acunthus Mollis!  It looks a bit like a huge rhubarb plant but come the summer it sprouts huge flower heads and looks amazing. 

[snow66!]

Yes you're right I have noticed a distinct lack of worms which act an natural aerators in the lawn/soil. 

I have an irrational fear of moths and thankfully hardly see any now.  At one time I would dread arriving home after dusk as they suddenly appear when any sort of light is turned on ie garden/porch etc. 

Apparently the demise of insects is in part down to the use of pesticides which I am guilty of using for weed control     I don't recall my dad ever using any. 

I have tried to make the garden low maintenance.  One side I've gravelled.  When I cleared it, which took weeks, due to 40 years plus overgrowth, I found a fallen tree brought down by Ivy.  I have left the tree and planted Pachysandra under it which acts as a ground cover.  This area also has a couple of Elders and Hazel trees.  I have also put in ornamental grasses. 

The other side is lawn which I am attempting to improve.  One border is full of lavender and the other a mixture of annuals and perennials.  I would grow a lot more but the summers are so warm and dry and it is too time consuming with all the watering.  So I have designed it to be as low maintenance as possible with a lot of drought resistant plants.

Well done, Cutie! As I said, I know very little about flowers and trees!
As far as you're lawn is concerned, I believe turf isn't that expensive, you could get a few quotes to re-turf it or buy turf and do it yourself. Alternatively you could fill any dips gradually and simply let the existing grass grow up through it. I believe some use soft sand instead of soil, the kind they use in kids sand pits, in fact I saw bags of play sand in a B&M store today.
I presume if you were re-turfing your lawn you would need to dig out the old grass, or the new turf wouldn't get a hold?
BUT!!! I'm sure there must be many youtube videos out there that will keep you right on the different options to help improve you're lawn, Cutie!

[snow66!]

Oh I forgot at the centre is a large, careful how I say this, Acunthus Mollis!  It looks a bit like a huge rhubarb plant but come the summer it sprouts huge flower heads and looks amazing.

Ha ha!, yes seems you've put a 'u' where an 'a' should be, Cutie!
But I dare say you knew that young lady? 

[Cambridgecutie]

Well done, Cutie! As I said, I know very little about flowers and trees!
As far as you're lawn is concerned, I believe turf isn't that expensive, you could get a few quotes to re-turf it or buy turf and do it yourself. Alternatively you could fill any dips gradually and simply let the existing grass grow up through it. I believe some use soft sand instead of soil, the kind they use in kids sand pits, in fact I saw bags of play sand in a B&M store today.
I presume if you were re-turfing your lawn you would need to dig out the old grass, or the new turf wouldn't get a hold?
BUT!!! I'm sure there must be many youtube videos out there that will keep you right on the different options to help improve you're lawn, Cutie!

Its quite a large area so to remove the existing lawn, prep and turf it using pro's I would be looking at 2k min and I have had poor experiences in the past with pro's and turf.  Plus it needs a lot of watering after turfing until it is established.  I'm going to reseed but do sections at a time.  And yes you're right adding sand or similiar to top soil is recommended.  I am determined to have a lawn that looks like a bowling green 

[Cambridgecutie]

Ha ha!, yes seems you've put a 'u' where an 'a' should be, Cutie!
But I dare say you knew that young lady? 

No, honestly I didn't!  I will have to brush up on my Latin!  Bought some trailing Lobelia yesterday.