Clay King - Grass Seed for Clay Soil UK - Deep Rooting for Clay Lawns and New Builds - 5kg - Garden Lawncare Guy

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Compost is arguably the best and most organic way of improving a clay soil bed. You can apply about a quarter of an inch and these days it’s highly recommended to use peat free compost.

Fescue has fine leaves and can be cut very short, right down to 10mm in some cases, and this gives you a lawn that feels like a soft carpet to walk on in bare feet. Both creeping red and hard fescue are good choices if you live in a coastal area as they are not bothered by the salt in the wind. Fescue grasses can be cut short and ideal for salty coastal conditions I would avoid trying to grow this seed in summer as dry and hot weather will not give you the results you’re looking for. Likewise, colder periods are not great either and ideally, you want to sow in March when the ground frost has gone, through to May or early June. Alternatively, you could try mid to late September, but it would depend on the weather conditions of that particular year. Pros When the soil is finally ready, sow two portions of seeds vertically then, perpendicularly. Use a broadcast spreader to help lighten the load and for a more even spread.Step 2: Soil Testing Clay soil tends to have a high pH level, which can inhibit the growth of grass. It's essential to test the soil's pH and nutrient levels to determine if any amendments are necessary. Soil testing kits are available at garden centers or you can send a sample to a local extension office for analysis. If the pH is too high, you may need to add sulfur or other suitable amendments to lower it. Follow the recommendations provided by the soil test results for any necessary adjustments. Maintaining a healthy lawn can be challenging but with the right strategies, it’s definitely achievable. Here are five top tips to help you keep your lawn looking green and lush all year long. Water properly As you have probably guessed from the name, Gardeners Dream Shady lawn grass seed has been designed to grow in shady gardens, and contains a mix of two different types of fescues- creeping red and Chewings. This combination actually works really well, and your grass will grow even in full shade.

Add mulch and provide enough water each time to maintain the moisture of the ground. An automated sprinkler system with a timer like this Orbit Single Outlet Programmable Timer can be used so your newly sown seed and its ground gets enough moisture all day long. When creating a new lawn, kill off the area with a glyphosate-based weedkiller first. This will kill weeds and their seeds. If you don’t, weeds seeds that have lay dormant in the soil will germinate once they’re close to the surface. This depends on how much shade we are talking about here. For really shaded gardens, you’d be best off going with Poa bluegrass. It has proved time and time again that it just doesn’t mind living in the shadow of large trees and will thrive in any kind of water conditions. However, it’s lighter colour might not go that well with your current shade if you are overseeding or mixing. Planting grass in clay soil can help improve soil quality over time. Adding organic matter to your soil such as compost or grass clippings, to your clay soil will help break up the dense clay and improve drainage. Over time, this can help create a healthy and robust soil structure that supports healthy plant growth.Trees, shrubs (especially roses), climbers and many bulbs are easier to grow on clay soils than plants that require frequent sowing, planting or dividing; annuals or bedding plants, for example Water your lawn deeply but not too often to promote the growth of deep roots. Apply about 2.5 centimeters (i.e 1 inch) of water, usually no more than once a week. Place a small pet food or tuna can on the lawn to help you measure how much water has been applied. Stop watering when the can is full. Too much water starves the soil of oxygen and invites disease. Loam-type soil is ideal for sowing. Its composition is made up of some sand, some clay and some silt - which is a mixture of the two. It benefits from the positive properties of both, is free draining and is nutrient-filled. Any grass seed will grow in these conditions, so the next step is to consider what you need for your lawn. If I could give you a simple answer to that question, then believe me I would, but it’s a tad more complicated than it first seems so apologies in advance for the length of this but there is quite a few considerations believe it or not!

It’s best to water deeply and infrequently rather than frequently and shallowly, as this encourages deep root growth and helps your lawn tolerate drought better. As the weather warms up and the grass begins growing more rapidly, you can give the soil a bit of aeration and one or a few different top dressings. All of these below will provide a benefit whether used individually or together. Aerate the clay soil bed Some, but not all, clay soils respond to extra calcium, which causes the soil particles to flocculate (clump together). Where the soil is acid, lime can be applied, but elsewhere it is better to add gypsum. Gypsum is the active ingredient of many commercial ‘clay improvers’. Test on a small area in the first instance to ensure it is effective on your type of clay As you can see it’s starting to come through. Here is the full after I even tried to put a stripe in it 🙂 Lawn after 4-5 months of care from seed using GBW grass seedFor example, you could go the lower-maintenance route and get yourself an artificial lawn, shell out for a load of turf, or save yourself a few quid and invest in some grass seed. I know the idea of sowing grass seed worries people who have never done it before, but if you read our article on the subject, you’ll see that it isn’t that difficult to do after all.