Starting out

[themusicman9]

Ive just started on my garden which is has been very neglected over the years by the person who lived here last. Its a decent size so sems stupid to just leave it unnattended. Ive managed to cut throguh the over grown grass which was very long, and well its not green, its hay like in appearance. Is this to it being so long and it not getting the sunlight on it?? And is there anything i can do to remedy this problem.

The other problem i have is that there are brambles (i think), that have grown out of control and even have bedded in the grass itself. When i say brambles, i mean long windy brances with thorms on them, which seem to have burrowed under the grass. Is there anything i can do get rid ot them with a special lawn treatment??? Without damaging the grass???

Thanks Ed

[David Hare-Scott]

Yes in part. Many grasses also tend to turn rank and brown after they seed.

Yes cut it. You don't need to fart about doing it every week unless you want to use up much time and resources but something like 3 to 5 times a year would avoid the problem. Don't cut it too short (at least) initially. If you are leaving a heavy windrow some raking would help avoid stunting underneath until you get it down to a manageable level. Use the cut grass in compost or as mulch on the garden . Otherwise mulch up the cuttings and leave them on the grass to rot and to improve the organic content of the soil. Consider in the long term if you could find a better use for the space or a less resource intensive cover.

It depends on what the 'brambles' actually are. If it is blackberry or one of its relatives regular mowing will keep them down. The roots will eventually die if you keep cutting the tops off. Once you have got rid of them you can reduce the frequency of mowing. This is likely to leave dried stems in the grass with thorns which may not be nice to walk on in a traffic area so digging them out by hand may be hard work but worth it. There may be selective sprays around (I don't know) but you still have to get rid of the dead stems. If it is something else other treatment might be better.

David

[Billy]

Or lasagna garden, by laying newspaper, or cardboard over the grass (having previously added any amendments that you may think is necessary), then cover newspaper/cardboard with mulch. Hose it all down. Wait 2 weeks, and plant.

Cut at ground level with a shovel and/or pull them out.