JohnnyD
Member
Mayenne (53) When Covid allows..........Which isn't very often these days........
Posts: 1,988
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Lawns
Mar 21, 2023 16:57:33 GMT 1
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Post by JohnnyD on Mar 21, 2023 16:57:33 GMT 1
Cut the lawn today for the first time this year, had to borrow some essence from a French friend who saw me walking back from the Intermarche empty handed, all the pumps were empty..........
There is a lot of Sphagnum type moss on the lawn which is a bugger to cut through, is there a treatment to kill the moss and allow more grass to grow?
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Lawns
Mar 21, 2023 18:27:15 GMT 1
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Post by Aardvark on Mar 21, 2023 18:27:15 GMT 1
We have a pair of chickens that seem to enjoy scratching it up. I just wait until they have cleared an area then rake it up and dump it.
A chicken free solution is either iron sulphate, one of the proprietary chemical products from a shop, or 2 ounces of washing up liquid in a gallon of water. Failing that, a lawn scarifier or a spring tine rake. Builds muscles and hurts the back.
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Lawns
Mar 21, 2023 19:02:25 GMT 1
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Post by houpla on Mar 21, 2023 19:02:25 GMT 1
Hi Johnny, the cheapest most effective treatment is sulfate de fer (as Aardvark says, iron sulphate) available in decent quantities from agri co-ops, garden centres, bricos and some Leclercs. Once it's killed off the moss, that's when you rake/scarify. Otherwise it just spreads it around! The other option is a dual moss-killer/lawn feed, but it doesn't come cheap here. (What does, apart from wine? )
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Lawns
Mar 21, 2023 20:31:17 GMT 1
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Post by cernunnos on Mar 21, 2023 20:31:17 GMT 1
Most of our grass is actually moss, it's because of the PH of the soil , needs some lime. We don't worry about it , just cut the moss,stays green too when the Summer arrives.
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,680
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Lawns
Mar 21, 2023 20:46:04 GMT 1
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Post by exile on Mar 21, 2023 20:46:04 GMT 1
You also need to solve the conditions that are allowing the moss to thrive.
These are usually: compacted soil poor drainage - this does not necessarily mean puddles although if the lawn does puddle you do have a problem. low nutrients
So, firstly, you need to spike the lawn. You can buy an expensive machine that will punch out little cylinders or more cheaply just go over the lawn sticking your garden fork in to about 1/3 to 1/2 depth of the tines. Aim to get a row of holes every 15-20cm (6-8 inches). This will create the drainage. Secondly, ideally backfill all the holes with a coarse sand or coarse sand and compost mix. This preserves that drainage and prevents your garden collapsing into the holes you have carefully generated. Thirdly a top dressing of a good quality compost across the lawn will help the existing grass to extend its roots. Fourthly, fertilise the lawn to give the grass a good basis for strong growth. You can use a chemical fertiliser or you can apply organic materials - granular fumier can be a good start. This can be done in combination with the top dressing but don't overdo it or you will burn the grass. Finally - if the lawn tends to get covered with dead leaves, remove them as often as possible.
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Post by houpla on Mar 21, 2023 21:52:28 GMT 1
I never, ever thought I'd write this but alternatively, as long as all that's growing is grass and moss, go with the flow, don't cut it too short, (or in the case of the French more than once a month), accept that it will burn to a crisp in summer and gradually re-establish in autumn and winter, chill and just make sure that chardons and other rosette-type weeds don't get a hold. The path to a bowling-green lawn in France isn't just strewn with obstacles, it's barred, chained and land-mined
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Lawns
Mar 21, 2023 22:09:25 GMT 1
Post by norfolk on Mar 21, 2023 22:09:25 GMT 1
Hi Johnny, the cheapest most effective treatment is sulfate de fer (as Aardvark says, iron sulphate) available in decent quantities from agri co-ops, garden centres, bricos and some Leclercs. Once it's killed off the moss, that's when you rake/scarify. Otherwise it just spreads it around! The other option is a dual moss-killer/lawn feed, but it doesn't come cheap here. (What does, apart from wine? ) Yes lead sulphate is effective and cheap though the moss will turn black which isn’t pretty but worth doing.
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,680
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Lawns
Mar 21, 2023 22:37:10 GMT 1
Post by exile on Mar 21, 2023 22:37:10 GMT 1
Not lead norfolk - iron. Specifically ferrous sulphate as opposed to ferric sulphate. Sulfate ferreux rather than sulfate ferrique
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,680
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Post by exile on Mar 21, 2023 22:39:21 GMT 1
I never, ever thought I'd write this but alternatively, as long as all that's growing is grass and moss, go with the flow, don't cut it too short, (or in the case of the French more than once a month), accept that it will burn to a crisp in summer and gradually re-establish in autumn and winter, chill and just make sure that chardons and other rosette-type weeds don't get a hold. The path to a bowling-green lawn in France isn't just strewn with obstacles, it's barred, chained and land-mined I agree but the British seem to have a desire to replicate the English lawn that they probably never achieved back home. Her as you suggest it is much more difficult.
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Post by cernunnos on Mar 22, 2023 8:23:20 GMT 1
I never, ever thought I'd write this but alternatively, as long as all that's growing is grass and moss, go with the flow, don't cut it too short, (or in the case of the French more than once a month), accept that it will burn to a crisp in summer and gradually re-establish in autumn and winter, chill and just make sure that chardons and other rosette-type weeds don't get a hold. The path to a bowling-green lawn in France isn't just strewn with obstacles, it's barred, chained and land-mined I agree but the British seem to have a desire to replicate the English lawn that they probably never achieved back home. Her as you suggest it is much more difficult. Not all the British ! Someone with a second home in France should not worry too much about moss , otherwise they end up like some of our neighbours that just come to France to cut the grass. Enjoy the Spring and Summer . PS , don't kill the moles , they are draining the ground . refl
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Post by lapourtaider on Mar 22, 2023 8:40:08 GMT 1
I agree but the British seem to have a desire to replicate the English lawn that they probably never achieved back home. Her as you suggest it is much more difficult. Not all the British ! Someone with a second home in France should not worry too much about moss , otherwise they end up like some of our neighbours that just come to France to cut the grass. Enjoy the Spring and Summer . PS , don't kill the moles , they are draining the ground . refl If you want a lovely green lawn here in the south, buy AstroTurf 😀. That's what I did.
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JohnnyD
Member
Mayenne (53) When Covid allows..........Which isn't very often these days........
Posts: 1,988
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Lawns
Mar 22, 2023 9:15:52 GMT 1
Post by JohnnyD on Mar 22, 2023 9:15:52 GMT 1
Thanks for all the comments, maybe I will leave for now, it doesn’t bother me overly, I don’t really want a bowling green lawn, who knows, maybe I might end up with hundreds of Venus fly traps in the garden, and that will keep the flies away in summer
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Lawns
Mar 22, 2023 9:43:47 GMT 1
Post by norfolk on Mar 22, 2023 9:43:47 GMT 1
Not lead norfolk - iron. Specifically ferrous sulphate as opposed to ferric sulphate. Sulfate ferreux rather than sulfate ferrique Oops sorry, iron !
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Lawns
Mar 22, 2023 9:56:32 GMT 1
Post by jackie on Mar 22, 2023 9:56:32 GMT 1
As far as lawns go as long as they look green that’s good enough for me. Lots of weeds in ours especially clover which attracts loads og bees in the summer. We did have thistles but they give up with regular cutting.
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Lawns
Mar 22, 2023 10:20:36 GMT 1
Post by annabellespapa on Mar 22, 2023 10:20:36 GMT 1
I would just fork it as suggested and then rake lightly some of the moss out, if you have some coarse sand backfill the holes (but not essential), I have used the iron sulphate and the black patches are worse than the moss.
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