Any Easy Way To Save Our Lawn?

[UKJASE]

Hi Guys,

we laid our own lawn last wet season. we put thin cardboard down to stop any weeds, then we put a couple of inches of earth on top, then we laid about 100 m2 of grass, then we roller-ed it and watered it.

We live in the countryside, outside of hua hin, so we dont have government water, and we have lots of sunshine and little rain. All the way through the dry season we watered it twice a week, but only sparingly. We didnt get much rain either. The grass looked dry and possibly dead, but we held out hope, as i was told "grass is very hard to kill".

Now the rains have come, and lots of water has washed from the higher ground, down onto our lawn. Within a couple of weeks the lawn is full of weeds. About 30 % of the grass is alive (green), but the weeds are taking over.

I started to pull them all out, but it is going to take about 2 days to remove them all with their roots intact.

Is there anyway i can easily remove the weeds, stop more growing, plus get the lawn looking good again?

Is there any weed killer i can use, that will be effective, or do you think it is a case of putting down some more earth and starting again?

I have included some pictures

it's looking like the boules will have to wait until next year

[poyai111]

Looks familiar to my untrained eye IMO lots of nut grass. Hands and knees with a small garden fork to extract the weed - nuts and all - a garden castration as it were

[daveAustin]

Would probably have been better off laying down blue weed meshing as opposed to cardboard which will be eaten. IMO it is very tough to maintain a good lawn here as believe the ratio of sand/silt/clay is out of whack, not to mention the harsh sun and torrential rain washing away nutrients. Have had most success with wide-blade yaa malay, though tore it all up eventually in favour of a hardy mondo.

[Oxx]

In my experience you won't be able to find selective weedkiller for lawns here. Might be able to get it via the Internet. (I always bring a couple of bottles back when I make a return visit to my home country.)

I'd suggest you mow, mow, mow. The weeds aren't as resistant to mowing as the grass, and over time will die out. In the meantime, apply fertiliser to encourage what grass remains to grow and spread.

If you do decide to start again, consider Malay grass. It's much more drought resistant.

[overherebc]

In my experience you won't be able to find selective weedkiller for lawns here. Might be able to get it via the Internet. (I always bring a couple of bottles back when I make a return visit to my home country.)

I'd suggest you mow, mow, mow. The weeds aren't as resistant to mowing as the grass, and over time will die out. In the meantime, apply fertiliser to encourage what grass remains to grow and spread.

If you do decide to start again, consider Malay grass. It's much more drought resistant.

You should be able to find this one, att'

When we had the grass laid it sorted out all the weeds and clump grass that came through.

All in Thai so you may need a translator to find out how to use it.

Hope you're lucky with it.

[Oxx]

In my experience you won't be able to find selective weedkiller for lawns here. Might be able to get it via the Internet. (I always bring a couple of bottles back when I make a return visit to my home country.)

I'd suggest you mow, mow, mow. The weeds aren't as resistant to mowing as the grass, and over time will die out. In the meantime, apply fertiliser to encourage what grass remains to grow and spread.

If you do decide to start again, consider Malay grass. It's much more drought resistant.

You should be able to find this one, att'

The active chemical in that is pyrazosulfuron-ethyl. According to one source, it's "Mainly used to control broad-leaved weeds, grasses and sedges in rice". Doesn't that mean it would actually kill the grass?

Source: http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/aeru/iupac/Reports/1148.htm

[overherebc]

In my experience you won't be able to find selective weedkiller for lawns here. Might be able to get it via the Internet. (I always bring a couple of bottles back when I make a return visit to my home country.)

I'd suggest you mow, mow, mow. The weeds aren't as resistant to mowing as the grass, and over time will die out. In the meantime, apply fertiliser to encourage what grass remains to grow and spread.

If you do decide to start again, consider Malay grass. It's much more drought resistant.

You should be able to find this one, att'

The active chemical in that is pyrazosulfuron-ethyl. According to one source, it's "Mainly used to control broad-leaved weeds, grasses and sedges in rice". Doesn't that mean it would actually kill the grass?

Source: http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/aeru/iupac/Reports/1148.htm

Worked fine on my back lawn, I believe the 'broad leaved' applies to all three noted, weeds, grasses and sedges.

Isn't rice actually a kind of grass?

Edited July 12, 2016 by overherebc

[thailand49]

When I first came to buy a house in Thailand, I wanted the American dream I didn't have in the U.S. and that was grass and palm trees. The first day man it was so green then as time went by not matter how much work I put forward it was a loss cause. Water, cutting, the dogs would dig and then there were the snakes constantly. I wanted it to be perfect so I even rip out the old and put it in again to start over. Then back to the same so one day I redesigned and put in some stone walk area and that fake grass that looks real like they have in the soccer fields and put flower planter around area. It looks good everyday!

[Jedsada3]

I gues that if we don't spend 2-3 hours/day in the garden weeds will keep on growing up and sprouting faster than grass.

I gave up and now I mow everything: grass, weeds and anything that might sprout there. It's green and pretty.

During the dry period we had a few weeks ago, I didn't water it and it got braun, looked like it was all dead. It was too dry to mow then I burned all.

After a few days of rain, it got green again and now it's pretty... it's green.

[topt]

When I first came to buy a house in Thailand, I wanted the American dream I didn't have in the U.S. and that was grass and palm trees. The first day man it was so green then as time went by not matter how much work I put forward it was a loss cause. Water, cutting, the dogs would dig and then there were the snakes constantly. I wanted it to be perfect so I even rip out the old and put it in again to start over. Then back to the same so one day I redesigned and put in some stone walk area and that fake grass that looks real like they have in the soccer fields and put flower planter around area. It looks good everyday!

How do the dogs treat the fake grass and are they the sheets of artificial turf you can buy in the likes of HomePro?

[cooked]

I was a qualified 'Lawn expert' back in Europe and made a lot of money creating, renovating, repairing and rescuing lawns and sport fields.

My green bit here in Thailand is a source of fodder for our cows from time to time. That must say something.

Anyway, confronted with a lawn in a condition as showed on the fotos, I would:

1. Scarify the lawn (pulling out all the dead grass and stuff with a modified rake / machine).

2. Resow, maybe work the seeds in with a scarifier.

3. Cover with about 1cm of river sand and fertilise, continue watering and mowing (as mentioned above. Bear in mind that in periods of greater heat, one should mow higher than in the cooler seasons).

4. Treat the weeds after the new lawn has been established (about three months)

5. This isn't Europe and you rarely see European standard lawns here, I certainly don't even want to try. I was counting about ฿35 /; M2 just for chemicals, fertilisers and machines per year for a first class lawn, without labour.

What kind of soil do you have, is it very heavy? If so you need additional (expensive) adviceGood luck anyway.

[MDS]

I've got exactly the same problem so I plan to lift the grass and replace it with pea gravel. Though I wouldn't mind finding out how the green keepers at the various golf courses keep the greens and fairways in good condition.

[Oxx]

I've got exactly the same problem so I plan to lift the grass and replace it with pea gravel.

If you've got dogs, you might want to think again. Every poo becomes a gravel-encrusted delight.

Also, if you have falling leaves, it's not a great idea. Better to use something larger than gravel.

Finally, even with a membrane underneath you'll get grass and weeds coming through unless you apply something like sodium chlorate first. (And even then, they'll eventually appear.)

[cooked]

I've got exactly the same problem so I plan to lift the grass and replace it with pea gravel. Though I wouldn't mind finding out how the green keepers at the various golf courses keep the greens and fairways in good condition.

You will need to put down geo textile first, that will stop weeds sprouting through for 40 years (in my experience). Sodium chlorate will only work for a year or so.

[how241]

Lawns are just like babies, needing constant care. Good Luck !

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

In my experience you won't be able to find selective weedkiller for lawns here. Might be able to get it via the Internet. (I always bring a couple of bottles back when I make a return visit to my home country.)

I'd suggest you mow, mow, mow. The weeds aren't as resistant to mowing as the grass, and over time will die out. In the meantime, apply fertiliser to encourage what grass remains to grow and spread.

If you do decide to start again, consider Malay grass. It's much more drought resistant.

Sorry but you are wrong about selective weed killers. You can buy them at many shops. OP check at Homepro. If they don't have there is a shop on the left hand side as you go to Cha-am, just before you turn into the Cha-am market road. Rice is also a grass and most selective broad leaf herbicides that work on rice will work on lawns. If you however have nut grass it will be difficult to get of chemically without killing you lawn. You can get rid of the nut grass by improving drainage and applying agricultural lime. It will take about 2 to 3 years for the lime to take effect, but after that annual applications will keep the nut grass at bay (the lime changes the ph of the soil and that will keep the nut grass away). To prevent nut grass growing in new lawns the best is to water and fertilize the area to be planted with new grass before laying the lawn. When you get the weeds growing you spray it with Roundup. When the first flush of weeds are dead you can turn the soil and repeat the process. This will decrease the quantity of weed seed in the top layer of the soil. You can lay the weed mess but if you have nut grass it will not help as nut grass can grow through this mess. The other problem with the mess is that weed seeds that is blown in by the wind, carried by birds or is in the new lawn or washed on top of the lawn by water, germinate on top of the mess. My recommendation will be to either remove these weeds by yourself or employ someone to do it by hand. Any broad leaf herbicide will stun the growth of you lawn for a couple of weeks. Apply agricultural lime before you start weeding and then work it into the soil while you are weeding (the lime you can buy at the shop in Cha-am or any agricultural input shop). I agree that the Malay type is better suited for your area. Good luck.

[gyrosman]

Easy, when I lived and worked in Saudi Arabia I had crush gravel for a yard and for the summer months sprayed painted it green and for a winter feeling white add a few palm trees or fruit trees and good to go. No snakes, ticks or spiders.

[thailand49]

When I first came to buy a house in Thailand, I wanted the American dream I didn't have in the U.S. and that was grass and palm trees. The first day man it was so green then as time went by not matter how much work I put forward it was a loss cause. Water, cutting, the dogs would dig and then there were the snakes constantly. I wanted it to be perfect so I even rip out the old and put it in again to start over. Then back to the same so one day I redesigned and put in some stone walk area and that fake grass that looks real like they have in the soccer fields and put flower planter around area. It looks good everyday!

How do the dogs treat the fake grass and are they the sheets of artificial turf you can buy in the likes of HomePro?

The stuff I'm talking about is not from HomePro? It is the same stuff you see being used in lots of sport field these days. It looks and feels like grass!

[topt]

When I first came to buy a house in Thailand, I wanted the American dream I didn't have in the U.S. and that was grass and palm trees. The first day man it was so green then as time went by not matter how much work I put forward it was a loss cause. Water, cutting, the dogs would dig and then there were the snakes constantly. I wanted it to be perfect so I even rip out the old and put it in again to start over. Then back to the same so one day I redesigned and put in some stone walk area and that fake grass that looks real like they have in the soccer fields and put flower planter around area. It looks good everyday!

How do the dogs treat the fake grass and are they the sheets of artificial turf you can buy in the likes of HomePro?

The stuff I'm talking about is not from HomePro? It is the same stuff you see being used in lots of sport field these days. It looks and feels like grass!

Any links to this stuff and where can you purchase in Thailand then as unfortunately the only sports fields I know here are grass......

[UKJASE]

In my experience you won't be able to find selective weedkiller for lawns here. Might be able to get it via the Internet. (I always bring a couple of bottles back when I make a return visit to my home country.)

I'd suggest you mow, mow, mow. The weeds aren't as resistant to mowing as the grass, and over time will die out. In the meantime, apply fertiliser to encourage what grass remains to grow and spread.

If you do decide to start again, consider Malay grass. It's much more drought resistant.

do you think this will work Oxx? we have a good mower, so mowing every week is not a problem. i was just thinking it was better to leave the weeds big as they are then easier to locate and remove, but if all i have to do is mow it regularly then that would be a lot easier.

i was worried the weeds would just grow back twice as strong, but be harder to pull as they were smaller, and less to grasp onto

do you definitely think this will work mate? if so, i will be out here tomorrow

[thailand49]

When I first came to buy a house in Thailand, I wanted the American dream I didn't have in the U.S. and that was grass and palm trees. The first day man it was so green then as time went by not matter how much work I put forward it was a loss cause. Water, cutting, the dogs would dig and then there were the snakes constantly. I wanted it to be perfect so I even rip out the old and put it in again to start over. Then back to the same so one day I redesigned and put in some stone walk area and that fake grass that looks real like they have in the soccer fields and put flower planter around area. It looks good everyday!

How do the dogs treat the fake grass and are they the sheets of artificial turf you can buy in the likes of HomePro?

The stuff I'm talking about is not from HomePro? It is the same stuff you see being used in lots of sport field these days. It looks and feels like grass!

Any links to this stuff and where can you purchase in Thailand then as unfortunately the only sports fields I know here are grass......

Try.... www.thaigardendesign.com www.royalgrass.com You can also Google... Artificial Grass Thailand.

[Oxx]

do you think this will work Oxx? we have a good mower, so mowing every week is not a problem.

The technique itself is an old and well established one in the UK, where you could take any patch of rough pasture and turn it into a decent lawn. So, it definitely works in Europe.

In Thailand I've been able to make a major improvement to my patch of weedy grass by mowing weekly, though some areas, where patches of weeds have died off, are taking a long time to start to grow grass. Incidentally, I did try seeding these patches, but the seed simply didn't germinate. I have read elsewhere that it's extremely difficult to grow grass from seed in Thailand because of the climate which is why almost everybody buys turf.

[zaZa9]

In the drier parts of Aus , we used to use Sulphate of Ammonia by the sack. Half a handful was placed on weeds , and left to 'burn' them off for a few days before watering. Then a fine spreading over all the lawn with the sulphate.

Thats not so popular now , and people use products like "Weed and Feed" as a hose attachment. From what Ive seen of HH , it looks semi-arid , and I would therefore be trying to minimize the lawn area by planting shade trees..

http://www.yates.com.au/products/lawn-care/pest-disease-and-weed-control/yates-weed-n-feed-liquid-hose-on/#riB0Cr1YDvRJOGrG.97

[UKJASE]

OK, i have been out and mowed all the lawn nice and short. i have left the cuttings on the lawn, so hopefully some of the grass seed will spread around and the lawn will revitalise itself.

should i now be thinking about applying some weed killer too, or should i just wait a week and mow again you think?

PS thanks for all the advice guys, maybe and end of season boules game may be possible after all

[UKJASE]

I've got exactly the same problem so I plan to lift the grass and replace it with pea gravel. Though I wouldn't mind finding out how the green keepers at the various golf courses keep the greens and fairways in good condition.

they are relaying the 9 holes at Black Mountain Golf Course right now, from the soil up, so may be worth a drive up to see how the experts do it on a grand scale

[Oxx]

OK, i have been out and mowed all the lawn nice and short. i have left the cuttings on the lawn, so hopefully some of the grass seed will spread around and the lawn will revitalise itself.

should i now be thinking about applying some weed killer too, or should i just wait a week and mow again you think?

PS thanks for all the advice guys, maybe and end of season boules game may be possible after all

Pretty much any weed killer I know says wait 3 days after mowing the lawn before applying (and don't mow for three days after). To be honest, I'd suggest you try mowing weekly for a month or two before deciding to go down the toxic chemical route.

[cooked]

do you think this will work Oxx? we have a good mower, so mowing every week is not a problem.

The technique itself is an old and well established one in the UK, where you could take any patch of rough pasture and turn it into a decent lawn. So, it definitely works in Europe.

In Thailand I've been able to make a major improvement to my patch of weedy grass by mowing weekly, though some areas, where patches of weeds have died off, are taking a long time to start to grow grass. Incidentally, I did try seeding these patches, but the seed simply didn't germinate. I have read elsewhere that it's extremely difficult to grow grass from seed in Thailand because of the climate which is why almost everybody buys turf.

Hang on. That works in the UK and to some extent in Switzerland where I gained my expertise. During hot weather I would cut longer, so in Thailand cutting short is likely to destroy what is left of the lawn. I'm sure you can destroy many weeds doing this but I wouldn't do it regularly.

[Oxx]

Hang on. That works in the UK and to some extent in Switzerland where I gained my expertise. During hot weather I would cut longer, so in Thailand cutting short is likely to destroy what is left of the lawn. I'm sure you can destroy many weeds doing this but I wouldn't do it regularly.

I didn't say "cut short", just "cut". It has to be done regularly, though. The weeds are gradually weakened by the regular cutting. An occasional cut doesn't cut the mustard.

[sometime]

The bad news, there is no easy way to save your grass, unless you employ a gardener.

Here is a list of 200 chemicals commonly used in manufacture of cardboard (not good)

http://www.paperonweb.com/chemical.htm

 

I have grass on two sides of the house and have to water every day, (borehole water the grass dislikes it, but better than none) unless we have a good storm, then 3 days later its back to watering, hand weeding, edging, plus five dogs, the latest pup likes to dig.

Luckily our grass creeps over the holes / piddle patches. Note do not rake this type of grass.

So I say if you want a nice bit of grass, I do not say LAWN totally different, work at it and it keeps you fit.

Happy  gardening.  

 

Edited August 1, 2016 by sometime

[drtreelove]

OP I would start over. Unless you want to go the pea gravel or artificial turf route, soil preparation is everything in creating a good lawn. If you shortcut the soil preparation you will shortcut the health and lifespan of healthy turf. 

Remove existing turf and weed layer, rototill the whole area to a depth of 6 inches or more with a 2 inch layer of compost worked in. Manage the weeds that resprout for a couple of weeks or a month, then lay sod.  I like the Ya Malaysia for cool, soft texture and livability, and it will squeeze out most of the weeds and ants if  you help it with daily weed pulling or spot spraying for awhile. If you are just going to look at it and not have family and pets playing on it then other grasses are ok too. If you manage the watering, fertility and weed control diligently you can have a nice lawn. Twice a week watering is not enough in the dry season, once or twice daily is more like it. Mow it weekly, but don't scalp it low with a krueng tat ya, get a good mower and set it at 2 inches + height. There's lots more, search organic lawn care.