+9 votes
by (360 points)
We have terrible grass and no matter what I do it won’t grow! We turfed the back as that had block on it and thought to save money we would just re-seed. But it’s not worked. Any ideas? It’s really heavy clay, we have aerated it raked seeded raked again and the seeds never take. Doesn’t help we have a toddler so it’s really high traffic.  
We have terrible grass and no matter what I do it won’t grow!

9 Answers

+9 votes
by (1.3k points)
Have the same issue in our garden i have given up now and im slabbing half of it
+3 votes
by (260 points)
You need to add some sharp sand to help with drainage
+2 votes
by (220 points)
You need to turn it fully get any weeds and add sharp sand that will help with drainage. Research which grass seed is best for your soil and being a high traffic area. Once grass seed is down you need to stay off it
+4 votes
by (1.3k points)
're do it with more clay in ground u will need a mix of top soil and sharpe sand once u have dug it all up rake over top soil and sand then seed won't grow as clay soil won't drain water
+3 votes
by (5.2k points)
Give it a good raking throw the seed on, light covering with soil then something like chicken wire on top to stop the birds eating it, keep off it completely, water well every night until it’s established, or failing that just buy some turf might be a quicker fix xx
+5 votes
by (3.1k points)
Common mistake with grass seed is not watering it in enough. every couple of days it needs a good water. also if its often wet it reminds you to stay off it until it has taken
+3 votes
by (360 points)
Thanks guys, I think the issue here is the staying off it part! I might stick with what we are doing this summer and turf it in the autumn x
0 votes
by (200 points)
Why don't you lay astro turf down , edge it and it never needs mowing  
by (360 points)
I’d love too, but OH likes grass  
by (200 points)
@diaster12155 oh ok it was just a thought, have you tried the ready made turf ?  
by (360 points)
Ohh no? What’s that?  
by (200 points)
@diaster12155 it's real grass, you can get it most places it's usually in rolls and can be delivered all you have to do is prepare the ground and roll it out you cut it it to fit then water in well  
+7 votes
by (4.4k points)
Helps if you cut it regularly. If it’s heavy clay you need to add sharp sand wen you aerate it rake it into the holes and cut it every 3-4 days while it’s growing. It spreads out then rather than grows upwards. Commonest mistake is thinking it needs a weekly or fortnightly cut
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