"Tony Halmarack" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 19:56:49 GMT, "Connor T"
wrote:

I'm not an expert on this, however i did seed my own lawn in the
back, under
similar conditions - poor soil, and in a shaded area too.

I'd say wait. Mine came up patchy too, but over time it thickened
out.
I've had fantastic results this year feeding it more growmore ( altho
that
did cause scorching so i no better next time ) but it's starting to
become a
proper lawn now... You can always throw some more seed on if you
like, by
the sounds of it there's nothing else you need to do!

Dan

Thanks for the reply Dan.
I was a bit disappointed that after two careful attempts at evenly
distributed seeding, there were still very sparse and even bald
patches. The whole area gets plenty of sun and rain.

What really got me were the multiple, small roundish patches of
brown/dead grass that were appearing. I think this is caused by cats
(including our resident one). Yesterday there were a couple of very
indicative scratched up areas
I was holding off the serious mowing until the grass was better
established but I read in the NG archive that short grass isn't so
attractive to cats.

I spent yesterday evening searching the Web for d-i-y cat deterrent
systems. The problem is significant enough to justify the
50 or 60 quid required to purchase one of the commercial versions but
I wasn't impressed by the many reports of early equipment failure.
I prefer the water to the ultrasonic option.
Here's a link to the only d-i-y system I found. It's a PDF file
http://makeashorterlink.com/?V34A15119
--
Tony Halmarack

Drop the EGG to email me.

******

Here's a couple of topics which might amuse or be of interest.
1. An American person of wealth visited friends in England. They
happened to take him to their Crown green bowling club to introduce him
to the game.
The American was very impressed with the smooth finely-cut turf and he
had a chat with the grounds. He praised the perfect condition of the
Green then said he wanted one back home, so what do you have to do to
grow one of this quality.
The Groundsman said, "You prepare the foundations properly then sow the
grass seed and after that you just tend it well". The American asked,
"So how long does it take to get it to look like yours?".
The Groundsman said, "Oh, only about fifty years!".
2, In a previous post I mentioned a beautiful lawn I had many years
ago. It was almost like a sea-washed grass lawn.
I took the advice of the local Corporation Groundsman boss and, since it
would be a lawn not subjected to childrens' play he recommended equal
grass seed quantities of New Zealand Browntop and New Zealand Fescue. It
was a beautiful lawn but I ruined it later by worming it. So never worm
your lawn.
To get rid of wormcasts do what the Groundsmen do, - use a besom and a
light water hose . Squirt the hose - with a rose on the end (that
attachment with the holes in, - not the flower!).
The (important), method is to wet the grass then swish the besom
*horizontally* back and forth in a small arc fashion thus dispersing the
earth casts by spreading them flatly back into the grass.
BTW, - Some Greenkeepers make up their own swisher. They use a long
cane about 1 inch thick and about the same length as a brush handle -
( maybe a bit longer). They slit thinner canes about 1foot six- inches
lengthwise and bunch them up flatwise around the bottom of the shaft
and tie the bunch on tightly with wire or heavy string.
Since my lawn is relatively small I use the common-or-garden flat besom
similar to the ones used by the Negro house- servants in the Deep South
of the USA in the filums. (Gone with the Wind, - and all that!). In
1980 I brought two back with me when I visited Radio-Ham friends in
Atlanta, but I can buy them now from my local Ironmonger's shop.
Doug.
******