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#1
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Reseeding a lawn
Hi All,
First time poster here, live in the South East of England...bit noisy around here but hey,ho.... My lawn has been ravaged by the dog running up and down, kids playing and shrubs overgrowing one side...this year it does not look as if it will make its usual recovery so I've decided to reseed. The plan is to cut back the shrubs - the main offender is a Potato Shrub (Solanum Rantonnetii) - so the first question is whether it would be a good time to prune this (hack it - I think is more the description)? The other offender is a Red Dogwood. Now I don't want to kill them off and we are still getting quite severe frosts (no snow at all this winter though). So should I wait, or would I be safe to go out and cut these back now? The next issue is the seeding of the lawn itself. I bought some "One Step" which combines fertiliser and seed. I was going to wait a few weeks to give me more time to do the prep work and to wait for the worst of the frost to be over. My dilemma now is that yesterday I learnt that we are having a hose-pipe ban slapped on us. So, if I wait too long I won't be able to water it, which will be an issue if the weather warms up in April as it did last year...So should I go ahead and seed now and risk the frost, or should I wait but run the risk of not being able to provide sufficient water? TIA Gill |
#2
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Reseeding a lawn
On 14/3/06 10:57 am, in article ,
"Gill Passman" wrote: Hi All, First time poster here, live in the South East of England...bit noisy around here but hey,ho.... My lawn has been ravaged by the dog running up and down, kids playing and shrubs overgrowing one side...this year it does not look as if it will make its usual recovery so I've decided to reseed. The plan is to cut back the shrubs - the main offender is a Potato Shrub (Solanum Rantonnetii) - so the first question is whether it would be a good time to prune this (hack it - I think is more the description)? The other offender is a Red Dogwood. Now I don't want to kill them off and we are still getting quite severe frosts (no snow at all this winter though). So should I wait, or would I be safe to go out and cut these back now? The next issue is the seeding of the lawn itself. I bought some "One Step" which combines fertiliser and seed. I was going to wait a few weeks to give me more time to do the prep work and to wait for the worst of the frost to be over. My dilemma now is that yesterday I learnt that we are having a hose-pipe ban slapped on us. So, if I wait too long I won't be able to water it, which will be an issue if the weather warms up in April as it did last year...So should I go ahead and seed now and risk the frost, or should I wait but run the risk of not being able to provide sufficient water? My guess is that the continuing cold weather is the answer to everything you ask, really. I wouldn't cut anything back while frost is a real danger and especially not a Solanum Rantonnetii, which is a marvellous shrub and less seen than the more usual S. crispum. However, it is not hardy and in most places it is recommended as a conservatory plant, so certainly don't risk pruning it now, if it is definitely S. Rantonnettii. And I think it very probable that it is the cold that is stopping your lawn from showing signs of life. I'd leave it alone, frankly. If you seed it now, it won't germinate because the ground is so cold and watering it will only add to is troubles in this weather! If the lawn doesn't come back when it gets to the summer, you could consider an early autumn re-seeding then. My husband's secret weapon in re-seeding patches of lawn here and there is to mix the lawn seed with compost in the bag and leave it to germinate. Then he scatters it where needed. That way, he gets much less taken by birds and the seed gets away to a good start immediately. I did ask him about your Solanum and he suggests you check it really is S. rantonnettii. It's not impossible, of course but it isn't all that usual in gardens in England, though I've seen it growing in Jersey gardens. He certainly thinks that cutting anything precious back when you're still at risk of hard frost, is a Bad Idea! Welcome to urg and good gardening! -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon ) |
#3
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Reseeding a lawn
Sacha wrote:
On 14/3/06 10:57 am, in article , "Gill Passman" wrote: Hi All, First time poster here, live in the South East of England...bit noisy around here but hey,ho.... My lawn has been ravaged by the dog running up and down, kids playing and shrubs overgrowing one side...this year it does not look as if it will make its usual recovery so I've decided to reseed. The plan is to cut back the shrubs - the main offender is a Potato Shrub (Solanum Rantonnetii) - so the first question is whether it would be a good time to prune this (hack it - I think is more the description)? The other offender is a Red Dogwood. Now I don't want to kill them off and we are still getting quite severe frosts (no snow at all this winter though). So should I wait, or would I be safe to go out and cut these back now? The next issue is the seeding of the lawn itself. I bought some "One Step" which combines fertiliser and seed. I was going to wait a few weeks to give me more time to do the prep work and to wait for the worst of the frost to be over. My dilemma now is that yesterday I learnt that we are having a hose-pipe ban slapped on us. So, if I wait too long I won't be able to water it, which will be an issue if the weather warms up in April as it did last year...So should I go ahead and seed now and risk the frost, or should I wait but run the risk of not being able to provide sufficient water? My guess is that the continuing cold weather is the answer to everything you ask, really. I wouldn't cut anything back while frost is a real danger and especially not a Solanum Rantonnetii, which is a marvellous shrub and less seen than the more usual S. crispum. However, it is not hardy and in most places it is recommended as a conservatory plant, so certainly don't risk pruning it now, if it is definitely S. Rantonnettii. And I think it very probable that it is the cold that is stopping your lawn from showing signs of life. I'd leave it alone, frankly. If you seed it now, it won't germinate because the ground is so cold and watering it will only add to is troubles in this weather! If the lawn doesn't come back when it gets to the summer, you could consider an early autumn re-seeding then. My husband's secret weapon in re-seeding patches of lawn here and there is to mix the lawn seed with compost in the bag and leave it to germinate. Then he scatters it where needed. That way, he gets much less taken by birds and the seed gets away to a good start immediately. I did ask him about your Solanum and he suggests you check it really is S. rantonnettii. It's not impossible, of course but it isn't all that usual in gardens in England, though I've seen it growing in Jersey gardens. He certainly thinks that cutting anything precious back when you're still at risk of hard frost, is a Bad Idea! Welcome to urg and good gardening! Thanks for the welcome... I think you are right and it is probably not rantonnettii - I put it in around 7 years ago but I don't think it was unusual at the time I bought it - I'll need to take a look again (sometimes I leave the tag in the soil) but all is very soggy around here today... I wasn't thinking of watering it now - it's wet enough round here right now - I was more concerned about not being able to water it later (3 weeks until the ban). In previous years I have left it to regrow...but this is the worst that I have ever seen it - we are talking the odd blade of grass here and there rather than the odd mud patch... Thanks for the tip on germinating the seeds before scattering...I could easily do this. Does you husband add any moisture or does he just rely on the moisture from the compost? Thanks Gill |
#4
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Reseeding a lawn
On 14/3/06 11:36 am, in article ,
"Gill Passman" wrote: Sacha wrote: On 14/3/06 10:57 am, in article , "Gill Passman" wrote: Hi All, First time poster here, live in the South East of England...bit noisy around here but hey,ho.... My lawn has been ravaged by the dog running up and down, kids playing and shrubs overgrowing one side...this year it does not look as if it will make its usual recovery so I've decided to reseed. The plan is to cut back the shrubs - the main offender is a Potato Shrub (Solanum Rantonnetii) - so the first question is whether it would be a good time to prune this (hack it - I think is more the description)? The other offender is a Red Dogwood. Now I don't want to kill them off and we are still getting quite severe frosts (no snow at all this winter though). So should I wait, or would I be safe to go out and cut these back now? The next issue is the seeding of the lawn itself. I bought some "One Step" which combines fertiliser and seed. I was going to wait a few weeks to give me more time to do the prep work and to wait for the worst of the frost to be over. My dilemma now is that yesterday I learnt that we are having a hose-pipe ban slapped on us. So, if I wait too long I won't be able to water it, which will be an issue if the weather warms up in April as it did last year...So should I go ahead and seed now and risk the frost, or should I wait but run the risk of not being able to provide sufficient water? My guess is that the continuing cold weather is the answer to everything you ask, really. I wouldn't cut anything back while frost is a real danger and especially not a Solanum Rantonnetii, which is a marvellous shrub and less seen than the more usual S. crispum. However, it is not hardy and in most places it is recommended as a conservatory plant, so certainly don't risk pruning it now, if it is definitely S. Rantonnettii. And I think it very probable that it is the cold that is stopping your lawn from showing signs of life. I'd leave it alone, frankly. If you seed it now, it won't germinate because the ground is so cold and watering it will only add to is troubles in this weather! If the lawn doesn't come back when it gets to the summer, you could consider an early autumn re-seeding then. My husband's secret weapon in re-seeding patches of lawn here and there is to mix the lawn seed with compost in the bag and leave it to germinate. Then he scatters it where needed. That way, he gets much less taken by birds and the seed gets away to a good start immediately. I did ask him about your Solanum and he suggests you check it really is S. rantonnettii. It's not impossible, of course but it isn't all that usual in gardens in England, though I've seen it growing in Jersey gardens. He certainly thinks that cutting anything precious back when you're still at risk of hard frost, is a Bad Idea! Welcome to urg and good gardening! Thanks for the welcome... I think you are right and it is probably not rantonnettii - I put it in around 7 years ago but I don't think it was unusual at the time I bought it - I'll need to take a look again (sometimes I leave the tag in the soil) but all is very soggy around here today... If you do a Google image search on Solanums, you'll probably find a pic of yours. I do know that the S. crispum I had was a complete and utter thug and I had to keep hacking it back like mad. I wasn't thinking of watering it now - it's wet enough round here right now - I was more concerned about not being able to water it later (3 weeks until the ban). In previous years I have left it to regrow...but this is the worst that I have ever seen it - we are talking the odd blade of grass here and there rather than the odd mud patch... Seed won't grow now, nonetheless. It's too cold and all that will happen is that the birds will have a feast! Thanks for the tip on germinating the seeds before scattering...I could easily do this. Does you husband add any moisture or does he just rely on the moisture from the compost? He tips as much compost as he needs into a wheelbarrow, waters it, if it's dry and then mixes all the seed he needs up in it in a sort of giant pudding. Then he puts it back into the bag, folds the bag top over and leaves it in the propagating house, which is warm. If you can find somewhere warm to leave yours, so much the better. He reckons it takes four or five days to germinate but warns that you must keep an eye on it as it can suddenly romp away and you get leggy seedlings. He also suggests covering it with horticultural fleece to keep the birds off even more effectively and to give it a little warmth and encouragement. Peg the corners down or weight them with stones. -- Sacha |
#5
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Reseeding a lawn
Sacha wrote:
snip If you do a Google image search on Solanums, you'll probably find a pic of yours. I do know that the S. crispum I had was a complete and utter thug and I had to keep hacking it back like mad. You are right it is a S.crispum - and a total thug as well. The trunk has a diameter of around 2 inches...how brutal do you get when hacking it back? Gill BTW I'll definitely give the grass seed/compost thing a go once it warms up a bit more |
#6
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Reseeding a lawn
On 15/3/06 12:02, in article ,
"Gill Passman" wrote: Sacha wrote: snip If you do a Google image search on Solanums, you'll probably find a pic of yours. I do know that the S. crispum I had was a complete and utter thug and I had to keep hacking it back like mad. You are right it is a S.crispum - and a total thug as well. The trunk has a diameter of around 2 inches...how brutal do you get when hacking it back? I don't recall being very scientific with mine, though I didn't cut back into old wood. I just used to cut off the bits that were either sticking out too far or interfering with other plants too much. I do remember that it practically devoured a small holly before I got at it! Gill BTW I'll definitely give the grass seed/compost thing a go once it warms up a bit more Good plan. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon ) |
#7
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Reseeding a lawn
In article , Sacha
writes I wouldn't cut anything back while frost is a real danger and especially not a Solanum Rantonnetii, which is a marvellous shrub and less seen than the more usual S. crispum. Strangely enough Sacha if you search on Google for images the two that come up (one being Roseland nurseries) seem VERY different, one described as ONLY in conservatory the other page saying it is trained as a shrub Images look like two different plants! janet -- Janet Tweedy Dalmatian Telegraph http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk |
#8
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Reseeding a lawn
On 16/3/06 10:56, in article , "Janet Tweedy"
wrote: In article , Sacha writes I wouldn't cut anything back while frost is a real danger and especially not a Solanum Rantonnetii, which is a marvellous shrub and less seen than the more usual S. crispum. Strangely enough Sacha if you search on Google for images the two that come up (one being Roseland nurseries) seem VERY different, one described as ONLY in conservatory the other page saying it is trained as a shrub Images look like two different plants! Could you post the links, Janet, please? I can't find any pics of Roseland's. There's a variegated rantonettii called Lycianthes and of course, there's always the possibility of variation in colour from place to place. I've seen it growing outdoors in Jersey as a free standing shrub, yes. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon ) |
#9
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Reseeding a lawn
In article , Sacha
writes Could you post the links, Janet, please? I can't find any pics of Roseland's. There's a variegated rantonettii called Lycianthes and of course, there's always the possibility of variation in colour from place to place. I've seen it growing outdoors in Jersey as a free standing shrub, yes. Http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk/shrub...ratonnetii.JPG http://www.crosscommonnursery.co.uk/...0rantonnetii80 ..jpg First one gets you to the actual image but it's Roseland nursery . I got there by entering solanum ratonnetii into google uk then searched for images Janet -- Janet Tweedy Dalmatian Telegraph http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk |
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