kannie Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 We've returned from a fortnight away to find: still no lawn! Had been hoping it was just waiting for spring, but I think we have face the ugly truth now that we have no lawn left: just a moss and mud patch. I've rung two people to get them to visit & quote us for laying a new lawn. I think it will cope with 2 chooks grazing it if its in good condition to start with... Can you imagine M&Ms eyes when they roll out all those new turfs (turves?)! Thing is: does the hose pipe ban cover the feeding of animals (which is the primary purpose of our 'grass' at the moment)? Should I ask for a special sort of grass? Has anyone had a lawn laid before - what questions should I ask potential lawn layers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 Your lwan was laid in May 2004. I found my supplier online and they had a vast range of lawns to choose from depending on your requirements. We got a hard wearing lawn (because of Esme - we didn't have chooks then) that only needs cutting every other week for most of the year. I would ask your potential contractors what the process is for laying a lawn. Our chap prepared the soil, levelled out and rollered out one week. Then came back again the next week after it had settled to re-roll and rake, spread some grit and then laid the lawn. It was wonderful until we got the chooks Now we have sunken bits where the eglu compacted it and the bits round the edges have been attacked but they haven't dug holes in it or anything like that. The cats have been the culprits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clare* Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 I would not bother. My lawn was lovely before life with hens Now all I seem to be able to grow are dandelions, hundreds of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHen Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 My lawn is quite good. OVer the winter we kept them off most of it and they were allowed everwhere else - now they are only allowed on the lawn and not on the borders - and it seems to be standing up to it fine. We only have a small lawn too. We do keep the run in one place though on bark chips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 Do what we're doing - forget the lawn, and build decking instead, and provide the chickens with greehouse grown seed trays full of grass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 The hosepipe ban does cover the feeding of animals BUT, not washing dogs. So we will be washing the dogs regularly near the veg beds! Actually, no we won't. We got a new water butt and a drip feed system to run from it to the veg beds. Much more eco-friendly! about £30 quid for the 30 mtr kit. Bargain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted April 25, 2006 Author Share Posted April 25, 2006 Our chap prepared the soil, levelled out and rollered out one week. Then came back again the next week after it had settled to re-roll and rake, spread some grit and then laid the lawn. Was that because you wanted the gap, Chicken on a mission? I'd like them to do it all in one day if possible - the sooner the better given the time of year. The 2 companies I've spoken to so far (from local phone directories) only seem to have 1 sort of turf. I'll have a look at the internet - but I guess some companies won't come to inner London with all its parking problems.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 The 2 companies I've spoken to so far (from local phone directories) only seem to have 1 sort of turf. I'll have a look at the internet - but I guess some companies won't come to inner London with all its parking problems.... concrete over the lawn - now there's no parking problem - then they can park and lay a new lawn... errr... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 good idea Phil............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted April 25, 2006 Author Share Posted April 25, 2006 concrete over the lawn - now there's no parking problem - then they can park and lay a new lawn... Thank you!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 Ignore him, he's just like the rest of the male species - thinks he's funny!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 But I think men are so funny too I regularly laugh at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted April 26, 2006 Author Share Posted April 26, 2006 I'm not laughing at the one who's given me a preliminary email estimate of £800 - even less at another who thinks £1,000-£1,500..... Someones coming to give us a proper quote at 8am tomorrow, so hopefully it'll be a bit lower. And hopefully they'll have a sense of humour when they see our 'lawn' + the chickens!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clare* Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 Oh my gosh What about just getting something like Green Thumb in instead The chap at the bottom of my garden did a few weeks ago. They scarified the lawn to death looked a lot worse than mine. Hardly any lawn left at all. Its now growing lovely. You would just have to keep the chicks off. Everyday I say i will keep them locked up but I just can't. They love the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted April 26, 2006 Author Share Posted April 26, 2006 What about just getting something like Green Thumb in instead Whats 'green thumb'? Sounds useful, but I'm not sure that I could deprive them of their daily graze. It would mean keeping them in the run totally. And then we'd evacuate to avoid the protests.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clare* Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 (edited) Green Thumb are lawn care people. I am always seeing vans driving around and quite often have a flyer through the door. www.greenthumb.co.uk I think that they are maintenance people who come and give you a decent lawn back by feeding a getting rid of all the moss and weeds and seeding. My dilemma is the same as yours. I moan about the lawn and plants being dug up, but I can't keep them shut in. It's the little happy sounds they make when I let them out that get me. Edited April 26, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted April 26, 2006 Author Share Posted April 26, 2006 Not to mention the big, angry ones they make if you don't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 Kannie doing the lawn yourself is not hard work you just have to keep in the back of your mind that it will get better it just takes a month or so my front lawn looks horrid at the mo as I have demossed etc but I know in a couple of weeks it will be glorious again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted May 1, 2006 Author Share Posted May 1, 2006 Well the man who was supposed to turn up & give us a quote never came. And his office said they'd ring back but never did. I checked out the greenthumb website, and we decided to try and do a organic-greenthumb-style-DIY job. Trips to 2 garden centres got us fully equipped (for about £100! ), and yesterday OH raked half the lawn to death. Unfortunately it bucketed down last night & this morning, and is too wet to do more today. Which means delaying it all by 5 days! (Sorry - patience isn't my strong point!) Looks like we're going to have to try & keep the chooks off for quite a while though, to give the remaining few blades & new seed a chance .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 It is only scary the first time Kannie once you realise how easy it is and only patience is required you will wonder why you thought of paying someone else to do it The trick is to keep on top of it and do the feeding and weeding at the right times of the year not forgetting to scarify and rake as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
