Grass seed for boggy areas anyone?

[4390evans]

Anyone know of any packs of seed I can get for boggy area of my lawn?

Doesn't matter how many times I fork the area to allow air in etc it just remains wet, I think its because it is in shade 80% of the year and its where we step off from the patio onto the lawn so is in constant use.

I seeded the lawn last year and it grew through well but now there is nothing but mud :/

Thanks guys

[WendyC]

There are some packets of seed sold as being suitable for shade but I've never seen any for wet areas. When you say you have forked, it have you added anything into the holes, e.g. top dressing or sharp sand? You'd also be better using a hollow tined aerator to remove plugs of soil and then brush sand or top dressing into these to improve drainage. Would stepping stones inset into the turf be a possibility? Just trying to think of ways around the problem!

[4390evans]

Yeah, funny enough I just thought of the hollow tine but was wondering if it would make to big a hole, I didnt add anything dunno why because I have got a few bags of sharpsand here.
Ive got a few stepping stones that I removed last year, looks like I would be better putting them back?

I was thinking of putting a connifer in the corner to the side of the lawn to see what water it would lap up, what do you recon?

Ill have a go with the hollow tine and sand next weekend, Thanks

[veggiechicken]

Put a stepping stone down where you walk - you'll never get grass to grow if you keep walking on that spot.
Will the conifer create more shade on your lawn?

[4390evans]

The conifer will be in the deepest bit of the shade, I will take a pic tomorrow to show you what I mean. It gives me a good excuse to try my hand at shaping a conifer

[ESBkevin]

As suggested hollow tine and dress, I would add compost to the sand as well and leave a good bit on the surface, worms and microbes will pull down the feed matter and aerate the grass/soil over time, regular applications (more compost that sand) will keep the process going and after a couple of seasons the difference will be astonishing. Don't feed and weed while encouraging the worms!

[4390evans]

My hollowtine vame today so I think thats a job for wed. I never weed and feed altgough I might start and put blood and fish bone on the lawn. I try not to put anything on my lawn or soil that is unnatural.

Just been watching something with charlie dimmick in this morning and she said all what you guys said

Quite looking forward to this job.

[Snadger]

Is it shade, compaction or boggy soil that causing the problem? If its heavy shade, grass won't grow whatever the soil is like so forget it, or get rid of whatever's causing the shade. If its compaction the aforementioned hollow coring and application of a course sand may help. If its boggy soil more drastic action could be required i.e dranage pipe or sand banding or slitting.
If its all of the above it would probably be easier just moving house!

[4390evans]

I would love to move house but I dont think I would get a another garden as big. What I think it is as I had a look today is it may be soil compaction and heavy soil. I have clay soil but I know grass has grew their before. I was thinking of doing the hollowtine for the first time on wed and just putting sand in the holes of the problem area, then adding a bit compost and seed on the top. Then the next time doing a mix of compost and sand there after (as suggested above), maybe more sand to compost for a few years, what do you recon? If I had my way Id rip the whole of the lawn up and it would be an allotment, but the bf said no haha