[Guest]

Thanks Richard. I got a pure mix from DLF Ireland and they were more than helpful. Haven't got round to seeding yet but thanks for the info and pics 👍

 

[Richard Slater]

Do post up your progress, it's great to see different grows, methods and practices coming together. I'm always learning so another European grower would be a welcome addition.

 

[jessehurlburt]

Looks pretty good to me!

 

[Richard Slater]

I've just been doing a little bit of work on this lawn actually:

1. Took the HOC down to 35mm (i.e. ~1.4in)
2. taking soil samples,
3. levelling with sand,
4. Planting up my homegrown plugs in the bare spots, with Mycorrhizae
5. very light top dressing again with more Mycorrhizae and bacterial inoculation
6. water in and wait for the leaves to dry
7. apply a foliar application of liquid iron and humic acid

Going to look good in the next couple of days

 

[Richard Slater]

 

[Guest]

Hi Richard

It looks really good. Mine is coming along too, will have to wait til next year to see it fill in I think. Seeded in late May and took these pictures a few weeks back.

I was surprised how quick it germinated so just weeding it until it fills in now.

 

[Richard Slater]

Looks amazing, there is something quite addictive about the actual process of establishing a new lawn. Considering doing a scorch and reseed out the front in September.

 

[RCUK]

@Richard Slater @Darrenleecannon Hope you don't mind me posting here, I'm also in the UK and have had similar bad luck trying to find KBG suppliers. DLF (Johnsons) and Germinal have both offered to supply seeds but none of the other suppliers replied to sell direct.

DLF offered Miracle or Sombrero which are ok but minimum order is 5KG so no easy way to test in pots

Germinal offered Tetris which has slightly better colour than the two above and scored higher in the STRI tests (see attached extract from 2018 report). They offered 1KG to allow me to test the seed

Can you let me know your experience with DLF and their seeds?
How does the colour in your grass stand up in our current heat?
Did you try and source from the US? I have tried but no replies to emails or 'sorry we don't ship'
Would love to buy some of the US darker green seed varieties and test against the UK ones

Both my front and back lawns get decent amounts of sun, the front from 12-sunset.

I also turfed one of my front lawns in April this year, it is a mix of PRG, KBG and Fescues, see image. It is doing ok but don't want fescue going forward and will overseed to get the KBG % higher over the next year or so. I could take the easy route and lay this everywhere but it is obviously more costly. KBG in this lawn is called Limousine.

What I should really say is I want a super dark green lawn

 

[Richard Slater]

I've been really impressed with the seed from DLF, I got three cultivars as straight 1kg bags from them of Mercury, Miracle and Sombrero and I think the colour looks great. I didn't have any issues with shipping small quantities out to me.

Color: The colour is good, although you do need to give it regular applications of Iron (in the form of FAS personally) to get the blue out of it.

Water: It's had an inch of water every week over the summer and is still looking strong so no worries on that front. I think the neighbours think I am a bit of a loon watering my grass every week though.

 

[RCUK]

@Richard Slater Thanks mate. Any chance you can share your DLF contact here or direct message please?

Your lawn looks great!

 

[Richard Slater]

It wasn't a specific individual, I just emailed their sales team and asked. I ended up talking with a couple of different individuals on the phone as they passed me about a bit trying to find someone who knew Poa Prat. well enough from a residential lawn perspective - Darren was the person in the know, but I didn't catch his surname.

 

[pennstater2005]

Looks amazing!

 

[Guest]

Back again looking for some weed killer info for the bluegrass Richard. It's coming along well but notice some crabgrass in the lawn and there's surely some other weeds in there too.

Just wondering if you've used anything that's worked well. I'd love to be organic but can't get any corn gluten meal here as a pre emergent.

 

[Richard Slater]

There is very little available in the EU sadly, I use mechanical means to remove the invaders - I've taken to keeping a stock of home grown plugs which I use to patch the KBG once I get round to extracting the odd errant plant - the area is small enough that 30 minutes of crawling around on my hands and knees keeps it pure enough KBG so as not to notice.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Richard. Good idea to keep some spares. I take them out by hand as well as it's also a small space. 👍

 

[Robberthoffman]

Back again looking for some weed killer info for the bluegrass Richard. It's coming along well but notice some crabgrass in the lawn and there's surely some other weeds in there too.

Just wondering if you've used anything that's worked well. I'd love to be organic but can't get any corn gluten meal here as a pre emergent.

It's not organic but in the Netherlands we have a product that's called Bayer net ultra
It will kill almost everything except the grass itself

 

[g-man]

@Richard Slater how is this looking?

 

[liamjones]

Hi @Richard Slater @RCUK,

Im about to start a new lawn in the South East of England, norwich to specific. Aware its a little late, but thats how the house renovation has fell.

I think i want to go KBG/PRG mix and have got my eye on Sombrero KBG and Fabian PRG new 4Turf from DLF.

Soil PH is 6.5 and awaiting other results from lab.

Any thoughts on the KBG/PRG mix, ratio and sowing advice, eg. sow KBG earlier than PRG.

Thanks

Liam

 

[RCUK]

@liamjones Welcome! A few questions below. Both of those are good, I haven't used them myself but they rate well in the 2020 BSPB list. Slightly lighter in colour to what I'm using - Tetris (KBG) and Galleon (PRG) but colour isn't everything!

- What is the size of your lawn?
- KBG seeding rate on it's own is around 10g/m2. I would start with KBG on it's own and then overseed with PRG if you want/need to. Suggest waiting on other views also. Why do you want a mix?
- Starting a new lawn now is tricky as we enter into warmer months, not impossible but more work vs starting in August/September
- Have you spoken to DLF about your required quantities?

 

[liamjones]

Thanks for the swift response, the lawn area will be approx 200m2. It is a south facing garden with sun for most of the day.

I wanted to mix to get a more durable lawn, I've read the new 4turf PRG is super resilient to dog urine. I have a dog.

I guess I'm not set on these cultivars, they are the ones I landed on from my, albeit brief, initial investigation. Ultimately, I just want a thick, durable lawn that can be mowed to a reasonable height with a cylinder mower.

I sent DLF an email last night, awaiting response.