Ask Gerry

I would like to convert our existing large lawn area into a wild flower meadow. It already has a number of species-mostly dandelions at the moment, plantain and other! The Irish Times had an offer of grass seed with native Irish wild flowers in it. Would this be a good idea or should one just wait for the grass to be colonised by airborne seeds?

I carried out repairs on my lawn last October, probably left it too late in the year. I burned off the grass, rotovated it and sown new lawn seed, It was a very cold winter and the lwn not is very patchy in places and some weeds have developed. Can you advise me what steps to take to get the lawn into good order. its 32 feet by 32 feet.

Is it ok to give the lawn its first light cut of the season in this sunny weather even though the night temperatures are cool with ground frost so should I hold off for a another while yet?

I have an acre of lawn. It has been getting harder to cut it, each year I have to raise the mower as it is getting so thick and stalky. When I separate the grass to look at the stems, the bottom half of the grass is all yellow. There is quite alot of moss aswell. I plan on using sulphate of iron this year, would scarifying and then fertilizing help? I also use weedkiller on it every year for clover and daisys etc. It looks more like a field than a lawn at the moment. What would you advise to help get it nice looking again.

I need your opinion regarding to what options I have. My house is in a terraced housing estate and the medium-sized long rectangle back garden is divided from my neighbours' (on each side) with the common chain-link wire fencing. I have, and still am, in the process of planting several shrubs along the fence as a screen/border. The problem is, whenever the grass is high (mine, or my neighbours'), it can go to either side of the fence, making mowing a very tricky task. I have thought of getting a strimmer to tackle the problem from my side of the fence, but is there any other long-term low-maintenance way to deal with this? I don't want to change the fence to a more solid wooden kind because I quite like the 'airy' feel of the wire one. Short of getting tons of bark mulch to put along the fence, I can't think of anything else. Can you help with other suggestions?

what is a mulching mower?

I sowed my lawn in May, grass is patchy and a lot of thristles and general weeds grown in it.1. How can i kill these off?2. what is the best fertilizer to promote the grass?3. Should I get more grass seed and shake it in the patchy areas?I mowed it about 8 inches from ground last night.

had to have an enormous beech tree felled under which i had cyclamen snow drops fritillaries cillas etc etc.if i put down an alternative lawn will all my spring bulbs be able to penetrate and flower. was thinking of thyme or camomile . any suggestions and where can i buy the seedsKind regards

Can discarded grass cuttings be used in any environmentally friendly way instead of just throwing them in a corner of the garden to fade away.It seems a shame not to be able to put them to some good use at a stage where they have sufficiently decayed. I have a huge lawn and when weather is not suitable for mulching I would have quite a bit of grass cuttings stored away. Any advice would be welcome and appreciated.

My back lawn is out of control. Live in the countryside so it's like field grass, weeds...etc....a foot high and uneven. Now it's a big space, approx 22metres wide, 22metres long. So do I1. Hit with Roundup now.2. Wait about 3 weeks, hit with roundup again.3. Hire a Rotavator4. Rake5. Had some topsoil6. Then re-seed

Can you recommend a good garden edging shears please. I have alot of garden to edge and cant seem to be able to buy a good one.

I have quite a large area of 'wild' grass, that is of no other use than just being there and provide cover for whatever is looking for it. I know it should be cut only sparingly. When would that be: Now? (April was too wet and too cold for much growth) although now is pretty late perhaps, and again in October or so, or only in Oct., or only now?

I have just sown a new lawn. Grass is starting to grow. When should I cut and if there are patches there the seed has not taken should I re/over seed. Finally Is it ok to roll the garden as there are a number of stones etc I would like to roll in...

I am laying edging bricks around a section of my lawn.What is the correct level to set them for mowing later on. Level with about an inch of grass, level with soil or just below soil level.

My lawn has a new type of grass growing in it. I dont know what it is,but it seems coarse and has seed heads and it seems to spreading. Can I kill this off? If so what would do the trick?