Grass Seed-any tips?

[Sparklingbrook]

Taken some dead conifers out and now have a muddy patch. Any tips on the best grass seed? TIA

It is not so much about the grass seed than the soil. You need to dig it really well ensuring that you remive any bits of roots, stones and dig in some soil improver. I would go as far as removing the top 10 inches of soil altogether and removing with fresh topsoil.

The grass seed then depends on whether the new lawn is shady or sunny and also on how much foot traffic it will experience. The less walking/playing on you are anticipating the finer a mixture you can use. If it will be walked on/played on a lot a mixture containing rye grass may be more suitable.

Thanks Bienchen. It is a very sunny spot, and will receive little or no traffic. The tree man got all the roots out. They sell soil conditioner at the tip-would that be any good?

The soil conditioner from the council can be very hot and miss, it is essentially their green waste composted. It can be good quality but I have also seen some dreadful stuff that was not composted at high enough temperatures and hence full of weeds, some of them of the perennial type. Personally I don't touch the stuff anymore and don't recommend it to clients either; it isn't even particularly cheap here. Anyway, get some quality stuff and mix it half and half with your existing soil or if budget allows dig out and replaceace with screened topsoil (this is topsoil with no lumps which can then be firmed down with a roller ready for seeding. If you check with a good supplier ie Rolawn you will get advice about the type of grass seed mixture that will be perfect for your spot. You also need to measure the area to be grassed over so that they can calculate the amount of seed you need.

For seed suppliers (not just lawn seed) here's the list recommended by the National Veg Society

And a si,milar one from Gardenforum

Thanks Bienchen, that's brilliant. I hadn't realised quite how wide the conifers were, but we seem to have gained about four feet by twelve feet.

I will do some seed research, and it should be looking good in due course.