Any grass experts?

[BuddingGardener]

Hi our grass looks awful, we have scarified and reseeded and fed it but it still looks terrible. I think its because the soil is very poor. Would planting clover help?
I don't have the money to dig it up and put down topsoil, looking for alternatives I've attached pictures

If it is very dry, then the dodgy patches could probably do with a regular and really thorough soaking in this hot weather. Early morning or evening is the best time. If the ground is compacted try spiking it with a garden fork to make holes all over, to aerate the soil. Then re-seed and keep damp. You can then fertilise once the new growth is well-established. Try not to walk on it while it is recovering.

Budding it doesn't look that bad .

I think a lot of grass feed stuff has a weed/moss killer in it so it initially makes grass look worse .

This year ( spring ) I had a go at top dressing and I think that has actually helped my poor old grass .Maybe try in the autumn ?

www.todayshomeowner.com/top-dressing-to-improve-the-soil-in-your-lawn/

Thanks I've got most of the dead grass out and have reseeded it will keep my fingers crossed

I've read that you need to gently tread or press the seed so that it's in the soil a bit .And water v v gently .

Good luck .I do think lawns are such hard work unless you start off with a lovely one with good soil and drainage .

@Budding Gardener I was a golf course head greenkeeper for most of my career, ask anything you like. Soil type can affect lawn quality, but it can be made better. The ask me anything is open to anyone btw.

onesmallstep can I ask whether I should be watering my grass at the moment ? It does look brown ,but I don't want to put pressure on supplies if it will bounce back later .

It's not very healthy grass ,on clay .There are some cracks appearing .It was looking a bit healthier after my efforts at aerating ,dressing and over seeding .
And how short should the grass clippings be before it's ok to leave them on ? Assuming that that's good practice .

I pay £6 a month for a company called green thumb to come 4 times a year to fertilise my lawn and treat it for weeds. I get complimented a lot, it’s great, would recommend. It’s a decent but not huge garden.

@peredito the areas you overseeded earlier in the year might need some water, but established grass tends to go dormant (the aerial part of the plant anyway) during drought. If the grass is then under traffic stresses, irrigation will help. If you do water, try and do it early morning or late evening, as evaporated-transportation losses can take up to 70% of applied water during the hottest parts of the day.
Leaving clippings on the lawn over an extended period can lead to an organic matter build up which impedes drainage, and encourages moss. If you're cutting quite frequently, and the clippings are short (and dry) there is less of a problem.

I hope you don't mind me joining in, but I'm the proud owner of a lovely garden - just moved in and it's fantastic, but I'm a bit daunted..

I have a question for Onesmallstep. My lawn is more of a mess of weeds and thin and incredibly threadbare. The garden's south facing, but there are huge trees close by, so there's a lot of shade. Should I leave it for now - i.e. too late to remedy things this summer, or is there anything I can do to revive it..?!

@Traalaa the proximity of the trees could be your problem. Root spread is often equivalent to the height or the width of the canopy. Dependent on the tree species, the roots; particularly in dry years can be invasive of drains and foundation. This is true of willow and poplar in particular.
Very few grass varieties enjoy full shade, but I'm not advocating the removal of the trees- unless they are a concern in other way. If you post pictures, I can try and give more focused advice.

Thanks Onesmallstep, I'll try and take some pics.