Is my front lawn salvageable?

[wildfellhall]

We have a small front lawn which is now half clover, very dandelion ridden and has quite a few prickly thistle type plants.

Is it too late or can it be saved through me making a proper effort? And what should I do first? Should I try to get all the dandelions by the root?

Any advice would be appreciated!

I would get out the dandelions and thistles by digging up the root but leave the clover. It's soft and green and the flowers attract bumblebees. I think not cutting grass too short encourages stronger roots so you should be able get it to grow over any thing patches once the weeds are out by just waiting or aing a but of seed.

Get the thistles out as they can be a bit brutal.
Leave the dandelions and clover for the bees. If you mow it regularly it'll tidy itself up before long.

Thank you so much!

Decades ago I had a retired neighbour with a beautiful lawn, while ours was full of weeds. He told me he didn't apply any fancy treatments or dig weeds out, he just mowed it at least once a week, increasing to every 5 days at this time of year. He explained that keeping it cut short, but not too short, was the equivalent of pruning the grass to encourage leafy growth, whilst being too short to allow the dandelions etc to flourish.

30 years later me and DH are both retired we're finally doing this and finding it actually works!

This is my lawn - wouldn't suit everyone I know but last week we had goldfinches eating the dandelion seeds, and this week it's spattered with a different variety of gold.

I would be trying to dig out the thistles though -ow! You might need to water them an hor or sonbefore you tackle them..With the drought the ground is rock-hard here.

This is my lawn - wouldn't suit everyone I know but last week we had goldfinches eating the dandelion seeds, and this week it's spattered with a different variety of gold.

I would be trying to dig out the thistles though -ow! You might need to water them an hour or so before you tackle them..With the drought the ground is rock-hard here.

(Might have to post my lovely pic separately my phone is being awkward)

Aaargh - as you can see 🤦

We used to employ Green Thumb to treat our lawn but moved to a bigger house and it cost too much. We are now going to put weed, feed card moss killer on once we have a downpour.
Incidentally, hubby had been putting fertiliser (didnt read the label) on lawn, so weeds have been growing!

Thank you, such good advice.

Also, we have a paved drive, always full of weeds, I try to avoid weed killer as I think everything ends up in our water so can you use sand without weed killer between paving stones?