Gardening advice - garden gone wild

[toekneep]

We own a house in Wales which we rent out. Unfortunately the last tenants let the garden go to rack and ruin, in particular, the lawns. The grass was left to grow unchecked all through the summer so it was about a foot high when the very heavy snow came in December. Now it is completely flattened and looks terrible.

We signed up some new tenants at the weekend who are keen to look after the garden but they are getting on a bit and don't fancy tackling it in it's current state. I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to tackle it myself. I doubt a strimmer would work because of the way the grass is flattened. Any suggestions of how to get it back to a mowable state?

TIA

[Wowbagger]

A petrol-driven rotary mower would sort it out, but you need to wait for the ground to dry.

An electric Flymo type might as well, but I reckon that it would get clogged up too often and be a right pain in the arse.

[border-rider]

Petrol-driven cutter with a metal blade.  You can hire one.

Our last house came with a biggish garden in that condition & I cleared it in a couple of days.

[andygates]

Or hire a local lad.  Yay cash in the economy

[toekneep]

Or hire a local lad.  Yay cash in the economy

That's the plan Andy but I wanted to have some idea of the best options before I am 'told' what the best solution is by whoever I am hiring. 

Thanks for the suggestions WB and MV, I thought the fact that the grass is lying so flat would be an issue but obviously not.

[border-rider]

You can cut close to the ground with a metal blade even if it's all flattened

Eye & toe protection is essential though.

[mrcharly-YHT]

sheep

[Chris N]

Nuke the site from orbit.  It's the only way to be sure.

[hellymedic]

You can cut close to the ground with a metal blade even if it's all flattened

Eye & toe protection is essential though.

Indeed. 'Flymo foot' aka 'bovva wiv a hovva' is nasty.

[rafletcher]

Youth + shears + beer 

[Kim]

Sodding gardens.  When we moved in, the one here was in a similar state.  It's continued to deteriorate, on account of our general inability to do gardening (between barakta's arms and my allergies, we're winning if we can keep The Hedge under control).  Must see if hippy friends want to do some more deforestation in exchange for bike fettling or Windows-wrangling...

[Regulator]

The following advice from my sister, who used to work for a magazine which specialised in grass*...

The grass should bounce back a bit, once it has dried out.  although it is tempting to cut it now, I'd seriously recommend that you leave cutting it until there has been a sustained period of dry weather.  This will allow the grass to rise up slightly, which will make the cut more effective.

You can also get a set of spike for the front of many mowers which 'lift' long grass that has been flattened.  Alternatively, rake it over with a flexible rake before cutting.

After the first cut, leave it for 3-4 weeks, watering if needed, and then cut it again.  After the second cut, feed it with a general purpose lawn feed.





*Yep.  There are actually magazines that specialise in such things.  My sister was inordinately proud when her publication appeared in the 'Missing Words' round on Have I Got News for You...  

[Pancho]

I wouldn't bother with a blade - just use a meaty strimmer.

We have a Stihl and was set on a bladed cutter as well until the salesman talked me out of it (yup - a salesman talked me out of buying something) on the basis that the strimmer would cope with everything. He was totally correct; it eats everything - all types of grass and weed, old, old bramble growth and even self-seeded hazel and holly.

That and a good rotary mower will get the lawn back.

[toekneep]

I do appreciate your advice but it is now in the (hopefully) capable hands of "Mr. Evans" and his gardening services. At the rate he is quoting pretty much any improvement on the present situation will be a bargain.

[Wowbagger]

You can cut close to the ground with a metal blade even if it's all flattened

Eye & toe protection is essential though.

And don't do what my brother did*. He needed 35 stitches afterwards.

*He decided to adjust the height of the blade without first switching off the engine.

[Jaded]

+1 to the strummer.
+1 to leaving the grass to recover a bit.

[Welsh Man]

Sodding gardens.  When we moved in, the one here was in a similar state.  It's continued to deteriorate, on account of our general inability to do gardening (between barakta's arms and my allergies, we're winning if we can keep The Hedge under control).  Must see if hippy friends want to do some more deforestation in exchange for bike fettling or Windows-wrangling...

Get yourself a Goat !!!!!!!