US-style lawn in UK climate

[coolguy]

Just wondering if anyone has some successful experience with creating one of these thick lawns like they have in the US.

Is it possible to build this mattress-like thickness in UK climate?

If yes, what species of grass should I consider?

Thanks!

 

[oneeye]

Hello, friend I've landscaped yards for a living for many years and personally don't care about my own lawn. The lawns in the us are a big pain in the ___! The people I worked for poisoned the environment and didn't care about it. I was a good worker and did what I was told and had the opportunity to see the damage done from excess mowing and over-fertilization for over 25 years. The lawn above is pretty but it will be shortlived from extreme growing conditions. Most rich people here replace their lawns every few years with new thach because their lawns died from toxicty. Pretty lawns cost a lot of money and take a lot of time to manage.

Organic lawns last longer and are much better, but the one drawback is the cost of maintenance and amendments. The time it takes to top dress a lawn and transport a composted amendment is unaffordable compared to dumping synthetic fertilizer. Lawn business is a billion-dollar industry here and it poisons our water systems causing havoc everywhere just so people can have a green lawn. Personally from my opinion I think some people have a psychological disorder when it comes to their lawns.

Another draw back in the lawn business is all the pollution the mowers, weed eaters, and blowers pollute the air. All the noise in the area from all those loud machines. Yards don't need mowing as often they get mowed but the customer wants a perfect yard and has it over-mowed. Over mowing compacts the soil and cause problems and when the mower blades are dull it hurt the grass. I'm so glad I'm retired from the lawn business. Good luck with your lawn and thanks for the post.

 

[cpp gardener]

Now that that rant is over, let’s talk about what you can grow on your side of the pond. I’m not the most fervent proponent of lawns, but people like what people like.

Yes, you can have that kind of lawn. The 2 most common species of grass used in the UK are Perennial Rye and Bentgrass.

Perennial Rye grows taller and more vertical in clumps. Very dark green and shiny with medium-width blades. Best mowed at 3-4” tall. Fairly fast-growing and needs to be mown once a week.

Bentgrass, Common or Creeping, is a finer-bladed grass that is lighter green and spreading, especially Creeping Bentgrass. It can be mown between 1/4” and 2”. If you want to play Croquet or Lawn Bowling, this is the grass for you. To keep it at 1/4” it will need to be mown at least twice a week. At taller heights it can be mown once a week or even every other week.

For any kind of lawn, either organic or synthetic fertilizers are available and with a regular schedule can keep the grass growing nice and thick.

There are decent battery-powered mowers, strimmers, and blowers that can keep the lawn trimmed nicely without exhaust or a lot of noise.

I’m not familiar with pests and diseases over there, but being the gardening-obsessed nation you are, there are lots of nurseries that can help with whatever problems you have.

Oneeye is right that keeping a lawn looking picture-perfect is a lot of work and takes significant inputs of various products, but nothing feels better on bare feet than a nicely trimmed lawn.

 

[Meadowlark]

....Personally from my opinion I think some people have a psychological disorder when it comes to their lawns.

No doubt about it...your views are so appreciated here and the respect that comes to those who have "been there and done that" is special. If yours is a rant, we should all be blessed to have the opportunity to read it. Thanks.

 

[coolguy]

Thanks for your very useful answers.

I'll try to keep it neat without ruining the environment.

 

[cpp gardener]

Oneeye, I agree that many lawns are 'over-tended' and the tendency to believe that "if a little is good, more must be better" is a real problem. With the newer battery-powered tools it's becoming quieter and less polluting, even if other aspects of lawn care need to change.
I do applaud your point of view and strength of your arguments. Even when they're a bit 'ranty'. I've been known to do that, too.