Thread: Growing grass - How ?

I have a small front garden in the mooban which has been damaged by the neighboor construction workers,

I have been looking for grass seeds but couldn't find any of it,

the only thing available is those small lawn carpet, but they are thin and doesn't seem to hold very long,

what advice or where should I go to find grass seeds ? and what should I do to have those grass carpets last a bit more than 2 months after they have been laid down,

it's very frustrating,

looking for all kind of ideas to have a nice lawn,

There are a few lawn threads here. Can't remember what they're called.

Buy the (turf / sod / lawn carpets / grass) and keep them wet for several months. If they dry out, they'll die. I watered my lawn every night for about two hours. Yaa yippun seems to be popular in Thailand.

Also lay them flat so little or no air gets underneath, into the roots.

If you can haul it yourself, they should cost about 17-20 baht per sq meter. More if someone hauls it in and lays it for you.

We just planted about 60sqm and it took off like wildfire. Prepare the soil underneath, roll it on top when laid, try to make it tight, even sprinkle some fine sand soil over it and water in, this will settle around the roots and as said, water a lot.

Never seen seeds here, turf is the way to go. Maybe your site to shady or something, wrong type for the location or such.

hydroponics

another cracker....oh oh oh...help me off the floor....he's killin me...

I had a landscaping crew put down about 400sqm. of sod three months ago, it is growing so well I am mowing twice a week. When you lay it down roll the hell out of it, when ours was done and it had been raining for two days, after they finished rolling it mostly mud. I thought they had ruined it, two weeks later i was already mowing. The landscaper told me after two weeks fertilize, then once a month, and lots of water, twice a day for the first month.

The most impotant thing to consider Butterfly is how much sunlight or shade that the area gets everyday. Then you can select the right type of grass.

I have used the Malaysian broad leef grass in shady areas with great succes.

Any grass will grow well in a sun drenched area but be caeful that you have sufficient drainage. Roots sytems will not penetrate deep into the sub soil if the water cannot penetrate through the soil and the water mainly sits on the suface.

How you achieve good drainage is to dig down about 10cm below the intended grass level cover the area with stones (and the type that they mix with concrete and sand.) As you say you only have a small area to do this should not be a big job.

Then lay a good quality soil diectly on top of the stones and back to the desired grass level. Then lay your grass (about 25 Baht per square metre) or plant your seeds and keep the area well watered.

What the stone drainage does is to retain a water table 10cm below the surface and helps to airate the soil. The grass roots detects the water table and grow deep into the soil helping bind the ground structure.

Be careful about fertilizing the grass too early and wait until the grass is well established until applying fertilizer or lawn food. This may burn and kill the grass.

Hope the above helps and good luck mate

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I have used the Malaysian broad leef grass in shady areas with great succes.

Any links or pictures? Do you know what this is called in Thai?

I don't know if this is a stupid idea or not but could you put down grass seed and the put sod/turf on top of it?

Originally Posted by jizzybloke

I don't know if this is a stupid idea or not but could you put down grass seed and the put sod/turf on top of it?

Never heard of this Jizzy but one thing you have to make sure, and that is when they cut the grass roll (and before delivery) make sure there is a good thick layer of soil under the grass and which retains the root system.

What they do here is cut the grass strip too thin and therefore damage the root system. They do this as soil is expensive now and is far lighter to carry and lay.

Many times I have rejected grass rolls because they are incorrectly cut and will most probably die. Also check the grass for weeds as poor quality grass retains a lot of weeds that will grow and eventually kill the grass.

Very misleading title. Wrong grass !!

Originally Posted by JoGeAr

Very misleading title. Wrong grass !!

I was thinking the same Jo!

Reckon the neighbours workers pinched all his grass and are happily smoking it at the moment.

After my house was built I just had the garden overlaid with good soil, the grass grew naturally. I just kept mowing it and that eradicated the weeds. Grass benefits from being cut, weeds don't, so the grass wins. My garden is too big to have been turfed.

Originally Posted by Ivor Biggun

After my house was built I just had the garden overlaid with good soil, the grass grew naturally. I just kept mowing it and that eradicated the weeds. Grass benefits from being cut, weeds don't, so the grass wins. My garden is too big to have been turfed.

What part of the world are living in Ivor and with all due respects?.

Have a constant battle with weeds and have a full time gardener on the estate constantly treating them or pulling them out.

Sorry but weeds will kill off some grasses everytime because they seed more regularly, grow at a faster rate (no matter what the soil condition) and seem to be far more hardy.

Some people don't mind weeds anyway but my kids love to play on the grass (and without their shoes) and we don't like them getting any weed thorns or bindies in their feet or have weed flowers attracting bees and other flying insects do we.

I live in Buriram Province. I have one Rai of grassed garden. I cut the grass barefoot as it's easier than with flip flops on. I do get weeds, as anyone would, but not enough that cause problems. Also I have children running around bare foot at times.

Originally Posted by Ivor Biggun

I live in Buriram Province. I have one Rai of grassed garden. I cut the grass barefoot as it's easier than with flip flops on. I do get weeds, as anyone would, but not enough that cause problems. Also I have children running around bare foot at times.

Therefore I do agree that to cut your grass (and weeds) and before the weeds flower and seed will keep the weed migration down to a minimum.

Man you must be a busy boy and to be cutting a Rai of land every week.

Well done.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

What part of the world are living in Ivor and with all due respects?

Think he's down in Buriram. Understand what your saying about the weeds but there is a grass (some may call it a weed) here in Roiet that really is hardy and not at all hard on the feet. Kids run around on it all the time. Once it takes hold all I do is mow and water it to keep it looking OK. Not exactly your manicured golf green but low maintenance and looks good.

Very intersting Norts, and about the local grass.

Wonder if I could get it to grow down this way as all we have is shit weeds that have needle spurs and grow small flowers that attract bees.

The kids come off it hopping and complaining about injuring their feet.

I spread the cutting over 3 days. To do all in one day, it can be done sometimes, but fcuks me up. As Norton says it's hardy but it's not a manicured golf green. I never water it or feed it.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Very intersting Norts, and about the local grass.

Stuff is similar to the Common Bermuda Grass seen growing wild in Florida. No thorns or prickly bits. It does get runners that can be a little hard if not kept green. It might do OK in Pats but as I said won't be as beautiful as some of the more "cultured" grass species.



There is another consideration. I reckon the village kids feet are a bit tougher than the city kids.

Thanks Norts and I will get the missus to follow up this investigation tomorrow.

By the way does it grow in shaded areas?

Have had great succes with roll lawn. Some years ago laid 2 lots.. first 100 sq mt and 2nd 250 sq mt.Found out that better quality and more weed free the soil underneath more growth. We were advised to put plenty of water on the bare soil first, then lay the rolls leaving a small gap between each piece. After laying put some of muddy soil in the gaps.
When we finished the place was more like a bog than lawn! Kept it wet morning and night for 2 weeks then started mowing. After 3 months spread 16-16-16 fertilizer and watered. Boy did it take off.Twice the amount of grass clippings, and had to mow every 5/6 days. Settled down and pleased.
Was my pride and joy as I always wanted a lawn about the place to set off the house, locally the houses don't have lawns and look bare and dull.
Went to New Zealand for 3 years and the nephew living in the house couldn't wouldn't mow the lawns.
Came back 2 years ago and wept. Grass...now feet high weeds, and bushy growth everywhere. Got a man in who sprayed it with roundup. Killed the lot.
A few weeks later weeds.... out with the mower and in about 2 months grass started comming through, now about 90% back in grass in stead of the weeds.

Last March we cleared 5 rai to bare earth and planted mangoes. By May we had weeds popping up everwhere. All sorts clumpy, vine like, thorny ones, terrible. Started mowing and now 5 months would have 40% in some sort of grass and looks park like.
Locals amazed to have lawn growing in the orchard!

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

By the way does it grow in shaded areas?

Once it gets going it grows everywhere and in a hell of a hurry. Did notice it struggles under this one particular big tree. Don't know the English name but the Thai name is Makaam I believe.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Very intersting Norts, and about the local grass.

Stuff is similar to the Common Bermuda Grass seen growing wild in Florida. No thorns or prickly bits. It does get runners that can be a little hard if not kept green. It might do OK in Pats but as I said won't be as beautiful as some of the more "cultured" grass species.



There is another consideration. I reckon the village kids feet are a bit tougher than the city kids.

Looks like Crab Grass, it will take over and kill your manicured lawn, but if it is the only grass it's hardy and easy to maintain also tough for weeds to penetrate