Question
Hello,

Please can you help me with my lawn.  I moved into my house 2 years ago.  The garden was awful.  The grass was approximately 5ft tall.  I kept strimming it but within 2 weeks the grass was 5ft tall again.  I've tried to keep on top of it but I wouldn't really call it grass.  It's just yellow with sparse green patches and everything looks dead and messy.

Please can you help?

Many thanks

Answer
Sounds like your "lawn" is not regular turf type lawn grasses which grow low, but are wild grasses which naturally grow very tall.

I would consider eradicating the entire lawn by spraying Round-Up (avoid spraying on flowers, bushes and trees) and let the current grass die. Then rough up the soil surface (you can roto till the soil and rake smooth). Spread 4-6 lbs of modern lawn grasses (can be purchased at garden centers) and water regularily (never allowing top of soil to dry out) until new seeds germinate (sprout). Then gradually change to an infrequent but deep watering pattern (such as once per week for 1 hour) which is how an ESTABLISHED lawn should be watered. During seed establishment, however, you must water frequently and shallowly to keep the lawn surface damp at all times or the new seeds will die. Water twice daily if you have to. Some people cover with light layer of straw after planting seeds (will not interfer with seeds). Avoid straw with own (wheat) seeds.

After you have established your new lawn, mow regularily, such as once per week and cut the lawn at 2.5-3.5" consistently.