New Build Garden Help

A question about : New Build Garden Help

Hi all.

Looking for a bit of advice for a complete gardening newbie.

We moved intoa new build house in October last year, with a garden.

They had turfed the garden in the weeks before we moved in, and since then, there has been no chance to do anything to it.
I would probably have cut it if it has stayed dry for more than 20 minutes, but it is now reasonable long, with patches all over where it has failed to take root, or the length and rain has ment that it is very patchy.

I know it has not yet started to grow, but what sorts of treatments should i be looking to us on it? I was thinking some sort of 'Seed & Feed' type product, if such a thing exists, but when, how much, what else to do to it is a mystery to me.

Also, one of the neighbours cats has taking a liking to one corner as a toilet. We would like to be able to use the garden if/when the weather improves, but if the cat is still using it as a bathroom, its not really very pleasent. Any ideas for getting rid of the thing?*

*Just from the garden you understand, I'm not a monster.

Best answers:

• Don't put any feed on the lawn until April at the earliest, you can however sow some seeds on the patchy bits, it will grow even at this time of year.
  First cut can be anytime from March onwards as long as it is dry, if wet you would be more likely to pull the grass than cut it. If need be you can cut the longer/thicker growth with shears and if they are new & sharp that can be done even when wet.
  *shoot the cat*
  I have the same trouble and I just throw stones at it but I am so tempted
• Personally, I'd experiment with putting some sharp spikes inserted into the lawn at the spot the cat has designated as its loo. Say some short broken-off garden canes in lengths just a few inches long.
  Then when it goes to squat to "do its business" it gets a poke up the backside.
  I would have thought that might train it not to choose that particular spot.
• If it's a new build, I'd want to know what was under this lawn before committing good money to it. It's quite usual for all the broken bricks and other carp to be buried under the 'landscaped' garden, and a layer of turf conveniently hides a multitude of sins.
  A trial hole will tell you:
• how deep the layer of topsoil they've provided is
• whether burying of waste has taken place*

If there isn't enough soil or decent drainage, the lawn will never be much good, but of course you may have other things of more importance to tackle first. It would be helpful to know in advance, however.
*Not all builders are guilty in this respect, just most of them.

• Thanks again for the help. I shall be trying all of these things as soon as the weather improves.
  CAT UPDATE: SWMBO saw said cat in the garden this morning doing what it does on the grass, and she chased it away (with the aid of her morning cup of tea).
  She also later admitted that she had seen it one night after we first moved in and 'it looked cold' so she fed it. So now she is wholly to blame for encouraging it into the garden, i think she feels guilty about it. Good.
• I'm a cat person, but the best training method for bad behaviour for moggies is water. Set up a hose close to its loo then simply hose it. It won't come back.