Dioramas, back to the basics. HELP!

Try the woodlands grass putting it on more sparsely. 

For a flat and level grass, model railroad area of hobby shops has sheets of grass that look pretty good.  One version looks like a golf green, and not to good for most dioramas, but they also sell a mottled more wild turf look.  You coat back with white glue and apply to base.

I use Woodlands grass and a few other brands. How are you applying it. I mix up a range of colours and types with differant lengths and put it on you a puffer bottle sold by Noch.

Heres a couple of example of the results i get.

I know its lazy but you can get grass mats which look good and are a whole let less work

Thanks guys for all the help. I think I have just been putting too much on so you can't really see the dirt. I'm also gonna try color variation in the grass with some yellows and Browns so it's not just solid green. Appreciate all the help!

One trick if you want weeds in your grass is to use fine stranded electrical wire- hookup wire.  Cut pieces about 3/4 inch long, strip insulation from half of it.  Unwind the strands a bit.  Drill hole in base about the size of the insulated portion and glue insulated end in base.  Paint the copper wire tan, brown, or OD- or a mix of those.

I have to say, I haven't found a way to make decent looking grass that ISN'T tedious. It'll take me two or three weeks to put down a simple layer of green adhered by white glue, and then adding weeds and other scrub over time. And it still looks...mediocre. I think foliage is one of the most challenging aspects of modeling. Harder even than nmf finishes.