Once all of the grass, leaves, rocks and other debris have been removed from your garden it’s time to smooth the ground before you can lay your new turf. Lay grass to create an instant lawn or revive a tired one. If the surface is uneven, wheelbarrow in some topsoil, pour it on top and even it out with a rake. Lay the next row of sod. They're faster and allow for a wider distribution of seeds. cultivate the existing turf and then weedkill it all to make sure no weeds come through the new turF lay some top soil on top if needed and then lay new turf tommyl18, 16 May 2010 #2. Either choice will work to replace your old, patchy lawn with new grass. Use a hose to water the site for your new lawn. If your lawn is really small, shovels and a mattock may do the trick. It still requires lots of water. To keep newly sodded areas moist, consider watering the sod after you lay the first large area. What's the benefit of smothering your old lawn over solarizing it or killing it with herbicides? After it was all over, we pulled up the old sod and laid down new sod. Step 2 Before laying the turf you should create an outline in your garden using builder’s twine and wooden pegs; in order to make sure the turf is laid precisely. It's definitely important that your sod's roots are able to connect to the underlying soil, but that's not dependent on the orientation of the sod strips. A sod cutter slices under the grass, enabling you to pull up strips of old turf. Related To: Lawn Care. Order 5% more turf than you think you need, nothing worse then short ordering. Clear plastic is preferable to opaque because more sunlight can get to the grass surface. Think shade, mowing and access to good quality water. Another option for removing these old Buffalo root systems would be to use the same Kanga or Bobcat, and to dig much deeper into the soil. Once all of the grass, leaves, rocks and other debris have been removed from your garden it’s time to smooth the ground before you can lay your new turf. For Couch use Fusilade Forte (Fluazifop-p) and for all other weeds, use Roundup (Glyphosate). Chemically kill the area of lawn you want replaced. Wait one week after the final application. Use a knife to trim the sections of sod that abut paved areas. When laying new turf, you should thoroughly prepare the soil to make your lawn as healthy as possible, but by laying it on top of grass you can't do this. The good news is that because Buffalo Grass doesn’t have rhizomes (underground runners), once we remove the above ground runners (stolons) which make up the lawn, the job is almost done. Cut the sod in half first and lay it in a staggered design (as bricks are laid). Removing grass can expose pest problems you didn't know you had. Hopefully the old turf rolls up, but may have to come out in chunks. Strip off any old grass / weed by digging underneath the turf to lift off the grass plus about 1.6 inches of soil. *** Wet the covering and top it off with gra… Check the soil for insect larvae and deal with any you find before you reseed or plant. And there's quite a bit of initial labor involved in laying down the mulching materials. You should also make sure it’s laid within 24 hours of delivery in order to ensure it’s in the best condition. Adding soil over grass can be another effective form of repairing a lawn. Rototilling alone will just spread the crabgrass! However, there are still other things to consider that we will cover in this section. One of the most important things about laying gravel is the process of installing a weed membrane. If the area being covered is uneven or has poor quality soil, you will need to add more top soil for the new turf to bed into - this will cost around £30 per m2. Poisoning off the old grass with glyphosate, leave the old grass there, put your new soil right on top ofthe old grass, lay your new turf. Water well and allow the new grass to grow to several inches before mowing. Measure the square-footage of your lawn carefully so that you can order the right amount of sod. The size is 7mx3m and I was quoted £2 900 for the whole job inc waste removal. Make sure your first mow … The surface would be too lumpy and uneven for the gravel to be laid down properly and as the turf decomposes, the landscape fabric will get even bumpier. Remove the plastic when the grass has died. Choose another answer! The ground should slope away from your house in all directions. I'm very comfortable with DIY but gardens are not something I have any experience of! In tight corners or confined spaces, sprinkle seed by hand for best placement. 2. This video teaches how to remove preexisting lawn using a sod cutter. In some cases grass might not come in at all. Wait a week, then spread some topsoil over area. Thanks.". To hire a small, easily manoeuvrable digger, it will cost you around £200 for the first day, and £50 - £75 for each additional day, but it will work out cheaper overall if you need to hire it for an entire week. You’ll want to avoid the soil crusting into a hard surface which prevents seeds from emerging. 7 Steps to Laying a Healthy Lawn 1. Using a hoe or sod cutter will be easier if your lawn soil is moist. Centipede grass is an example. Use a spade or shovel to make clearing out the old lawn easier. But solarizing your lawn is also environmentally-friendly, so this isn't a specific benefit of smothering. Broadcast spreaders are best when you have to spread seeds over a large area—more than 4000 square feet. In 6 months it will be ready to use as a mulch or to dig into the soil. Water it well and keep watering every few days so it establishes well. This device slices through the soil and grass to create an easy-to-remove roll. And, because Buffalo grass doesn’t have these underground runners like other warm season grasses, the turf cannot regenerate itself once the top thatch layer is removed. It’s vital that you address any issues before laying your new turf to … Before you lay any new turf it’s essential to remove any grass that you already have in your garden. New grass will grow over old turf, however, your lawn’s condition will deteriorate over time as the old grass dies. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. The drop-spreader has a dropper with adjustable holes. Sod is the best way to cover grass in southern states for grasses that can’t be grown from seed. Prepare the soil by skimming off any old grass, removing large stones and weeds, and then roughly levelling by flattening humps and filling hollows. Prepare the ground by removing weeds and raking it level, then lay the turf so it overlaps slightly. Use roller to level and compact. Ok, in general I pay £2.50 for a m sq. You could also invert the grass, cover it with several layers of newspaper, and then use it as compost for your new lawn. Turf laid in spring often needs watering in dry spells over summer. Jeremy Yamaguchi. Spread a general-purpose fertiliser over the ground one week before laying the turf. The main reason for this is the increasing thatch layer of Buffalo grass which continues to build-up higher and higher until, in many cases, the Buffalo lawn will need to be removed and a new lawn planted. Continue this process after each new large area has been laid down. Layered materials could slide on steep slopes. By using our site, you agree to our. Measure and Order. Reapply the herbicide if the turf has not completely died. Most lawn products will suggest what size hole you should use. Not quite! A sod cutter slices under the grass, enabling you to pull up strips of old turf. Laying sod is hard work, so it’s no wonder why people are always hunting for a shortcut when they’re installing a fresh lawn. Yes, but put down a good weed and feed first. Click on another answer to find the right one... Yup! Turf is pre-grown grass seed that's been cut from the ground with a slice of top soil. Choose a day with little to no wind to avoid drifting. Once level use your feet to tread it down or alternatively you could hire a roller to flatten and firm large areas of … Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Not exactly! Keep off the sod during installation. The hottest days with direct sunlight are optimal for solarization. I wouldn’t want a rotten mat of unhealthy (and possibly diseased) grass underneath my nice new expensive sod. Once the new Sir Walter buffalo lawn was established, some simple rules were followed to keep the grass in optimum shape. The taller growth helps retain moisture at ground level. When ordering the turf for your garden you should add an extra 5% onto your order so that you can allow for any waste. Before you start growing the new grass seed, you must first get rid of the old turf. You can also use the inverted sod to make high places on your lawn or to fill in low places. by email twice a month, Grow Your Own – Allotment – Gardening Help, How to Lay Turf – Laying new turf to replace a lawn, Renovating a Lawn Restoring an Old or Damaged Lawn, Monthly Lawn Care Guide, Through the Year Lawn Guide, Lawn Sand & Feed Mixes, Top Dressing, Moss Killer Recipe, Removing & Controlling Lawn Moss Improve Your Lawn. unlocking this expert answer. Can a weed-filled lawn be replaced by ajuga, clover or thyme without grass removal? See how we did it on DIYNetwork.com. Smother your lawn. In either case, that's faster than smothering—or solarizing, for that matter. More Information Unwanted growth like weeds is more likely to just re-grow through the fresh turf. Provided it hasn’t been treated with weedkillers, old turf makes terrific compost. Turf is an easy way to replace a patchy lawn with bright, even grass, but only if you do it the right way. Follow the 7 steps below to ensure you lay & sustain a great looking & healthy lawn. Choose a suitable grass type. my front garden is 5/4m so 20m sq. By: Derek Trimble. Dig over and break up any clods of soil. Rent a sod cutter if you don’t have one. Those … Making compost. Grass in the heat of summer will fare better if allowed to grow taller and cut on the mower's highest setting. Select the seed that works best for your lawn environment. And this, like any other landscape fabric, cannot be placed directly over a lawn. Black plastic also works. An old, patchy lawn doesn't need to be ripped up before the lovely new sod is put in place. Removing grass from your yard gets to be a pattern after a while. However, they can be awkward to wheel into tight corners, so you should use a different method in those hard-to-reach spots. Roll out each roll in the same direction. Now it's time to choose your turf type. If you’re not able to water your new lawn throughout the day, a sodded lawn might be for you. Use shovels and garden rakes to remove what the sod-cutter can’t reach. You should remove every last piece of plant material from the area. The gush of boiling water burns the weeds, causing them to turn yellow and die. AND the new turf will probably root in to it in the short term but the effect will not last. Lay each piece hard up against the last to avoid air pockets and any drying out. The dead grass can also be removed, or you can leave it as compost. Search our blog for news, ... or indeed in laying wild flower turf – is to remove the old vegetation. Wait about four weeks before reapplying. Herbicides containing glyphosate are a wise choice. The maximum slope is about twelve inches for every four feet. The only way to ensure sod strips don't overlap is to lay them down carefully, regardless of their orientation. about 5% over should do the trick. Drifting herbicides can kill nearby plants or pollute water sources. Jeremy provides instant satellite quotes and can coordinate service from a smartphone or web browser. Your seed-seller can make a recommendation. Use a wheelbarrow to haul it out of your way. They supplied the turf for several episodes of Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Garden on ITV. The finished grade should be at the level of surrounding areas like a patio or sidewalk. If your grass has gone passed revival then the laying of your new turf will have to be done sooner rather than later and it’s important to set aside enough time to make sure you get it right. For lawns over 4,000 feet (1,000 m), use a broadcast spreader. By: Derek Trimble. It should drop about 2 ½ inches every 10 feet (3 m). 1 Scale the old grass by mowing it to 3/4 inch above the ground. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If this sounds difficult, in one sense it is less difficult than you may imagine. This preparation work is labour intensive and will be the primary cost of fitting artificial grass. This will minimize how long it stays in the environment. Then rototill and seed the lawn. 6. The easiest solution was to rip it up with a bobcat and lay new turf. Till the dead turf into your soil. Pick another answer! Start by thoroughly raking the area paying attention to the level. Lay in a cross bonded pattern like house bricks. NO Chemicals. "Had no idea of how many options there were to kill grass and weeds. They're about $70.00 per day. Wet the covering and top it off with grass clippings (4 inches / 10 cm or more), compost, 6-inch (15cm) wood chips, or another organic mulch. Root out new weeds. Aim for soil that isn’t dense and will allow seeds to grow. This lawn was little more than a mass of weeds because the type of grass that had been planted found it hard to cope with the dry conditions. If needed, repeat spraying and wait a further 14 days. Article basis supplied by Turfland, a British company who specialise in the supply of top quality turf to professionals and home owners alike. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You’ll need a way to dispose of it, the most efficient way being the use of a powered sod cutter, available for rent at most equipment rental shops. Turf Prep & Installation; DIY Turf Laying Guide. So, in theory, it makes sense to simply mow your lawn short and lay new sod right over the existing lawn. This might require skip hire, which can cost between £150 and £300. Close! Once level use your feet to tread it down or alternatively you could hire a roller to flatten and firm large areas of loose soil. How do you know if your lawn needs dethatching? But smothering, though it takes a long time, can be used regardless of weather conditions. Label each one clearly. In spring and autumn little mowing is needed so newly-laid turf can be left relatively undisturbed for several weeks. [1] X Research source Mow the grass closely. So what should you do with the leaves, roots and other debris that you’ve dug up? This article was co-authored by Jeremy Yamaguchi. Hopefully the old turf rolls up, but may have to come out in chunks. A rotavator or tiller will be useful at this stage to break the soil into a fine tilth. Keep foot traffic on the sod to a minimum in the early stages. Grab a measuring tape and measure the area where you want the new lawn. If it’s a heavy soil then consider adding grit or sharp sand to open it up. How to Remove Old Grass for Planting New Seeds. With badly waterlogged soils, this is your opportunity to install some land drains and a sump to take off excess water. The layers of your old lawn will break down, making compost. Sodded grass cuts back significantly on the time you have to wait for your new lawn to replace your old. Not necessarily! Apply the herbicide on a sunny day (60 degrees or above) so that the herbicide will dry quickly. 1. Before laying artificial grass you need to consider the cost of removing any old turf first. – Start from scratch. A plank attached to rope and dragged over is a great aid to levelling a larger lawn. First, make 2-inch deep cuts in the turf every 2-feet using either a manual or a power edger. Once settled, old turf can be used as compost for potted plants. Drop spreaders are great for evenly spreading seeds around small- to medium-sized lawns. Remove all the weed from your garden either by hand or by using glyphosate. Although turf can be laid at any time of the year the best seasons are definitely spring and autumn as these seasons generally avoid problems of ice and flooding. Sod can have problems bonding to the soil. Water in the mornings to avoid the heat of the day and water deeply while the lawn is young. . Mix in a good amount of fertiliser and/or compost to improve your turf’s growth prospects. It’s less expensive, but it’s a lot more labor. The first thing to do is clear the area where your new lawn is going to be laid or sown. Water the area and fill in puddled areas with soil from the high spots on your lawn. Use shovels and garden rakes to remove what the sod-cutter can’t reach. It is possible to dump new soil over top of what you have, and prepare it for sod or seed. When you are using herbicides, try to read and follow the manufacturer’s guideline to the latter. The results will most likely be short lived. % of people told us that this article helped them. Turf is best laid in mid-autumn, but can be laid any time between mid-autumn and late winter whenever the soil is not too wet or frosty. Discard the weed and turf top (you can shake out the soil from the roots if you wish). It takes either one week (if you apply the herbicide once) or five (if you apply it twice). The first step in artificial turf installation is to remove the old grass. Add organic matter, lime, sulfur or fertilizer to serve as amendments for the site of your new lawn. Get rid of the old turf debris. But not as much as a seeded lawn. Three times the cost of seed, BUT with turf you get the top soil as well all in a roll. Yes, you can temporarily disguise bald patches in your lawn by laying new turf on top of it. In fact, the more dirt that is attached, the easier the project is. Not necessarily! Don’t cultivate the soil it too finely. . Mow the grass closely. Start around the border, overlapping any rounded edges and trimming the excess turf once it’s all been laid. I live in Greater London, just got in a quote to remove slab paving and lay new lawn turf in my garden. Three times the cost of seed, BUT with turf you get the top soil as well all in a roll. Count on a weekend to prepare your soil and to either plant new seed or lay new sod. Dig For Victory; Monthly Guides & Commentary. Prepare the soil by skimming off any old grass, removing large stones and weeds, and then roughly levelling by flattening humps and filling hollows. Do not leave the sod in place if it contains undesirable weeds or invasive grasses. Read on for another quiz question. This article has been viewed 296,393 times. This article was co-authored by Jeremy Yamaguchi. Mow in different directions each time for more even cut and growth. These include: It’s harder for the turf to set down healthy roots through the old grass layer. How to lay turf. If problems occur the lawn could have patchy spots. If you’re looking to cut down on time, you may want to hire a digger to remove the existing turf/weeds/soil, as well as bringing the new topsoil across to the site. Why not to lay turf over old grass. Following all of these simple steps will ensure that your garden remains looking healthy throughout the year, no matter what the weather throws at it. Jeremy provides instant satellite quotes and can coordinate service from a smartphone or web browser. Try again! Since your lawn has a fixed area, it'll always take the same amount of sod to cover it. 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