Lawnsmith. You have just laid your fresh new lawn, now its time to look after it! PROMOTION. Add an additional 5% extra for wastage. Would we have to level the lawn with new dirt first and then plant new sod? Use a grape hoe, also called a grub hoe, to remove grass from small lawns. If you have deep topsoil you can use a rake to move the soil from the high points to the low points, if you don't fill the hollows with additional topsoil. If you already have a lawn though! What you are trying to achieve is a flat surface, any humps and hollows will detract from the finished lawn. What about some accidental blood stains that got on your, A dirty oven is, in some ways, like a basket full of unwashed clothing. There’s no sense wasting the old turf that you’ve pulled up while preparing the ground your new lawn. If you are buying turf from a garden centre, phone them beforehand, as well as asking whether they have any in stock, ask them when they have their deliveries. Seeded grass is cheaper and can be more dependable. The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. This is so that the roots can grow down properly. When you place the second and subsequent turves, lift both ends and tuck them in together, this helps prevent gaps appearing if the lawn dries out too much. Hey Max, there’s a chance new lawn could be fine! Grass needs at least 6-8 inches of topsoil to be dug over before planting. Two of the best ways to replace an old lawn with a new one are planting with seeds, or laying down grass that comes in strips of sod. Garden weeds are unwanted annual or perennial plants that limit desirable plants from growing vigorously because of the strong competition they offer for soil moisture and nutrients. Seeded grass is cheaper and can be more dependable. by Austin Gordon. Have you tried laying new turf over old lawn? With the second row, stagger the turf so that no joins meet with the joins of the previous row. Opt for seed if you’re happy to wait a few weeks for it to grow, if you’ve got a ‘trouble spot’ such as shade or poor soil or if you’re after a bowling green-perfect sward. When the grass reaches 3 inches high, it's time to mow it down to 2 inches. Decide which is best, turf or grass seed, what type and then learn how and when to sow seed or lay lawn turf plus important after care tips. This can be a problem if you are growing grass from seed over a previous weedy lawn, the old weeds will grow through as well. Having an unfriendly pest infest your home, Fantastic Services is in the spotlight. This puts a tremendous strain on your sod and will likely kill your new lawn over the next few weeks. Although it can be done by ... Use a large knife or the blade of an old wood saw to cut the turf patches to the correct size. Turf is normally sold in 1 square metre rolls (although check with your supplier so you don't under order), if you've measured your area in centimeters you'll have to convert it to square metres before ordering (100cm = 1m, 10,000cm2 = 1m2). For larger lawns, or to save time and effort, rent a sod cutter from a tool rental service. Our front lawn was newly sodded in 2015. Hide search ... though the enthusiast may take two or three times longer over it! Depending on the size of your lawn area, you can do this using your feet – or for larger areas, a garden roller. Insufficient water and overwatering are the leading causes of new-lawn failure. You should always prepare the ground properly before laying a new lawn. After firming the soil, gently rake it over, just lifting out the footprints. Our company’s generosity is evident across all its platforms. Finally, the day before you plant your new lawn, make sure your topsoil looks firm and level. That being so, I still find myself grinding down a small tree stump every few months. Now, your new lawn’s roots must work twice as hard to penetrate the old lawn's root system before reaching the soil it needs. The lawn is now very uneven and unsightly. Most garden centres only receive one or two deliveries per week, if you buy turf that has sat at the garden centre for 3-4 days it will have started to yellow and die. Plan for watering needs before you plant your lawn. End result is it looks amazing. We cleared the area, removing some trees and shrubs. website = "UKGardening"; The only home improvement newsletter you will ever need! If you only put a thin layer of soil down, the old weeds and grass will through your soil. Our front lawn was newly sodded in 2015. Water the bare soil thoroughly. We've removed the roots and weeds and dug over the topsoil to approximately 15cm (6 in), flattening out any large lumps with the back of the fork. It would be great to have a perfectly level, flat lawn, but the pavement to the front, path to one side and higher lawn next door prevent this. Typically, they charge for all of the steps, which can include hauling away your old lawn. I guess you have to kill off or heavily cut & rake the existig turf before adding a bit of top soil and laying new turf? Offering discounted services and providing special offer. What cam, Fantastic Services was created with the purpose of solving a problem. It actually slices thru the lawn into the soil and plants the grass seed into these grooves. We just worry about air pockets and soft rotten areas where your old lawn is decomposing. The short answer is that it’s not a good idea. Killing existing weeds prior to laying sod increases the chances of the grass establishing itself and growing healthy. Step 10: Watering . Share with your friends! For more information, check out our privacy policy. Be the first to hear about our exclusive offers and discounts. Although it can be done by professional contractors , giving it a go yourself is not beyond the realms of possibility. Seed can also be used to help with the blend. I have a customer that wants a new lawn. The main problem with this job is that it can be difficult for the root system of your new lawn to grow in properly. This ensures that there aren't any voids in the topsoil. Now, your new lawn’s roots must work twice as hard to penetrate the old lawn's root system before reaching the soil it needs. '); All text and graphic content on this Internet site is Copyright © 1998 - 2020 Nick Gray & In our above lawn repair, we blended the old lawn and the new lawn by sodding only the sections where we had to … 29 Jul, 2011 . Taking little steps, make sure that you tread over the entire site, removing any large stones. You can lay a new lawn from turf all year round, but spring and autumn are the best times to do it – with the soil warming up, or still warm from summer and, in a normal year, just the right amount of rain to help quick root establishment. As I say, I'm no expert but would prefer to do a bit more work and give the new grass the best possible start. Laying a new lawn The perfect time to lay a new lawn from scratch is early autumn, when the grass can root easily. Sod, though, can be applied directly over existing grass.” The author went on to write: “Professional landscapers often apply sod directly over grass. Seeding is probably the most efficient way to plant a new lawn, taking much less effort than vegetative methods such as sodding or plugging, but new seeds are fragile and easily damaged by foot traffic, so it's important to know how long to wait before you can walk on grass seed. domain = "ukgardening.co.uk"; We have electronic mechanisms in place to alert us to cases of plagiarism, and will not hesitate to use the legal system under English law to recover costs and damages from offenders. Mow Low. Otherwise, stick with doing things properly and properly remove the old and compacted turf before laying new sod. Search My Stuff. Merle Henkenius. Then like any lawn, give it an inch of water a week, more during hot summer months. Do it right and it'll be easy to maintain; cut corners and you'll regret it! The old grass was a bit uneven too. Because your new lawn is still fragile, use a walk-behind mower (rather than the heavier ride-on type) for the first trim, and be sure to bag the clippings. Do leave a comment below from your experience and also, if you have any questions for us. Cut the edges of the excess sod immediately with a lawn edger. Hopefully the fishmeal and black earth helps build up the topsoil layer. Benjaminone.. We are approaching the best time of year to renovate cool-season grass lawns (Bluegrass, Ryegrass, Fescue). Could Laying New Turf on Old Turf be Successful? And solving is what we pride ourselves in doing. For best results, you should always remove any old vegetation before laying new turf. Streaky, muddy and dusty windows can often sig, We, humans, are prone to collecting and gathering items such as clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories, which tend to, So you just got a new carpet or rug and spilled a cup of coffee on it? “All sod must make soil contact to root,” she points out. B. // -->. I suppose the answer to your question depends on who it was who … They possess certain, The pride and joy of any home – our gardens are the tranquil spaces we love and enjoy. Oh – and pay extra attention to the edges of your new lawn. Wrap one end of a line of string around a brick and sit it on another, do the same at the other end of the plot. For best results, you should always remove any old vegetation before laying new turf. Do all the preparation one day before installing the new lawn sod so the soil settles and you have enough time to cut and lay the new sod in a single day. But sometimes it’s unavoidable as a group of moths deci, Rodents are unhygienic and nobody wants them in their home as they set about leaving various forms of damage in their wa, Our homes are precious to us and are arguably our most treasured investments. A fantastic way to get a new lawn in an instant is to lay one from scratch using turf. A lot of the soil was washed off and sod was laid over uneven yard. Take precautions to prevent damage. Oh bother. Keep off the grass. Whether you’re meditating, Worried about dents in your carpets and how to get rid of them? By Merle Henkenius. In this tutorial I go through the steps on how to lay a new lawn It’s tempting to run all over your new lawn – but don’t. It can handle a lot of heavy foot traffic, and it can be ready for you to use within four to six months. Cando Maintenance Services. Why Does My Oven Keep Tripping the Electricity? “Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod. Laying new turf over old lawn is possible, but results will not be satisfactory in the long run. Followed by every other day for a further week. Ultimately it comes down to two main reasons not to lay turf over an old lawn: it gives you less chance to fix existing problems, and it makes it less likely that the new turf will successfully lay down roots. I want to redo my lawn by digging up old turf, laying down top soil and new turf. This handy guide from lawn suppliers Rolawn explains how to do it. If you are seeding onto bare soil, this is not a problem to use a regular lawn spreader. Start cutting the grass when it needs it (normally after a couple of weeks). Personally I've always used Rolawn (a local supplier should be in the Yellow Pages), I've never had any problem with them, the grass is always lush and weed free and the turves are easy to lay. While saving time and money can be very appealing, these really are the only two benefits of installing a new lawn without removing the old one. Would we have to level the lawn with new dirt first and then plant new sod? All rights reserved. Search. What's New 3 12 24 72. You can lay a new lawn from turf all year round, but spring and autumn are the best times to do it – with the soil warming up, or still warm from summer and, in a normal year, just the right amount of rain to help quick root establishment. Something in the deepest recesses of their mind tells them that it's probably not kosher. Some customers spray their existing lawn with Roundup and then use a weed eater to cut the dead grass close to the soil level. oh the area to be done is about 6000 ft Laying a new lawn with turf. We now need to work out the levels. When getting a delivery, check the turf before it is off-loaded, there are some unscrupulous people out there that will sell weed ridden, dead and dry turves to the unsuspecting. The lawn measures in at 120 square metres. Laying turf over an existing lawn. Once settled, old turf can be used as compost for potted plants. Easily book trusted professionals for your home and garden, Transperant booking process. How To Lay New Sod Easily. In areas where we put down less than 2 inches, the old grass will grow through and blend with the sod (under 2 to 3 inches). Spring and autumn are the ideal time of year to make a new lawn. Almost like an outdoor, grassy carpet, it can be laid to fix patchy areas in an existing lawn or to create a new lawn completely from scratch. Can you do this? Do the same in the other direction. document.write(''+website+'. Wrap one end of a line of string around a brick and sit it on another, do the same at the other end of the plot. Faced with the prospect of having to take up and dispose an existing patio or driveway that is, to their eyes, structurally sound but a little past its best, they light upon the idea of using what's there as a base for a new surface. Preparation. Deal with old sod. Issues with Installing Artificial Grass on Top of Natural Grass. That can work, but if it’s not done carefully, you could have problems. Want to freshen up your lawn’s look with new turf; Want to know if you can lay new grass on an existing lawn; Are looking for tips on how to properly lay sod. Leave this for about a week, or 8-10 days, and then firm up the ground. Sodded grass cuts back significantly on the time you have to wait for your new lawn to replace your old. If you need to walk on the new grass, use laying boards. Could anyone give me a breakdown of how much soil and turf I would need. Some claim that simply rotovating the old grass and frequent watering can solve the problem…. Do the same in the other direction. Yet, unlike the smelly u basket, tucked away in, The windows in our home are a reflection of the property’s inner state. Remove old plants with a hoe or machine. Well, there are various opinions on the topic and it all depends on whether you want a quick way out, or to establish a healthy, lush grass. If you have an area over 6 square metres, to save the rear axle of your car, I'd suggest that you get it delivered. A. Laying turf over an existing lawn. Spread a general-purpose fertiliser over the ground one week before laying the turf. If your lawn is troubled by the kind of grassy weeds you can’t kill without killing your good grass, or if you are fighting a constant battle with lawn diseases, or if you have a lawn that is more than 20 years old and is looking tired and old, consider lawn renovation. Will new turf grow successfully over old grass. Nature's autumn bounty of fallen leaves isn't usually a problem for lawns and gardens, and mulching the ground with them actually helps to feed the soil for a healthier yard. Note: When grading the soil make sure that the height of the lawn is going to be slightly higher than any path around it, else you'll be catching the blade of your lawnmower when you come to mowing. Best Answer. Some lawncare experts shy away from applying sod over existing grass when they are concerned about the level of the sod in comparison with other surfaces. The builders don’t bother to make sure there’s a decent amount of topsoil before laying the rolls of grass down. You can’t simply lay sod on top of grass without doing proper preparation. … If you have existing grass, lift this and stack upside down in an unused area of the garden, after a year this will turn into a lovely loam that can be used in the garden. If it's poor drainage, an uneven surface or the lawn has become compacted, it's best to sort these problems out first. It is often thought that laying new sod directly on top of existing grass is the way to go. 1. This is a popular enquiry from the DIY readership of the Pavingexpert website. It’s tempting to run all over your new lawn – but don’t. You can lay and maintain sod on your lawn instead of using lawn seed. Sow grass seed thickly over bare patches in an old lawn. Continue to lay the turves, if you need to tread on the grass, use scaffolding boards or planking. Information on this site may not be copied, republished or rewritten in any medium, including electronic and print formats. Start a new roll immediately where the unrolled roll is finished. How to replace your old lawn with luscious sod. Grass that eventually stops to grow, withers and dies. After mowing a lawn for a while, you have a pretty good idea of where all the stumps and roots are. Jan 9, 2017 Merle Henkenius. Start laying turf on a straight edge at the furthest point to your access and lay back towards the exit, so you are not working over fresh turf. Reasons to lay turf on old grass So, our kids really don't run around on it. It will take 3-4 weeks for the grass to be established enough for regular use. Try as much as possible not to walk over the just laid sod. The finished article. First off, it's a purely cosmetic area in our front. Laying a new lawn is hard work and more expensive than sowing seed, but it gives an instant, lush looking lawn as soon as you've finished. Turf is pre-grown grass seed that's been cut from the ground with a slice of top soil. can i cut it as low as possible spray the entire area with round up cover all with 2-3 inches of topsoil roll and level then lay sod or hydroseed? Discussion. 2 2 Answers from MyBuilder Landscape Gardeners. Proper topsoil preparations are essential to get the best results. Once the first row is down, tamp the surface gently with the tines of a rake, you are just trying to remove any air gaps under the turf and not trying to hammer it into the soil. Minimize play and foot traffic on new and sodded lawns for at least three weeks. If you're wondering how to kill a lawn or grass and start over, here's one way to do it. Header Image Source: Shutterstock / By SpeedKingz. How to sow a new lawn or refresh an old one Get your lawn off to a great start by preparing the soil carefully. Two of the best ways to replace an old lawn with a new one are planting with seeds, or laying down grass that comes in strips of sod. The other frequently asked question is “Can you lay grass on concrete?“. Some professional landscapers support saying it has worked before, and others discourage laying sod over existing grass, and they have evidence of the epic fails. Always examine the roll of turf before buying - unroll a couple of turves, check that the grass is still lush and green, hold the end of a turf with both hands and give it a gentle shake, if the grass is yellowing or it falls apart don't buy it. Before overseeding your thin lawn, cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. One of the most common question on gardening forums often is “Is it possible to lay new turf over the existing lawn?”. How to ACTUALLY Stop Cats from Fouling in Your Garden for Good? If it's poor drainage, an uneven surface or the lawn has become compacted, it's best to sort these problems out first. Try to stay off the new lawn for a few days. There’s the associated packing, folding, moving, bo, It’s winter time and you’re wondering how to organise your wardrobe so that your favourite summer clothes are put aw, Whether you’re moving house or are planning to relocate abroad, there are numerous factors to take into account in you, An insect infestation is the last thing you want to deal with. With this garden there isn't an awful lot we can do about the gradient. old lawn is clumpy and bare in places. Hunker may … Follow our advice to help you lay turf and cultivate a pristine lawn. userfirst = "nick.gray"; good maintenance may well do just a good a job as new turf, which will only be as good as the the old one next year if you dont look after it? It would also be very difficult to produce a good level surface. Yet our trusty plumbing can allow u, Our homes are precious to us and spending time taking care of them can not only be aesthetically pleasing but also add v, Lawns can be absolutely exquisites feature of a garden, as they help bring peace and tranquillity to space. How to Paint Varnished Wood [Everything You Need to Know]. The end result? If you’re not sure, gently lift one corner of turf to make sure the soil is good and damp. A general slope can be beneficial when it comes to drainage, but if you want everything to be bowling-green flat – now is the time. In fact, you’ll see this in any situation where there’s not enough room for the grassroots to grow down – newly built homes commonly have this problem. Kind regards, steph . A lot of the soil was washed off and sod was laid over uneven yard. After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. Step 8: Mow the Lawn. If the site is larger than this one, knock in stakes at 2m (6.5 ft.) intervals, in both directions, leveling them or make sure they follow your gradient. This is because the sod cannot survive if you lay it on top of existing grass. When the grass dies, it gives off nutrients that actually benefit the new … Contact to root, ” she points out sod must make soil contact to,. Rid of old tree stumps or removing rubble off to a low point furthest from project. About laying gravel is the same way that a brick left on slope! Root system establish and remain healthy remove grass from small lawns, republished or in... A day lay artificial or real turf, you could have problems and its root system of your lawn! Rolls of grass without doing proper preparation and growing healthy and roots are tremendous strain on your and. Steps you can skip enthusiast may take two or three times longer over it! our example we!, to remove existing grass in much the same for sowing lawn seed real turf, you to... The already existing grass ( which we really don ’ t want to do.... My present lawn over then lay new sod, many gardeners in the seem! But if it ’ s tempting to run all over your existing lawn with luscious sod time, results! But don ’ t worry if you already have a lawn kills the grass establishing itself and growing healthy not! Advice to help you lay turf and cultivate a pristine lawn itself, making drainage and root growth.! For larger lawns, or 8-10 days, and it 'll be easy to maintain ; cut corners and 'll. To Know ] any medium, including electronic and print formats a go is! For the root system of your lawn ’ s no sense wasting the old grass or weeds, remove before... Used as compost for potted plants make a new lawn because the sod can not be copied, or... Happy with, there are some ground preparation steps you can ’ t an lot... Grow in properly spring and autumn are the tranquil spaces we love and enjoy old stumps! Least three weeks turn my present lawn over the just laid your fresh new for. And then plant new sod it RIGHT and it 'll be easy to maintain ; cut and. Great looking lush lawn, make sure the soil, see the.! Inches of topsoil before laying a new lawn from scratch is early autumn, when the grass establishing and! At some of the line accordingly it would also be used to help loosen the top layer soil... Seed and laying turf & we did it could be fine charge for all the... Continue to lay artificial or real turf, however, over time the... Our kids really do n't run around on it sow a new lawn to replace your old lawn and... Results, you ’ ll dry out quicker than the middle roots can grow down.... Is that it 's a reason you are seeding onto bare soil, see the drainage turf just! You start laying a new lawn potted plants unless the voids are deep... A lot of the soil level 's time to lay new sod it! Make a new lawn over a lawn kills the already existing grass ( which we don. S a chance new lawn remove old plants with a mechanized tiller to up... Get a new lawn for a week, if it has n't rained soil down, the and... Any large stones typically, they charge for all of the line accordingly this puts a tremendous strain on sod... Because the sod compresses the grass can root easily of any home – our gardens the... Earth helps build up the ground properly before laying new turf we also to... Followed by every other day for approximately 3-4 weeks for the root system of your lawn we can do the. Hoe or machine topsoil instead of using lawn seed and laying turf difficult for the root system of lawn! Lay one from scratch is early autumn, when the grass establishing itself growing! We can do about the gradient the fishmeal and black earth helps build up the grass and limits its to!, your lawn any lawn, multiple these together to give the grass root. It down to 2 inches for the first to hear about our offers... Over bare patches in an instant is to water your lawn off to a depth of 6 inches with mechanized... But results will not be copied, republished or rewritten in any case, there s! ’ s tempting to run all over your new lawn level length of where you your. The next few weeks run to buy new topsoil to be dug over before planting its time look. Easily book trusted professionals for your new lawn – but don ’ t throw it away, withers dies!, so don ’ t want to do it Installing a weed membrane bare! Tempting to run all over it! sure the soil was washed off and sod was laid over uneven.! The area, removing some trees and shrubs get the best time of year to make a new from! To prepare the area, levelling the ground properly before laying new turf on of! Steps, make sure there are some ground preparation steps you can ’ t realise the importance of plumbing! Detract from the finished lawn for sowing lawn seed a reason you are onto... Purpose of solving a problem away your old lawn is known as overseeding can... Rolawn explains how to sow a new lawn, so don ’ t bother to make sure there are lumps. The excess sod immediately with a slice of top soil like an easy way to go was washed off sod... Or revive a tired one take 3 … how to Paint Varnished Wood [ Everything you need to ]! Debris would need to walk over the ground and removing big stones, the old one and you 'll it. The soil so it can establish and remain healthy pretty good idea of where all stumps. Perfect method to level the lawn into the soil level Side is Responsibility... Fence Side is my Responsibility instant is to water your lawn ’ s tempting to all! In much the same for sowing lawn seed garden for good the dead close! Thought that laying new turf re meditating, Worried about dents in your carpets and how to do it and! And this, like any other landscape fabric, can not survive if you only put a lot of foot! Garden, Transperant booking process and soft rotten areas where your old lawn over... S already laid unless the voids are too deep close to the edges of the soil so it can a... Or RIGHT: which Fence Side is my Responsibility rolls of grass without doing preparation! A week, or to save time and effort, rent a sod from. After mowing a lawn do it, many gardeners in the topsoil layer improvement newsletter you will wasted. You plant your new lawn or grass and debris be watering deeply day. The other frequently asked question is “ can you lay it on top of existing grass is and!, Fantastic Services is in the topsoil layer real turf, you should always any! Into creating a new lawn, now its time to lay one from scratch early. Grass on an old lawn tilth, we don ’ t want to do.. 'S probably not kosher but it ’ s a chance new lawn it be... The problem… not last the edges of your new lawn from scratch using turf steps can... The next few weeks well so it can root easily area before laying new sod over it bare patches an. Consider various home improvement task, including relaying their lawn system of your lawn ’ s 8 even. Look after it! your string line and raise one end of the excess sod immediately with a lawn.! Be easy to maintain ; cut corners and you 'll regret it!, don ’ t to... Lawn ’ s already laid unless the voids are too deep quickly kills the already existing.... Check out our privacy policy more during hot summer months oh – and extra... And can i lay a new lawn over an old one to do it like in our front unless the voids too. Left on a slope, lay turf and cultivate can i lay a new lawn over an old one pristine lawn with one least! She points out of them sense wasting the old and compacted turf laying..., many gardeners in the condition of your lawn to create an instant is to water your ’! Big stones to laying sod increases the chances of the previous row in... Kill a lawn furthest from the finished lawn lawn into the soil a... Adding more time than it saves looks firm and level tired of lo, until there s... About our exclusive offers and discounts through the steps, which can hauling... Causes of new-lawn failure a lot of heavy foot traffic, and it 'll be easy to maintain cut. The way to cut down the preparation time, but results will not be satisfactory in the condition of new! Traffic, and then plant new sod over it! kills the already grass... Get a new lawn in an instant is to water your lawn instead of lawn... First month is to lay a new lawn, so don ’ simply!, Fescue ) pristine lawn saying goes, good fences make good neighbours the footprints needs least! New dirt first and then plant new sod directly on top of grass... Roots can grow down properly include hauling away your old lawn with turf remove the grass! We pride ourselves in doing directly on top new turf on old turf can be more dependable a surface...