Removing an old lawn

[Dr_Gonzo]

I'm planning on sorting out my garden, which frankly is a bit of a mess. It looks like it's been pretty much untouched for years and so is a bit untidy. The 'lawn' is a ragged mix of grass and mostly weeds. It's completely unlevel and there's a fair few large rocks within the soil too. It also rises around 2 feet in one spot towards the rear.

I'd like to completely remove the current 'lawn', level it, and start again with new turf so as to get a nice flat lawn. I've looked into hiring a turf cutter to strip away the top layer and then maybe a rotovator for tiling the soil; however I also been recommended to use weed killer over the whole area and then to cover it with plastic sheeting for a week or so to kill off the current vegatation and then use the rotovator.

Does anyone have any experience of doing something like this?

The Doctor

[therealpigdog]

just done a similar thing myself.

although by "done" i mean that i paid someone to do it - I have absolutely no idea what he did, but it looks fantastic and has sorted out all the drainage problems.

[Digga]

Dr_Gonzo said:

I'm planning on sorting out my garden, which frankly is a bit of a mess. It looks like it's been pretty much untouched for years and so is a bit untidy. The 'lawn' is a ragged mix of grass and mostly weeds. It's completely unlevel and there's a fair few large rocks within the soil too. It also rises around 2 feet in one spot towards the rear.

I'd like to completely remove the current 'lawn', level it, and start again with new turf so as to get a nice flat lawn. I've looked into hiring a turf cutter to strip away the top layer and then maybe a rotovator for tiling the soil; however I also been recommended to use weed killer over the whole area and then to cover it with plastic sheeting for a week or so to kill off the current vegatation and then use the rotovator.

Does anyone have any experience of doing something like this?

The Doctor

If there's access of more than 700mm wide and there's no major steps up/down or tight corners, you should be able to get a mini or micro digger in there. Like this sort of thing:

In which case I'd suggest getting a decent landscaper in there to dig the old turf up and level the lawn off too. You will need to remove material from the lawn, either cut and then fill another are of the garden or get a skip in and get the unwanted stuff off site, otherwise you'll never get the levels right.

Edited by Digga on Wednesday 28th January 16:05

[Simpo Two]

Dr_Gonzo said:

a rotovator for tiling the soil

Tiling? Well I suppose that's one way to end lawn mowing!

Dr_Gonzo said:

; however I also been recommended to use weed killer over the whole area and then to cover it with plastic sheeting for a week or so to kill off the current vegatation and then use the rotovator.

If you're going to use any weedkiller where you will later want to grow things, use a NON-RESIDUAL weedkiller (typically glyphosate or glufosinate). Don't use a 'path and drive' (residual) weedkiller.

Rotovating will bring new seeds and bits of root up to the surface so you're bound to get some weeds in the new lawn, the trick is to keep an eye on it and pull them out before they get established. But remeber a lawn is a very unnatural thing as far as nature is concerned so it will always be a battle.

[stormin]

What you have explained would work. Havn't done it to my lawn, but did when I created raised Veggy beds, we had small sheets of plastic.

Go for it, grass is only another plant anyway.

[Sixpackpert]

Roundup in

+

Edited by Sixpackpert on Wednesday 28th January 16:07

[Dr_Gonzo]

I didn't think I'd get a mini digger down there but I think I could probably get something no bigger than 700mm down there.

[Digga]

Dr_Gonzo said:

I didn't think I'd get a mini digger down there but I think I could probably get something no bigger than 700mm down there.

I wouldn't try and do it yourself!

Get a decent landscaper in, who has (or can hire) his own machine and you'll have a nice flat lawn, with just the right run-off. Do it yourself and you'll end up with something akin to the surface of the moon.

Roughly where are you - I might be able to suggest one of our customers?

[Dr_Gonzo]

Property is in south Wales.

[elster]

Digga said:

Dr_Gonzo said:

I didn't think I'd get a mini digger down there but I think I could probably get something no bigger than 700mm down there.

I wouldn't try and do it yourself!

Get a decent landscaper in, who has (or can hire) his own machine and you'll have a nice flat lawn, with just the right run-off. Do it yourself and you'll end up with something akin to the surface of the moon.

Roughly where are you - I might be able to suggest one of our customers?

Don't listen to this man, he knows what he is talking about.

You want to hire the mini digger yourself. Do you realise how much fun can be had?!!!

Then once played a bit, call someone to fill the holes back in.

[pits]

I would have a go with the mini digger, I mean you couldnt hire one out and not use it, that would be liking hiring out a Ferrari for someone else to use, then after making a mess I would call the experts in

[Digga]

pits said:

I would have a go with the mini digger, I mean you couldnt hire one out and not use it, that would be liking hiring out a Ferrari for someone else to use, then after making a mess I would call the experts in

Diggers are not toys!

Two of my neighbours hired micro diggers, at my current house and at my previous house.

In the first case, I ended up having to drive the fker because, after 2 hours on Saturday he realised the pond would dig itself quicker than with him on the machine.

The second case is more sobering. My neighbour, who is a builder himself and hired the mini digger from his brother's plant hire firm (so should know potential hazards) tipped the thing over and trapped his leg. He was very lucky to get out from under the machine unscathed.

OP, I'll PM you.

[andrew830]

spray off with roundup,get a digger in scrape of the topsoil and pile it up.next level the site and spread the topsoil back ready for your turf or grass seeds