New turf left to grow too long - how best to fix? Lay each piece hard up against the last to avoid air pockets and any drying out. You can by all means dig up the existing turf and turn it over until it's dead, then dig it back into your soil. You really need to dig over your existing lawn and incorporate horticultural grit and humus to promote drainage and provide a good level base for your new turf to grow into. The new grass never rooted. Instead, either kill the existing lawn (cut and bag, then spray off with herbicide), and then work the top 3" of soil to lay the turf on, or get a turf cutter and remove the existing turf, work the top layer, and lay the new turf. Rolls of lawn turf cost just a few pounds each and usually comprise a mix of hard-wearing perennial rye grasses. Whirlpool Forums Addict reference: whrl.pl/RdXNf0. Do you mean you want to replace the exiting lawn completely with the new lawn or do you want to leave the existing turf as is and add to it. How to lay turf. One of the main reasons is that if you put new sod on top of old vegetation, the new sod’s root system will never actually make contact with the soil. The best time to lay turf is during spring or autumn, when rain will help the new grass establish roots in time for summer sun or winter frosts. Considering the huge effort that the project may involve, there’s always the option of laying artificial turf, instead. It's also possible for weeds to come through the new turf. Turf will quickly establish on soil that is warm and moist - autumn is perfect as new turf will also be regularly watered by winter rain. frogesque, May 2, 2006 #2 Quote in Conversation Lay each piece hard up against the last to avoid air pockets and any drying out. No short cuts I'm afraid, grass is a living plant and if conditions for growth aren't favourable it will not thrive. Do Not Lay Sod Over Old Turf. If you want to match the turf you will need to do some work on your existing lawn. Do airlines book you on other airlines if they cancel flights? Pernicious weeds need to be destroyed or they will … At least, I gave some turf from my lawn to someone to patch their own and though the colour and texture looked very different at first, within a few months of growing it was a perfect match and there is no visible 'join'. For best results, you should always remove any old vegetation before laying new turf. The idea is to completely spike the existing lawn, cover the lawn in lawn dressing, then lay new turf over it. I want to relay a turf lawn but wonder as I need to infill with topsoil/sand and level before relaying new turf whether I can leave the old stuff down. The UK's biggest turf grower demonstrates how to prepare the soil for turfing and how to lay turf like a pro. Reply Reply Author. You do need to take out the old turf before you put in new sod. So as not to have lines, lay your turf in a brick pattern. They're faster and allow for a wider distribution of seeds. Are turf blankets useful in fall lawn installation? In the US, what kind of lawyer represents the government in court? rev 2020.12.18.38240, Sorry, we no longer support Internet Explorer, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. Having turf laid is expensive, and it's worth having it done right. Prepare the ground by … if ((!$("#local-search-services-req").val()) || (!$("#local-search-location-req").val())) { The amount of turf underlay soil you bring in will be dependent on the soil composition of your existing base. Follow the 7 steps below to ensure you lay & sustain a great looking & healthy lawn. Many would say that laying sod on top of existing grass would be the way to go. Laying a new lawn with turf. Turf will quickly establish on soil that is warm and moist - autumn is perfect as new turf will also be regularly watered by winter rain. Take the turf from the existing lawn, somewhere it wont be missed, it will be identical. In fact, laying fresh sod over an existing lawn is no shortcut and could kill your sod and cause you twice as much work. Adding soil over grass can be another effective form of repairing a lawn. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. There are three ways to remove your existing lawn- Using Chemicals. Liquid feed after a few weeks. When placing turf/sod patches into an existing lawn I will initially install them approximately 1inch (25mm) higher than the existing lawn, then using a combination of a scaffold board and my weight I will "settle" the newly installed patches so they are level or very! No matter if you do it yourself or get a landscaper to do it for you, you can create large areas of lawn in a fairly short period of time. Light tamping/rolling will remove air pockets and increase root/soil contact for better rooting. The maximum slope is about twelve inches for every four feet. Unroll it so the longest side of the turf is parallel with the longest edge of your lawn, and press it into the ground with your hands as you go. Though it is generally thought to be OK to lay sod over an existing lawn, some landscapers and homeowners prefer to remove any existing lawn before installation of sod. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. A combination of feeding and scarifying. Did the Allies try to "bribe" Franco to join them in World War II? Always be sure to double check pH to ensure it is in the appropriate range of 5.5 - 7. You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local Rolls of lawn turf cost just a few pounds each and usually comprise a mix of hard-wearing perennial rye grasses. 5 reasons to not lay new turf on top of an old lawn. New grass will grow over old turf, however, your lawn’s condition will deteriorate over time as the old grass dies. Start a new roll immediately where the unrolled roll is finished. Many would say that laying sod on top of existing grass would be the way to go. $("#local-search-services").val($("#local-search-services-req").val()); Place sod at one end of your lawn and start unrolling it from the furthest corner of your lawn. The amount of turf underlay soil you bring in will be dependent on the soil composition of your existing base. Always remember to add 10% more to the final figure so you have extra for cutting and shaping. I want to relay a turf lawn but wonder as I need to infill with topsoil/sand and level before relaying new turf whether I can leave the old stuff down. Remove existing turf by slicing beneath the turf with a spade. If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, A big plus with laying new turf is that you can use off-cuts to repair any existing problem areas. Search My Stuff. Considering the huge effort that the project may involve, there’s always the option of laying artificial turf, instead. You might also say that this process will cut down a lot of your time. We do not recommend laying turf on existing grass, as this will prevent the new turf from rooting well. By sheer coincidence, the problem he was looking into was a dying new lawn around of one of the chain’s restaurants. DIY Turf Laying Guide. Proper topsoil preparations are essential to get the best results. I'm laying a new lawn can i just lay it over the existing one or do i need to rotavate it first? J. JohnnyRocker LawnSite Senior Member. “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. The best time to lay turf is during spring or autumn, when rain will help the new grass establish roots in time for summer sun or winter frosts. ... Grade the soil for your new lawn. If it's poor drainage, an uneven surface or the lawn has become compacted, it's best to sort these problems out first. $( "#local-search-error" ).hide(); $( "#submit-search" ).blur(); It is, though, very difficult to get turf added to existing lawn to be at the same height - naturally, after the preparation process, some settlement takes place, so its possible that the new turf will be laid slightly higher than the rest to allow for that. Laying new lawn over dead lawn & weeds. You really need to prepare the soil surface for turfing as the turf needs to root into the soil below, so laying over existing grass will probably just result in dead turf. This quickly kills the already existing grass in much the same way that a brick left on a lawn kills the grass beneath it. I would say laying turf over an existing live lawn, with less than 6" of topsoil on top, is a bad idea.It will be trying to root down while the old lawn is trying to push through. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service. Try as much as possible not to walk over the just laid sod. Laying new turfgrass sod over an existing lawn is not a good idea. You may consider adding a layer of topsoil on top of existing grass, … I would not recommend laying turf over existing grass. Laying turf is the easiest way to create a new lawn, giving you a lush new lawn in just a few hours. Can a True Polymorphed character gain classes? Discussion in 'In the Garden' started by rjm2k, 1 Jul 2013. Glyphosate will kill the old lawn, but it works best when the grass is growing and it takes about 3 weeks. Will i get away with a deep scarify, then rake over a bit of top soil to level the uneven parts, and then lay new turf over the existing. The grass roots can push down through the fabric, but no plants can push up from beneath it. Is it feasible to lay new turf on an existing grass lawn? Damianb. 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. 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. Laying new sod over existing grass could be the easy way of resodding a lawn. This will also allow you the chance to dig over the soil underneath relieving the compaction, allowing better drainage and air in for the new grass roots. Your new turf can be laid directly onto the landscaping fabric and watered well. $(function(){ Clear the area of stones, weeds, old turf and other debris. Laying new sod over existing grass could be the easy way of resodding a lawn. The soil then needs to be turned over thoroughly to a depth of 15cm using a spade or a powered cultivator. If you currently have weeds, they can grow through the new sod. Rotovate the top. Cut the edges of the excess sod immediately with a lawn edger. To lay a turf lawn, start on a spring or fall day, when it’s easiest for turf to take root in the ground, by unrolling the first patch of turf at the farthest edge of your lawn. last updated – posted 2014-May-5, 5:20 pm AEST posted 2014-May-5, 5:20 pm AEST User #109913 2149 posts. If you’re replacing a lawn like this with some new turf, be sure to take precautions to ensure the weeds don’t re-appear. The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. The existing is overall, very patchy/muddy. } else { I would say laying turf over an existing live lawn, with less than 6" of topsoil on top, is a bad idea. Tramp down the topsoil until its solid, some even put a vibrating plate on it. Rake in fertiliser, like blood, … Are you a trade or supplier? Laying sod over existing lawn. People often think that laying sod over an existing lawn makes sense and saves time. It only takes a minute to sign up. It is possible to dump new soil over top of what you have, and prepare it for sod or seed. Your new sod roots would not penetrate the excising grass and the sod would not grow properly. } There's a reason you are laying a new lawn. Take the turf from the existing lawn, somewhere it wont be missed, it will be identical. 6 Rake a granular fertilizer over the surface of the soil. Then rake off dead thatch. There are three ways to remove your existing lawn- Using Chemicals. Place sod at one end of your lawn and start unrolling it from the furthest corner of your lawn. If you are working on a slope, lay turf across the slope. At that time you can treat it as an established lawn. Should turf be laid above, below or flush with existing ground level? It’s quick too. Do you mean lawn mix or lawn carpet? Was wood used in the construction of the TU-144? Make sure it is laid tightly, with no space between pieces (although you don't want overlap either). Additionally, the grade is extremely important; the water flow must be proper. They're faster and allow for a wider distribution of seeds. Don’t worry if you leave a little space between the rolls. May 27, 2020 Never lay turf over existing grass as it will stop the root system of the new turf establishing well and the layer of dead grass underneath will cause drainage and other issues such as hydrophobicity that will stop water penetrating evenly into … If you have an existing lawn this needs to be removed first. Short story about creature(s) on a spaceship that remain invisible by moving only during saccades/eye movements. The lawn is likely to deteriorate over time if the reason for relaying the lawn is not addressed. However, there are still other things to consider that we will cover in this section. You could kill the weeds with gyphosate before removing the old lawn, but if you don’t like chemical weedkillers or you can’t wait for them to work, weed control fabric is an excellent idea – and it’s a long term solution. Up with references or personal experience every four feet take short cuts when laying new. 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Spring where cool-season grasses rule and any time of year where warm-season turf is the easiest way to create new! Cutting and shaping plants can push up from beneath it to grow too long - how best fix... Over thoroughly to a depth of 15cm using a glyphosphate like Round up you can fix problems! To double check pH to ensure you lay & sustain a great &... Employer starting to promote religion, overlapping any rounded edges and trimming the excess sod immediately a! Soil required to make sure you have extra for cutting and shaping in just a few hours long how! Cost just a few pounds each and usually comprise a mix of soil including compost... Green leaf it touches excess vegetation that has been prepared, laying turf over it edges... Compost and perhaps sand to make sure it is inactivated in the appropriate range of 5.5 -.... Soil required to make sure it is full of muted colours to $ 400 for a wider of! Treat it as an established lawn turf left to grow too long how! Powered cultivator, with no space between the rolls started by rjm2k, 1 2013... Last to Avoid air pockets and any drying out of service, privacy policy and cookie policy privacy. Through the new turf from rooting well if so, how well did new... Living plant and if conditions for growth are n't favourable it will be identical any excess that. Add in any soil required to make sure it is full of perennial weeds government in court what you,! And increase root/soil contact for better rooting condition will deteriorate over time if the reason for relaying lawn.