Garden grass laying question
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Tiger10
Über Member
- Location
- Nr warwick
As i understand it you are going to reseed with grass? So whats the problem. If more grass comes from under thats good, unless you are trying to improve the ley.
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
Covering the existing grass with soil at 8" will kill (suffocate) the grass snd you can seed. There are a few problems with this however mainly connected to levelling . It will be difficult to get the new soil flat and graded the way you want it and the buried grass won't rot all at the same time so the new lawn will be lumpy. I agree with screen man although labour intensive and you will need to till as well but this will give best results. If you try to cut and lift the existing grass all to the same size it will be less like a jigsaw puzzle when you re-lay. Keep some of the topsoil back to fill in gaps and seed.
Heltor Chasca
Out-riding the Black Dog
I have laid and seeded thousands of square metres of the stuff. It is a very forgiving plant. The work is all in the preparation. 40mm is fine and there is no need to dig it up. Just get your levels right and expect it to settle over about a year. Buy the best seed you can afford.
There is some evidence to say that when the grass below the 40mm of soil is rotting, it will give off ethylene gas which inhibits seed germination. Fun fact. Not enough to worry about.
There is some evidence to say that when the grass below the 40mm of soil is rotting, it will give off ethylene gas which inhibits seed germination. Fun fact. Not enough to worry about.
HertzvanRental
Veteran
I get involved with various repairs down at the golf club.
The system we use is to use top soil which is raked, spread to whatever contours we are looking for and then simply applying grass seed. Our method is not too sophisticated but it seems to work ok! In a comparitevly short time it takes a good deal of wear, is mowed frequently and doesn't stand out as being different.
The system we use is to use top soil which is raked, spread to whatever contours we are looking for and then simply applying grass seed. Our method is not too sophisticated but it seems to work ok! In a comparitevly short time it takes a good deal of wear, is mowed frequently and doesn't stand out as being different.
Andy_R
Hard of hearing..I said Herd of Herring..oh FFS..
- Location
- County Durham
There is no problem on the planet for which plastic grass is the answer. Not one. Never, anywhere, ever. Heinous stuff.
Tiger10
Über Member
- Location
- Nr warwick
Grass is regularly reseeded through the existing ley without problems and the grass underneath shouldn't pose any trouble.
KISS IMHO
KISS IMHO
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
[QUOTE 4756696, member: 9609"]Not sure if the picture is as informative as I would like but, the soil to the left of the grass is going to be levelled over to the path and then reseeded. It will cover the grass about 8 inches deep near the soil and wont cover it at all near the path (making a slope level, if that makes any sense)
I'm sure the soil would cover it well at 8" deep but how well will that plan work when it is only covering the grass by 2 inches and half inch ?
Should I remove the old grass first ?
Or should it be all dug over and cultivated properly first ?
Or should I Lift the grass and put the soil underneath it as I have started to do, and then when I run out of grass, level the remainder of the soil and seed that?
Can't really be bothered to do the last option - I have a bike that needs riding.
View attachment 346794
View attachment 346795
@Justinslow[/QUOTE]
Dig it over properly. Tread it. Rake it. Tread it . Rake it. Then do the seed or turf or whatever. (I'd use turf, then water the hell out of it!)
I'm sure the soil would cover it well at 8" deep but how well will that plan work when it is only covering the grass by 2 inches and half inch ?
Should I remove the old grass first ?
Or should it be all dug over and cultivated properly first ?
Or should I Lift the grass and put the soil underneath it as I have started to do, and then when I run out of grass, level the remainder of the soil and seed that?
Can't really be bothered to do the last option - I have a bike that needs riding.
View attachment 346794
View attachment 346795
@Justinslow[/QUOTE]
Dig it over properly. Tread it. Rake it. Tread it . Rake it. Then do the seed or turf or whatever. (I'd use turf, then water the hell out of it!)
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
How very dare you!
I don't do the mowing. In fact I only ever point these days.
Justinslow
Lovely jubbly
- Location
- Suffolk
As a few others have said, you should be fine doing what you are doing. I've even laid turf over roughed up existing grass.
Make sure you rake as many big stones out and tread down lots to firm the soil (obviously not when it's sapping wet) I use a metal tined leaf rake as I find a normal rake too aggressive. Remember it's not a problem if you leave it a bit high as it will settle over time, that's why anyone who's any good will always leave new turf slightly proud of old lawns when doing repairs to allow for it, otherwise you end up with a dip.
I do spend a fair bit of time doing the prep!
Make sure you rake as many big stones out and tread down lots to firm the soil (obviously not when it's sapping wet) I use a metal tined leaf rake as I find a normal rake too aggressive. Remember it's not a problem if you leave it a bit high as it will settle over time, that's why anyone who's any good will always leave new turf slightly proud of old lawns when doing repairs to allow for it, otherwise you end up with a dip.
I do spend a fair bit of time doing the prep!
