How to remove old grass and lay new turf in 9 easy steps

How to remove old grass and lay new turf: When you are ready to lay a new turf, the very first step is to remove all your poor-quality turf or grass from your lawn and start your new tasks. You can remove all your old grass accompanied by several methods, including solarization, heavy mulches, machines like hoe or sod cutter, and herbicides. You can follow one of those methods or a combination of methods according to your lawn or grass types. You have to bear in mind your climate conditions, also your lawn type before selecting your thoughtful methods.

After removing old grass, you will be able to lay new turf on your lawn. But it is not only a single task but also to perform different types of tasks, including soil and drainage preparation, selection of the suitable turf, fertilizer application, laying and watering new turf, and taking care of your turf.

How to remove old grass and lay new turf

Everyone desires they have a gracious green lawn, and you can not get it from your old grass. So, you have to follow several directions and strategies that I will tell you in some array methods. So, let’s go.

How to remove old grass from lawn in 4 easy ways:

Before removing your old grass, you have to choose a convenient method convenient for you and your lawn. In the beginning, you can follow the easy methods which don’t need extra cost and heavy tasks, and then you can follow others while it is essential.

How to remove old grass

1. Solarization:

Solarization is one of the easy methods. Cut the old grass, cover with a layer of plastic and let it in full sunlight. Solarization kills all your grass, weeds, and weed seeds by overheating your soil. Plants can not endure overheating, and after a certain period, they will die. But it is somewhat time-consuming; it needs almost two months to kill all grass and achieve your desired effect. Also, it is not preferable for the shaded area and cool summer night zone.

2. Heavy mulches:

You can also get a good result when you use any mulch, especially old carpet, wood chips (6-inch), and so on heavy mulch. You can also attain good results when you use several layers of newspaper, cardboard covered with 3 inches of wood chips, straw, water hyacinth, polyethylene, and so on. You will achieve your effective result after two months. Don’t use heavy mulch when having a shady area or if you stay in a cool summer night zone.

3. Hoe or sod cutter:

If you have a small area to remove your old grass, you can use a grape (grabbing) hoe and get a quick result with only two-person work. If you have a large lawn, you can rent a sod cutter. It is somewhat costly, but you can get a quick result as it slices under the grass, enable you to pull up strips of old turf. Using a hoe or sod cutter is very effective if you have moist soil.

  • Working procedures:
  1. Use manual or power edger after every heavy rain or deep water and remove your old grass or turf by 2 inches deep cut every 2 feet interval.
  2. Use a grape (grabbing) hoe to remove your small part of the lawn; also, you can get a good result with a helper.
  3. The turf should slice below the grade and notice that the tool’s weight doesn’t work by chipping away at the grass.
  4. If you have a large area, you must rent a sod cutter to fasten your work.

4. Using chemicals (herbicides):

When your garden is full of unwanted grass or weeds, you can’t control it easily. You have to control them by using different herbicides that degrade very quickly according to your grass types which don’t last long in the soil. Many experts recommend using glyphosate (Roundup). Read the manufacturer’s directions carefully and cover your grass and weeds completely.

You must be careful when you use any herbicides that your garden plants can not contact with your chemicals; otherwise, they will die. You have to apply it on a sunny day when there is no rain possibility and avoid windy weather. When it is above 60°F, apply it to your soil. When you notice that your lawn grass has not completely died, reapply the herbicides after four weeks from the first application and after that wait for only one week from the last application and get a quick and effective result.

How to lay new turf in 5 easy steps:

After removing your old grass, your land is getting ready for your following planning tasks. You can prepare your land and drainage system, turf selection, watering, and so on. Few explanations are given below to do your job conveniently.

how to lay new turf

1. Soil and drainage preparation:

If you remove all your old grass, you need to prepare your land for your next project. Most of the time, the soil loses its fertility, and in this case, you have to improve the soil quality by adding topsoil from other sources. Dig over your lawn soil, break up all the colds, mix it with new soil, and compost properly.

If your soil is in wet condition, make some land drains for the drainage facility.

2. Level and smooth the soil:

When both soil and compost mix properly, level and smooth the soil appropriately and remove all the grass, leaves, rocks, and other debris by a rake and pay attention to the level before laying new turf. Look carefully on your garden plants when you rake the soil as they can get injured after an uncaring look, and keep the soil open for a few days.

3. Fertilizer application:

Once you complete the soil level, then fertilize on soil evenly to ensure that your new turf can get all the available nutrients from the soil according to its need. You can also fertilize growmore or fish, bone, and blood to the soil to establish the roots quickly and adequately.

4. Laying and watering new turf:

When you complete your work till fertilizing, your lawn is ready to attain its fertility and suitable for new turf laying. When you order for new turf, give an extra 5% order as your turf can damage and allow you to reestablish. Ensure that you can lay within 24 hours of delivery to ensure it’s in the best condition. Before laying your turf, make sure that turf is laid precisely and start around the border, lay in a cross-branded pattern like house bricks. Ensure that it covers all the area with the help of a small roller and encourages the roots to embed themselves into the ground.

It is essential to keep watering till your turf could not establish properly. You should water newly laid turf immediately and at least twice a week, and when it becomes fully established, you need not water it as often.

5. Taking care of your turf:

Finally, you remove your old grass and install new turf, but it is not the only work to remove old grass and lay new turf. It is crucial to take care of your newly establish turf anyway all your efforts go in vain. So, you have to water your newly installed turf for a few weeks and possibly months, and when the newly born grassroots should be strong and thick, it’s time for you to mow your lawn. A push mower is highly recommended for newly establish lawn as it less damaging tools. But if you have a large area, you can use a zero-turn lawn mower to cut your grass very fast and easily.

Some tips to keep in mind for new establish turf:

  1. You must avoid waking on the lawn for the first 14 days.
  2. Avoid mowing for the first 14 days.
  3. Follow the first mow at the highest setting.
  4. Must avoid watering at night in your newly born turf grass.
  5. Water the lawn according to your weather.

Final thoughts:

Follow all the easy steps carefully and sincerely to ensure that your garden looks healthy and greeny all year round. If you do, so it doesn’t depend on the condition of the weather which you remain. I hope my detailed guide will help you to remove your old grass from the garden and lay new turf in it after performing several works. It seems it is hard for beginners to establish a new turf, but it is not such a challenging task, but you don’t keep your hands close without working in it. Keep working, and after a few days, you find that it becomes straightforward for you.

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Jeffrey Bromley
Jeffrey Bromley

Jeffrey Bromley is an experienced lawn care professional with over 13 years in the industry. He is the owner of The Lawn & Landscape Company and the founder of Lawn Gardeners Blog. His passion for lawn care extends beyond his business ventures, with a personal commitment to helping individuals take better care of their yards.

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