How to remove existing lawn and lay new lawn?

[Sampath]

Hi, I am trying to replace my existing lawn with new seeds/lawn. Currently it's in a bad shape with weeds all over the place and cracked soil. Any ideas and tips to loosen the soil and replace the complete lawn with new. TIA 

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @Sampath 

Turf removal

You could hire a turfing machine it will dig and cut under your current lawn and make roll up strips which is best to try catch any weed seeds too

Then you will need to dispose of all those rolls and buy new turf and a nice layer of topsoil to bed it all but if there are any seeds that fall new weeds will sprot.   Manual digging the lawn will ensure the seeds fall of and sprot.

Black Plastic

Alternatly Cover the lawn with a black plastic section at a time or (all over with enough plastic) and kill your loose seeds and lawn underneath (1 month per section as a guide.)

Once the weeds are dead cover the dead spot with a nice loamy (sand organic soil mix) to fill those cracks and top dress the area now plant lawn seeds or add turf as you want. Move the plastic to a new section. The cracks are good as it will allow loamy soil into the ground to capture more water.

Weed selective poisoning most cost effective.)

Another way is to use a bindi poison (the cute yellow flowers) and then a broad leaf feed and feed will hit most other random broad leaf pop ups,

In conjunction with spot weeding

Hope this might help give ideas.

[Sampath]

@JewelleryrescueThanks for your suggestions—they’ve given me some ideas. Do I need to loosen the soil if I want to use the black plastic technique? Also, when would be the best time to carry out these repairs?

[Jewelleryrescue · Accepted solution]

Hi @Sampath 

Summertime is a good time as the sun heats the plastic that kills the seeds (the main enemy) underneath. At wintertime it will take longer.

After the ground is more sterile if you want to loosen the soil, you can but thats hard work.

But if you top dress the ground with a loamy organic (by organic I Mean soil and plant matter and a little manure, by loamy soil mix in 50/50 river sand)

Approx 1 cm coverage is a good start, and wont break the bank

Then the worms will come and do all the digging for you with added worm castings.

[Sampath]

@Jewelleryrescu Thank you! I'll start with the black plastic for now and assess the progress before deciding on the next steps. I'll keep you updated here.

[EricL]

Hello @Sampath 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about laying new lawn.

It's great that you've received sound advice from @Jewelleryrescue. Just to add to the suggestions made, I also recommend having a look at these discussions -   How to remove existing lawn and lay new turf? by @ArunM and How to maintain buffalo grass? by @juyy7. 

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How to lay turf.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Sampath]

Can I use a weed killer instead of black plastic (which I assume is a weed mat)? I think it might speed up the process.

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @Sampath 

The solid black plastic, not weed mat. It will also kill the weed seeds. The spray killer can't get them as the weedkiller is absorbed through the leaves.  But apply weedkiller first, as it will help clear the ground. 

[Sampath]

Hi @Jewelleryrescue 

Pardon my question, but just confirm - are we talking about something like this? Black Polythene 1m 
If not, could you give me any references? 

Cheers,

Sampath

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Sampath,

Yes, @Jewelleryrescue would be mentioning something like this black builder's plastic.

Mitchell