Hi all, hoping to find some lawn experts out there. I am not a fan of grass lawns but....this one has to be renovated. History: a combo of dogs and drought have severely damaged our backyard lawn, which is now patchy and weedy. We can't take the area offline to reseed (dogs). Goal: getting decent grass cover and also resculpting garden borders. What are our best options? Laying new sod? Do we have to dig up the area to do that? Advice appreciated. We are also recently retired and ready to take on the mowing and edging ourselves. So if anyone can advise on best electric mowers to acquire, that would be appreciated as well. Many thanks all!
You could be describing my lawn - shaded, mossy, under-watered and under-nourished with a muddy path through created by a dog chasing his ball. I despair of ever reclaiming it. I'm replying now in the hopes that your questions will be answered before your post falls off the New Posts list. I'd like to hear some suggestions too!
I don't know much about laying sod, but I've renovated several patches of my lawn over the years. On one of those occasions the goal was to eliminate weedy Creeping Buttercup that was spreading through the lawn. In that case, I dug up the whole area with a digging fork, turning the weedy sod over as deeply as possible. Then, the soil was cultivated with a hoe, leveled, and good quality seed broadcast and raked in. Finally, the surface was compressed lightly using flat boards and walking on them. This could be done more easily with a roller. After that, you have to keep the ground moist until the grass sprouts. The rest of the growing season watering is required whenever the soil begins to dry out. I've done similar renovations or expansions of the lawn several times at different times of the year, but this should work any time during the growing season, except less successfuly late in the season. I wouldn't do it after September. I didn't do it, but applying a light mulch, such as straw, would make it easier to keep the soil moist. There are also biodegradable matts with or without imbedded grass seeds that could be used. I suspect that the ones with seeds might not provide the best quality grass, but I could be wrong.
I found, that the new owner of an old meadow near my home has turned this 3 ha plot into a perfect lawn. He is growing turf for repairing damaged lawns mainly for football fields and festival areas, but also for private gardens. I suppose, this kind of lawn transplanting is the fastest way to repair damaged areas.
AFAIK, the plot has to be prepared. Detailed instructions in English: Murumari Ltd. – Laying and Maintaining Turf
