Lawn … Start Again ?

Hi, looking for advice on whether to use a turf cutter or rotavator to start again with a tired, moss ridden bumpy lawn.

Thinking of using a turf cutter to remove turf, (moss) and level with fresh top soil then seed.

Or

Rip the turf up using a rotavator, level with top soil, then seed.

thanks

 

Hi @PapaAldo1872 . The problem with rotovators is that they can often just make weed problems worse. Many of them can just become a plant on their own after being chopped up.
Another solution, is to simply add more soil and re seed, but it may mean making the surface much higher, and may require edging, so it largely depends on the plot.

If that isn't an option, I'd reckon a turf cutter would probably be best in the long run, but I'm sure others will advise.

 

The first problem, before turf cutters and rotovators are talked about, is why is the lawn mossy? If mossy is a problem, rather than bumpy. Mossy indicates shade and wet. No moss in the Kalahari desert. So first you have to sort out the damp and the shade.

 

There may also be compaction problems.
It partly depends on how bad it is and how much work you've prepared to do. You could scarirify and aerate, treat with Mobacter etc, then top dress and reseed. With all that work it may be simpler to rip up and start again.

 

You do not mention what area you live in, but its been a bad year for moss in our lawns.
As detailed in recent Lawn Moss thread, we used Mo Bacter earlier this year and it cetainly does work well without leaving the stinking black mess you get with the usual iron based moss killers.

Also you could use a lawn rake, hand or motorised to drag out a lot of the moss now its a lot drier.

Bumps and dips can also be levelled off without too much work but it really all depends on the size of your lawn and its general condition, a photo speaks a thousand words !

 

It’s not too shady, but being in central Scotland, clay soil underneath could be the adding to the problem

 

Hi, I’m in central Scotland, Bridge Of Allan, will get some pictures posted, thanks