New turf over old turf argument?

[paulontour]

Calling all gardeners out there!

I have a small lawn, which is in poor condition. It does not have a lot of weeds or moss, but does have bald patches and dips. It also has stepping stone across it which I am about to take up.

It is going to be extended into the rest of the garden and I am pretty confident about laying new turf over the old veg patch. However, can I lay new turf over the old lawn? Some people say it is ok if I cut the old lawn very short. I have room for the extra height, but don't want it to die within a few weeks. It is only about 2m by 2m area, and it is surrounded by walls on 3 sides.

Thanks!

 

[kingandy2nd]

You need to dig up the old grass otherwise it will die and then rot under the new turf.

2 x 2m wont take long at all to dig up.

 

[paulontour]

Thanks, appreciate your help.

Have you experience of that happening to you?

 

[kingandy2nd]

Not to me personally beacuse I removed my old grass before turfing.

Another reason for removing the old grass is also that you can then turn-over the soil while will allow the new turf to root more easily.


If you think about it, if you over-turf the existing grass it will soon die because it wont have any light, but it will be a while before it will decompose/compost so your expensive new turf will be sitting onto of a layer of dead grass, and compacted soil, so you won't be giving it the best chance to take root.

With only a 2 x 2m patch I can't see any reason why you wouldn't remove the grass that is there beforehand.

 

[r896neo]

Its not an argument. People that say you can turf over old turf are simply lazy and wrong.

 

[Diyisfun]

The hardest part is getting rid of the old turf.
I have a biggish garden & I am digging bits of my lawn for flower beds.
Don't say turn it over & it will rot, that's ok if there arnt any weeds.
Removing stepping stones, I would loosen soil & seed.

 

[Deleted2797112]

The hardest part is getting rid of the old turf.
I have a biggish garden & I am digging bits of my lawn for flower beds.
Don't say turn it over & it will rot, that's ok if there arnt any weeds.
Removing stepping stones, I would loosen soil & seed.

It makes lovely loamy compost and it doesn't matter about the weeds, they can be composted too. Build the compost heap properly and it will break down quickly.