I'm laying a new lawn can i just lay it over the existing one or do i need to rotavate it first?
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You will have to rotovate, then rake and get the ground level before you put the new one down. Sorry but its a case of no gain without the pain.
yes, you will need to rotavate it first then tamp the earth so it's a level surface.
No, you will have to remove the old lawn. Or the new turf will die.
Rotavate it - if you don't the weeds, nettles, moss etc will just come right through the new lawn.
Presumably you want a new lawn because the old one is no good. If you simply turf over it, you'll finish up with one at least as bad as the old one.
Before you start laying a new lawn, check out the drainage. Grass likes to grow in well drained soil, so if the ground tends to get waterlogged, you need to put in drainage or at least a layer of gravel about a foot down.
Get rid of the old turf. It's best to take this off with a spade or turfing machine and pile it upside down to rot. After 6 months, you've got some free compost.
Rotavate (or dig) the ground to a depth of about a foot. Add sand and some organic matter (cheap general purpose compost is good - peat is better but it's non-PC). Rake it, level it roll it and rake it again. You should now have some ground that is level, firm and with a top layer with no stones. Now you can lay your turf. Keep it well watered.
Once it's established mow it, feed it and roll it for 200 years and you'll have a cricket pitch.
If you have Dandelion or Docks in the old lawn I would not use a rotavator as you will just chop up the roots and they will come back up at all the cut parts. To do the job correctly dig over the old lawn with a fork, try and dig out all the big roots and old grass and discard it. loosen the sub-soil a bit and mix in some compost and some grit for moisture retention and drainage. Firm over the ground by tramping it down then rake it over a few times removing any large stones. The site will be ready for turf or seed but this is not the best time of year for seeding or turfing, prepare ground and wait till the Autumn.
needs to be rotivated and leveled
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