If thatch dominates the lawn, it is high time to renew the lawn. Lawn thatch has negative effects on the growth of grass and affects the air and water balance in the soil. Lawn renovation also works without digging.
How can I replant my lawn without digging?
To create a new lawn without digging, follow these steps: mow the lawn, fertilize, mow again, scarify, level out unevenness, re-seed, fertilize again and water thoroughly. Renewing your lawn in spring provides optimal conditions for lawn growth.
1. Preparations
Mow the lawn down to about four centimeters and then apply fertilizer to the entire area. The supply of nutrients strengthens the lawn and makes it more resilient for the upcoming maintenance work. If the temperature is humid and warm, the old lawn will thrive within the next two weeks, so you can start renewing it.
2. Mowing
Use a petrol lawnmower as it can do more than an electric lawnmower. Set the device to the lowest setting and mow the lawn completely.
3. Scarifying
By scarifying you remove the old thatch, moss and weeds from the area. This measure promotes air circulation and improves the soil's water balance.
Unlike traditional scarifying, you set the blades so deep that they cut into the ground for a few millimeters. Your tact is required here because the knives wear out quickly. Depending on the type of lawn and the degree of matting, this step will remove more or less biomass from the soil.
Drive the lawn area with the scarifier completely in lengthways and then in crosswise rows. Repeat this step if there are still large nests of weeds in the lawn. Thoroughly remove the residue from the lawn.
4. Compensate for unevenness
If the lawn is uneven, apply a thin layer of sandy topsoil. The layer should not exceed a height of ten millimeters.
5. Reseeding
There are special seed mixtures that are suitable for lawn renovation. The seeds should be distributed evenly and without gaps over the entire area. Sowing is possible by hand. A spreader offers a convenient alternative.
6. Fertilize
A lawn fertilizer provides nutrients for seeds to grow. Look for high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen. Mature compost is ideal as it also protects the soil from drying out. The compost layer should not be thicker than five millimeters.
7. Water
So that the seeds have optimal contact with the soil, you must water the entire area thoroughly. The lawn must not dry out in the coming weeks. Water again as soon as the surface of the substrate turns light brown.
Tips and useful information
Spring is the ideal time for lawn renewal so that the lawn can regenerate under mild temperature conditions. May is the season with the strongest growth and allows the lawn to recover most quickly from the damage caused by scarifying. When you renew your lawn in this way, you protect the life in the deeper soil layers. They prevent the structure from being completely rearranged.