If the old lawn has become completely unsightly and can no longer be saved by reseeding, you have to replace it. The question then becomes whether you need to remove it completely or whether it can simply be dug up. What methods are there for removing or digging up an old lawn?
Should you remove or dig up old lawn?
An old lawn can either be removed or dug up to make room for a new lawn or turf. Removal removes weeds but can affect soil he alth. Digging preserves the nutrients in the soil, but weeds can re-sprout if they are not buried deep enough.
Removing or digging up old lawn
Whether you remove an old lawn before laying new sod or turf or simply dig it up depends on how much work and money you want to invest.
All you need to remove it is a spade and a wheelbarrow. Costs only apply if you rent a lawn peeler from a hardware store. All you then have to worry about is disposal.
To dig up lawns you will also need a spade or, if you want to make it easier for yourself, a tiller. The old lawn is buried and does not need to be disposed of.
Advantages and disadvantages of removal
When digging and removing, you get all weeds, mosses, etc. out of the ground. The area can be occupied again immediately.
However, disposing of the roots and part of the topsoil represents a serious interference with soil he alth. The microorganisms that ensure aeration of the soil and the decomposition of dead plant residues are disturbed and take a long time to recover to settle.
Advantages and disadvantages of digging
When digging, you have to make sure that you get flowering weeds, especially flowering weeds, quite deep into the soil. Otherwise they will germinate quickly and you will have a flowering meadow.
The advantage of digging is that the above-ground parts of the plant and the roots remain in the ground. They rot there and release nutrients into the substrate.
The microorganisms are disturbed when digging, but not as sustainably as when the old lawn is completely removed.
Methods to remove an old lawn
To remove an old lawn, you have several options:
- Removing the lawn with a spade
- Removing lawn by digging up
- Peel the lawn
- Covering the lawn
Tip
If you want to dig up larger amounts of lawn, we recommend using a motor hoe. These are available in different versions. This makes the work a lot easier.
