Removing Existing Turf
Getting Ready for Sod
How to Remove Existing Sod & Vegetation
We recommend two methods for removing your old lawn:
Killing the existing vegetation with an herbicide Removing the existing lawn with a sod cutter.
METHOD ONE - USE OF HERBICIDE
Applying an herbicide to your lawn is a relatively quick method of killing it. Your lawn must be actively growing with live roots. It will take seven to ten days for the grass and vegetation to die.
Applying a nonselective, post-emergent herbicide to your lawn is a relatively quick method of killing it. Pay attention to the types of plants the herbicide will kill and make sure it is appropriate for the job. There are specially formulated herbicides that target grass. You can choose between concentrates that need to be mixed or premixed, ready-to-use varieties. While the premixed varieties are easier to use, the concentrates are more economical for large lawns.
Apply your herbicide according to its directions. Herbicides are basically a kind of poison, so you should be very careful when using it. Follow the directions exactly as described, and make sure it’s administered safely and in the proper quantity. Using too much herbicide could be harmful to surround plants. Avoid applying it on windy days. Avoid applying herbicide if there is rain in the forecast. Rain can wash herbicides into the water or surrounding ecosystem and cause damage.
You may need more than one application to kill well-established grass, adding time and cost to the project.
After you kill the grass and/or weeds, you are ready to prepare your soil for installation.
METHOD TWO - REMOVING EXISTING TURF
You can remove smaller areas of sod manually by using a square edge shovel or a Kick Sod cutter.
If you plan to remove a large area of sod, a motorized sod cutter is the best machine for the job. It is a fast and efficient way to remove grass and weeds. It is designed to remove strips of grass from a lawn with the roots and most of the soil attached. If you rent a sod cutter, be sure to get specific instructions for the model you’re renting.
Set the depth of the cutting blade on the sod cutter following the manufacturer’s instructions. Start the cutter. To operate the machine walk behind it, making sure to cut right up against the previous strip so that you won’t miss any grass.
Continue cutting strips until all of the grass in the garden is loose.
Once you have removed the existing lawn, you are ready to prepare your soil for installation.
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