February 15, 2016. The lawn does not need to be treated with herbicide. I am in Texas and literally all of the neighborhoods around here lay St. Augustine sod right on top[ of the existing lawn. As professional turf layers we know that’s a recipe for a ruined lawn, for a variety of reasons. This could be because only a small portion of your lawn is dead and therefore laying new … The Big Tips: Best Ways to Water Lawn without a Sprinkler System, How to Start a Riding Lawn Mower: The Best Guide You Need To Follow, How to Kill Dallisgrass Without Calling a Professional (2021 Update), How Long for Grass Seed to Germinate: The Surprising Truth, Help! Professional landscapers often apply sod directly over grass. Some gardeners theorize that leaving a layer of grass beneath new sod affects the sod's ability to take root in the soil and increases the chance that the new lawn will die from lack of nutrients, including the vital need for moisture. This ensures all weeds are dead and the glyphosate has degraded and will not harm new grass. Sodding your lawn is a quick and easy way to replace struggling or dying turfgrass. However, you should also … Although more expense than seed, sod can be applied to your lawn in a single day. There are differing opinions about this topic, which is why you should talk to a sodding professional near you to find out if it’s possible to lay sod over your particular lawn. February 6, 2018. The sod should quickly take root in your soil, adhering to the existing lawn after just a few weeks. The nutrients that exist in sod are minimal, and sod can dry out or begin to struggle due to a lack of nutrients. This quickly kills the already existing grass in much the same way that a brick left on a lawn kills the grass beneath it. The major secret to laying sod and being successful is for it to take roots and acquire as many nutrients as possible since sod has limited nutrients. Ask the internet “Can I lay turf on existing grass?” and the answer is generally a resounding no – but of course it’s more complex than that, so here’s what to know about laying turf on existing grass for the best results. This article is for you. New sod cannot be placed over existing growth, so to prepare your lawn, kill all the weeds and stray plant life. How to Place Sod Over Existing Grass. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. The faster it takes root, the better it performs. White started his career as a sportswriter and later worked as associate editor for Maintenance Sales News and as the assistant editor for "The Observer," a daily newspaper based in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. White has written more than 2,000 news and sports stories for newspapers and websites. You can’t simply lay sod on top of grass without doing proper preparation. Typically, they charge for all of the steps, which can include hauling away your old lawn. Start by watering the area and spraying an herbicide over the entire yard. If you’re in the market to lay new turf over a struggling lawn or playing field, you’ll need to prepare the ground first – exactly how you’d prepare it to allow the sod to make root-to-soil contact. Essentially, sodding over existing grass makes you have to do … The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. How to measure a dog for a harness? It also leaves a gap for lawn pests to get into the new sod. The conditions in your lawn may not be good for your turf grass to flourish because they keep drying up and dying each time you plant grass seeds. This can place the grass line higher than sidewalk areas, leaving space for erosion to damage the new sod. You can do that, but we do not advise it. It has always looked great!! Applying sod directly over grass is advantageous because it requires less work. And these are nice neighborhoods with beautiful lawns. Because sod is much more expensive than grass seed, many individuals avoid sodding over grass out of fear that it will lead to the demise of the new sod. Nope. “Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely … Placing new sod over old will raise the height of the area. Best grain free dog food for skin allergies. March 1, 2018. Can You Lay Sod Over Grass or Existing Lawn? At the very least we recommend that you cut the existing grass down with a weed eater and then lay the grass over that. Grass provides a functional ground cover in yards and parks as well as guarding against soil erosion along … ​There is no enough evidence to choose a side on whether you can lay Sod over existing grass. Want to know if you can lay new grass on an existing lawn; Are looking for tips on how to properly lay sod, Then read on! Adding soil over grass can be another effective form of repairing a lawn. This stresses your new lawn and can result in dead patches. When laying fresh sod, it is a general rule that the roots should have direct contact … The main problem with this job is that it can be difficult for the root system of your new lawn to grow in properly. This quickly kills the already existing grass in much the same way that a brick left on a lawn kills the grass beneath it. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Eastern Illinois University. When the grass dies, it gives off nutrients that actually benefit the new sod above it. Lay new sod in the spring or fall for the best results. Share it with your friends, too! A lush lawn is a sight to behold. Placing new sod over old will raise the height of the area. Why not to lay turf over old grass. When you are unrolling the sod on your lawn you might leave some gaps between sod rolls; fill this space with soil. Want to know if you can lay new grass on an existing lawn; Are looking for tips on how to properly lay sod, Then read on! Through experience, it is not best to lay sod over existing grass. We can see why you’d think it could be a good strategy – like laying landscaping fabric, sod could starve existing grass for sunlight and effectively kill off the original layer. “All sod must make soil contact to root,” she points out. Start by dampening the soil with a sprinkler or hose, then rake out any footprints you’ve … The roots can dry out rapidly during hot summer days. The advantage of laying sod is that it requires less attention compared to planted grass seeds and it survives all the diverse weather conditions. Let us take this opportunity to quench your thirst about knowing that how to lay sod over the existing lawn in the most existing manner. ! You may also like . Based on the pictures and updates in the previous thread it looks like you're the one that did the clearing. There’s the “remove it all” camp, the “till it in” camp, and the “just lay the sod on top” camp, with all … It is possible to dump new soil over top of what you have, and prepare it for sod or seed. You may consider adding a layer of topsoil on top of existing grass, or, better yet, remove old sod with a sod … Based in Central Florida, Ron White has worked as professional journalist since 2001. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Bob Vila:Laying Sod: Shortcut to a Beautiful Lawn. We go to great lengths to help users better understand their dogs; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Most homeowners go to the expense—in both work and actual financial burden—of removing their lawns before applying sod. Adding soil over grass can be another effective form of repairing a lawn. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This article is for you. Top 10 Dishwashers reviews. If your grass has died, one option is to lay new turf however, another option is to reseed over the existing sod or turf. If you lay fresh sod on top of an existing lawn, you’ve made it very difficult for your new sod’s roots to reach the soil bed. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below. You do need to take out the old turf before you put in new sod. Call 281-431-7441. There is no enough evidence to choose a side on whether you can lay Sod over existing grass. Provide your sod with a conducive environment that will encourage roots to spread and regardless of whether you lay the sod over bare ground or grass it will flourish. Laying sod involves adding several inches of soil and roots as well as the grass. There are few factors that can hinder your grass from growing. in case you do no longer, the recent sod will die off in some weeks because of the fact the roots won't have the skill to penetrate the previous useless grass below it. So this is all about how to lay sod over an existing lawn to get the desired results without any issues. This is particularly true if you are hiring people to sod your lawn. Ensure that the lawn I even before laying sod. For example, some landscapers remove grass before applying sod near sidewalks and driveways, where it is better to have the base of the soil even with the hard surfaces. You can purchase a soil test from most garden centers, and you can have the soil sample tested by your local extension service. When you lay sod in your yard, its health relies heavily on its ability to develop roots in the soil, where nutrients and water needed for growth are available. I'm Julia, a gardener at heart and full-time blogger. The main problem with this job is that it can be difficult for the root system of your new lawn … Laying sod is hard work: little wonder people are always looking for a shortcut when landscaping their yard. Plant your sod over an existing lawn, while still ensuring good sod to soil contact. My neighbors house was built 3 years ago and it had some grass and some field grass, the came in and sodded over the whole thing. Should laying new grass on an old turf be done? If you want the new sod to look its best and with no old weeds or old grass growing through it, till the ground and remove the old grass first. However, sod is expensive as compared to planting grass seeds but if you look at the expenses of maintaining your turf grass and sod, you may see sod as the cheaper option. Laying sod is hard work: little wonder people are always looking for a shortcut when landscaping their yard. Some lawncare experts shy away from applying sod over existing grass when they are concerned about the level of the sod in comparison with other surfaces. Whether or not to remove the old grass before laying sod is a long-standing debate. 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