Reseed new lawn

[gengis]

Hi
I am reseeding a new lawn to replace an existing one. I have dug up the ground with a mattock and will remove any clumps tomorrow. I am not sure what to do next either

a) Leave the ground for 2 weeks and allow it to break down naturally and then level it off and reseed or
b) Add some compost / topsoil, level and reseed now. I will probalby need 2 tonnes and I am trying to keep the cost down.

i have seed from the Grass People for sandy soils and will reseed by end of September at the latest as I live in the Northwest.

Any advice on what is best and also best way to level quite compact / lumpy soil.

thanks

[Martin H]

I would level it now and re-seed. A lot depends on how big the lawn is and how fit you are! I would tread (or roll) and rake, repeating until it's level. Once you think it is, use a plank or somesuch to check, then level it properly. Spread the seed, add a preseed fertilizer, rake it in and hope we get showers for the rest of the month.

Grass seed loves to grow at this time of year, it should certainly be looking nice in the winter and you may get a first cut in if we get a mild October.

[Martin H]

As luck would have it, my favourite youtube lawn expert has just started a little series on digging up and re-seeding a lawn. His lawns are to an astonishingly high standard though, it is probably a bit over the top for most of us. Still, interesting viewing... https://youtu.be/VTOagfF03kM

[Nicos]

Nice link there Martin

[Issy]

We seeded two new lawns 4th June - luckily for us we were underneath an apple tree as we sieved all the earth - (tons of it) and today it’s had the first cut - it’s looking good - very tempted to get turf and now really glad we didnt!

[fimblefowl]

When we laid our lawn we took most of the summer allowing weeds to germinate and killing them off, and also allowing for settling before seeding. We wanted a surface we could play croquet on - not seriously, just prosecco-fuelled larking about.

Levelling was the hardest part. I think it takes years of carefull top dressing to get a lawn level.

Watch out for weed grasses and pounce on them as soon as you see the first sign.