ᐅ Lawn installation in autumn or spring with deciduous trees

Created on: 1 Sep 2021 10:22
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HarvSpec
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HarvSpec
1 Sep 2021 10:22
Hi everyone,

I’m planning a complete lawn renovation (including irrigation, a robotic mower, etc.). This means fully digging up the area, leveling it, possibly adding new topsoil—basically the whole process.

Originally, the groundwork was supposed to be done in August, with seeding planned for early to mid-September, but the timing didn’t work out.

Now I’m considering whether to do it at the end of September or wait until mid-April. Currently, there is a “weed lawn” that looks fairly decent and mostly prevents walking through mud everywhere. Additionally, there are several large deciduous trees on the property that will shed their leaves in the fall.

Therefore, I’m leaning toward spring, but the advice that it’s best to sow grass seed in the fall still makes me hesitate. What are your experiences?

Best regards
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DTvomHaus
1 Sep 2021 11:01
If you currently have large areas of "weed lawn" and are already planning an expensive major project (irrigation system over 1000 euros + robotic mower around 1000 euros), I would consider using turf rolls instead. The cost isn’t much higher than the equivalent amount of high-quality grass seed, and it also provides an initial protective layer against invasive weeds. In that case, the time of year—September or April—is less critical, but I would generally recommend April to avoid leaves accumulating on the new lawn.
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HarvSpec
1 Sep 2021 11:07
Yes, I have actually considered that idea and will need to get a quote from the landscaping contractor.
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DTvomHaus
1 Sep 2021 11:14
To be honest: Laying sod is one of the easiest DIY tasks you can do. Prepare and smooth the soil (there are great videos available for this), and you can rent the necessary roller from almost any sod supplier for a small fee. Then water it thoroughly for at least 3 days, and you’re done...
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HarvSpec
1 Sep 2021 11:24
For me, it’s less about the technical expertise—I’m confident about that. It’s more about the time involved...
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matte
1 Sep 2021 11:48
Just out of curiosity:

What would be the proper procedure if I want to replace my field (a lawn I planted myself 4 years ago, now more like a clover meadow and quite uneven) with turf?

Is it enough to mow everything short and level it with sand before laying the turf, or does the old lawn need to be removed beforehand?