Info please?

Question

I can't afford a tiller, and if I rent one I'm not sure I'd be done before it's due back. Is there another (cheaper) thing I could do to turn the topsoil so I can rake the weeds out and plant new grass? (Besides digging it up with a fork! I know at least one person was thinking it! lol)

Answer 1

If your plan is to plant lawn in an area that is currently weeds, then you have several steps ahead of you.

First step, get rid of the weeds. You can chop them out with a hoe. Then water well and wait for a couple of weeks to see if new weeds come up. Repeat.

Then you need to prepare the soil for a lawn. This will mean that you have to dig up the soil (preferably adding some compost at the same time). This can be dug with a shovel or fork, but is easier with a rototiller. Then you water and wait for the weeds to come up. Deal with weeds as above.

When you are sure that all the weed seeds are gone, then you can plant grass (either by seeds or by sod). If you try to shortcut this process, you will have weeds in your new grass :((.

Good Luck!!

Answer 2

If you want to buy one, it's highly inefficient to buy if you're only going to use maybe once a year. Rent one for a few days; if you only want it for one day, but the job is bigger, then rent a bigger one! See 'source' below for an image, but you can always make the job take forever, and get strong, by getting a garden tiller for cheap. I got one for about $20.

Also, as opposed to getting a a massive earth turnover, you could also try adding topsoil, fill dirt, compost, potting soil, or a combination of any or all of them.

If nothing else, get some friends to come over and lend their backs to the process. To make the process a bit easier (and probably quicker) water the ground very well before starting - dry dirt will fight back a bit.

Answer 3

Check out your news paper for someone who well do it for a fee. We found it to be less expensive than renting a tiller for 1 day. The guy even hauled away our weeds. They may be willing to work in your soil amendments for you while they are there.

You can soften your soil by watering it, but wait a few days before you dig, otherwise you will be working in muck.

If you can talk friends and family into helping you out, then plan a "bring your own pitch fork" party. Provide lunch, and a barbeque dinner. Have plenty of watermelon or strawberries and don't forget the beer. A before-dinner water fight is always fun at the end of dirty work.

Answer 4

Hi Squirrel, how are your sister's seeds growing that I sent to Lancashire?

You didn't say whether you were going to lay sod or seed your lawn. If using sod, spot dig the weeds out with a shovel or fork, level the area as best you can. Lay sod with sides touching -- should look like bricks in a wall.

If seeding, then tilling and grading by hand (raking the dirt flat) is preferred. The "yard party" idea is excellent, don't forget the beer!

good luck

Answer 5

Hi, you might try killing the weeds with weed killer first. I rented a lightweight tiller, just to rough-up the surface, then laid my sod. If you till too deep you will bring up all those dormat weed seeds. Happy Spring!