Laying Grass

Nathaniel Fisher

Hi, I'm a total gardening novice, we brought a house 2 years ago and it has a 2/3rds patio. I would like to pull up the patio and lay some grass but have never done anything like this. Pulling up the patio should be pretty easy, when done, do I need to pull up the dirt under it? Or just flatten it out? What would be better? Planting grass seeds or laying grass turf? We live in Glasgow so there's plenty of rain and no hose pipe ban. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks Nathaniel

Fairygirl

Hi Nathaniel - yes plenty of rain all year round here! When you lift the paving it will depend what state the ground's in underneath. The better prepared it is, the better chance the grass will have. The ground will be compacted so you'll definitely need to loosen it up a bit, and if there's any mortar bed left from the paving or lumps of stone/rock , you need to take them out so that you have a good surface, then you'll  need to add some decent compost or soil to bed the turf or sow the grass seed into. Once you have that done, level it out, firm it down and then lightly rake it ready for sowing/turfing. Turf is quicker but more expensive than sowing seed so it depends or your finances which option you go for. Spring is an ideal time to sow seed.

Hope that's of some help 

Dave Morgan

If you've had a patio down it will have been laid on something, sharp sand and concrete is the usual.

You need to remove as much of the foundation mix as you can, the acid in the mix isn't good for grass.

Once you have removed it you will need to open up the soil, digging or use a rotovator as the soil will be compacted.

Once that is done, leveling, then you can choose between turf or seed. Seed is cheaper, turf instant.

Also if seeding, how much sun will it get, will depend on which seed you choose.

It's getting to the perfect time to sow seed, so you need to start about now if the ground isn't waterlogged.

If you go to the How to section on here, there are plenty of guides to help.

If stuck on anything then post a question, you'll get plenty of help. 

Nathaniel Fisher

Thank you for your replies, I will certainly get cracking, much appreciated.