Last year, we cleared out our overgrown garden, which had been neglected for over 20 years. A team helped us chop down the out-of-control ivy and hedges, and we removed roots and stumps with a digger and stump grinder. Now, we're left with mostly bare soil, just a few weeds and patches of grass. We're ready to prepare the area for seeding grass, plus create a patio and new borders. However, there are still some roots sticking out of the soil. I'm looking for advice on how to best get the garden ready for grass seed. Should we bring in a digger again to remove more roots and turn the soil? Would it be helpful to use a rotavator to break up the ground and get rid of any leftover roots before adding topsoil for seeding? I'm a bit confused about the order of operations and would appreciate any tips.
1 Answer
Definitely skip the digger! Using one can lead to soil compaction, especially if it rains afterward. Instead, focus on manually cutting any exposed roots. After that, if the levels look good, you can get in there with a rotavator to break up the soil and prepare it for grass seed. Just be careful with the compaction issue!
I agree we need some grading done. I’m only thinking of a mini digger for a little lifting and turning of the topsoil, then I can go over it with a rotavator and wheelbarrow in the new topsoil myself.