It is not always advisable to destroy the old lawn with a tiller. This measure has disadvantages and is only suitable for certain purposes. Alternatively, gentle interventions that do less damage to the valuable soil life are suitable.
Milling makes sense on uneven lawns
When milling makes sense
When milling, moss, grass and weeds are broken up on the surface. The electrically operated devices loosen the soil at the same time. Powerful cutters turn the soil to a depth of between 60 and 80 centimetres. Milling is only recommended if the surface is very uneven. If you want to convert a lawn into a swamp or horse meadow, this measure also makes sense.
Advantages and disadvantages
Plowing also brings to the surface seeds of unwanted plants that were brought into the soil by previous tillage activities. A fast-growing lawn substitute will prevent these seeds from germinating. The soil structure is disturbed when digging up. Special soil organisms live in each layer of soil, which are dependent on the respective conditions. If these conditions are destroyed, the soil needs time to regenerate.
Particular caution is required if plants and grasses with rhizomes have spread in your lawn. Couch grass and ground elder develop a far-reaching root system, which is never completely removed from the ground when tilled. There is a risk that root parts remain in the substrate and later sprout again.
These are the advantages of digging:
- Lawn tillers save time and energy
- all plants are detached and torn out
- loosening of the soil
Alternatives to digging
An old lawn with slight bumps can be renewed using a soil-friendly method. Spread out an opaque tarpaulin on the surface and weigh it down with stones. Under the foil, photosynthesis comes to a standstill and the old plant population dies. After six months, the first successes are visible. It takes up to 24 months for the vegetation under the tarpaulin to completely retreat.
Level out any unevenness with a mixture of sand and compost. You can then distribute a lawn seed mixture over the area. Pay attention to an even distribution when sowing. The seeds must then be pressed down so that they come into contact with the ground. Alternatively, rolled turf is suitable for quick greening of the area. At the same time, this method offers the advantage that weed seeds cannot germinate under the turf. Thorough watering ensures that the lawn carpet grows.
If the lawn is heavily matted, peeling off the turf can be useful. Lawn peelers remove the top layer of soil with a thickness of between five and ten centimetres. All plants are removed together with their roots without digging rhizome parts into deeper layers of soil. You can turn the turf pieces 180 degrees and put them back on the surface. In this way you maintain the nutrient balance of the soil and do not have to apply new topsoil.