Replacing existing sod?

[311Hemi]

My brother is going to replace his existing sod lawn in a few weeks. The sod was installed 2-3 years ago and was never watered....so it is all just dried up sod. He can pull some of it up, or maybe all of it. There is black dirt below the dried up sod.

Question: Is he better to pull this all up and remove it prior to seeding/hydroseeding, or is he better off tilling it in to the existing black dirt. He has access to a 4' tiller and tractor to till it up if that's the better way to go.

He is now getting a sprinkler system installed to make sure the new lawn is successful.

[Eric Wettschreck]

First off let me toss out this legal disclaimer...........All you have to do is look at my yard and you'll realize I'm no lawn care expert.

Now that we got that out of the way, I'd say rip it up. In my simple minded world I'm thinking tilling it in will generate a TON of little clumpy things that need to be raked out and cleaned up. If the existing stuff is a goner, and the dirt underneath is good and black, get the bad stuff outta there and start new.

Same sprinkler guy doing this place that did yours? Just curious.

[skee0025]

Plant crabgrass, its always green and nothing that I've found can kill it!

[LwnmwnMan2]

First off let me toss out this legal disclaimer...........All you have to do is look at my yard and you'll realize I'm no lawn care expert.

Now that we got that out of the way, I'd say rip it up. In my simple minded world I'm thinking tilling it in will generate a TON of little clumpy things that need to be raked out and cleaned up. If the existing stuff is a goner, and the dirt underneath is good and black, get the bad stuff outta there and start new.

+1

[311Hemi]

Now that we got that out of the way, I'd say rip it up. In my simple minded world I'm thinking tilling it in will generate a TON of little clumpy things that need to be raked out and cleaned up. If the existing stuff is a goner, and the dirt underneath is good and black, get the bad stuff outta there and start new.

Same sprinkler guy doing this place that did yours? Just curious.

This is what I originally told him...just wanted some additional feedback.

Doesn't sound like it, although he did stop by and talk with my bro. His builder has someone he uses and his builder owes him some money.