In Waterloo, Ontario
My backyard is currently a disaster zone—mostly weeds and mystery plants I can't even identify. My goal is a uniform, lush grass lawn. I know this is a marathon, not a sprint, and I’m willing to put in the work over the next few months to do it right.
After some research, here is my plan:
Use a sod cutter to strip the top 2 inches (to remove the weed bank and existing growth).
Level it out with fresh topsoil and compost.
Lay down grass seed.
I’m aiming to have the heavy lifting done by the end of May so things can start germinating. I’m doing this all myself as a weekend project to gain some experience.
Has anyone here gone the sod-cutter route for a renovation? Is stripping the top 2 inches overkill, or is it the best way to ensure I start with a blank slate? Would love to hear your "lessons learned" before I rent the equipment!