Looking to turn over my front and rear gardens prior to turfing them. Initially though of digging up the existing grass, but it's a big job -
already removed the bulk of the shrubs/bushes/tree stumps etc...
Anyone know if a rotovator will cut through existing lawn, or just skid over the top?
i used one last year on my garden, same thing, tuning it over to help flatten it out and dig a pond etc.
not sure if i was using it right, but it wanted to just drive over the top, i had to really use all my weight to hold it back to make it dig in. once
the top layer was broken it worked a lot better
i have used one i got from jewsons for a day.
its great until you find rocks or routes then it throws you around like a doll strapped to a rally car.
i turned over my whole garden 50m x 10m in 1 day. but i suggest get rid of any stones first.
Buy sand if your going to grass it and spread over top soil and mix in with rotavator.
good luck
Depends what sort. We had a 60yr old 2 stroke monster which would plough through anything (including buried bricks) with no worries.
The cheap modern lightweight ones are harder work though.
I did my garden with a monster one and took 2 to hold it back for the first cut.
Strongly suggest you dig out any dandylions before you start.
regards
Agriv8
As already said, they work if they are man enough but be prepared for a serious workout! And hang on!
depends on the machine.
I have an oldy but a goody.
Just add a few inches to the depth each time and you should be fine. They can be a bit skittish breakin through in the first instance though.
It took me about 4 passes to get to full depth on my plot. It had been unused for about 10 years. That was then down about a foot.
Hang on and as said get rid of any perinial weeds first because if you chop bindweed, couch grass, marestail etc etc into a thousand pieces
you'll regret it in a years time 
I used to rotovate for a living. I used a Ferrari rotovater.. (probably the only Ferrari ill ever drive).
It was a scary beast, even after years of using it.
If your machine is not quite up to the job, give the ground a good soaking first.
I hired a 4 wheeled sit on one a bit like a minitractor when we built the house. Only £20 dearer and it was no effort at all. I rotovated 0.5 acre in
the morning and drank beer in the afternoon.
Happy days!
I didn't bother with one and just drank beer all day.
Smiths toolhire down the road do one that looks purposeful for £31 per day or £40 per weekend...no contest seeing as I was looking to buy one on
fleabay and was aghast at the prices!
Any tips on prep for turf laying? I have given the weeds a good sousing with Roundup then Weedol....hope that will see them off? The existing grass I
was hoping to rotovate into the ground...
quote:
Originally posted by richard thomas
Smiths toolhire down the road do one that looks purposeful for £31 per day or £40 per weekend...no contest seeing as I was looking to buy one on fleabay and was aghast at the prices!
Any tips on prep for turf laying? I have given the weeds a good sousing with Roundup then Weedol....hope that will see them off? The existing grass I was hoping to rotovate into the ground...
Pretty good soil so far as I can make out...quite sandy - near to the sea here - but looks dark in colour, almost the colour of potting soil.