If you have a “weed lawn” (lawn made of various green weeds), what do you need to do first before actually laying the new sod? (Treat it/kill it? Tear it up? Dig up a layer of soil and re-soil?)
If the answer is different for different grass and climates, then this question will be in relation to laying St. Augustine on a S. Florida, US “weed lawn”.
Also, I was wondering if there is a difference in procedures for re-sodding a “weed lawn” as opposed to a regular, weed-free lawn.
I will do my own research on the 'net, but I was hoping for some expert advice and personal experiences here.
I’d hardly attribute the word “expert” to my advice, but what you need to do is make sure the existing lawn is dead. Brown dead. For this you need a herbicide. Roundup is what is used in my part of the country.
After the existing lawn is killed, you should turn the ground with a rototiller. Add some topsoil if your dirt is deficient (either too much clay or sand). Then re-sod.
Since you don’t have to worry about snow or a growing season down your way, I suppose you could do this any time of the year.
What I just described is what I was told to do when I was going to do this with my first house. I sold the house and moved instead.