skip to main content

Ask The Yard Doctor

how to take off parts of lawn? shovel?

19 years ago

I am new to gardening in the yard, did some container gardening till now. I want to create some flower and vegetable beds. I plan to replant some of the grass from these areas to other parts of the lawn that is not doing so good.started digging the lawn with a shovel, took lot os time and energy. Is there a easier/smarter way to do it? I don't have the budget to get a big machine I heard there is to do this job ( don't know what that is called)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

yarddoctor
19 years ago
Dear Purplelotus,

Thank you very much for your inquiry. Two ideas come to mind (I am sure there are more). First you want a garden spade, 7-8 inches wide with a square point. This allows you to cut precise edges. You can also use it to shave the soil and grass and make sod. However, another tool, a goose neck hoe or heart hoe is great for this job. The hoe is flat with the ground (unlike a standard hoe that is perpendicular) and can slide through quite easily. It is great for small areas like you are describing and these tools are readily available.

Again, thanks for the question and let me know if you have more.

Respectfully

Trey Rogers
The Yard Doctor
iowajewel
19 years ago
I hope I can inject something here.
I rented a MANUAL(VERY cheap) sod cutter......it's a tool that you push along the sod and it cuts it in sheets. You can make them as long or as short as you want. I used this when making a walkway and saved all my good grass to use elsewhere. Check around and see if you can BORROW one from a garden club member or someone in your town. Post it at the grocery store or ask at church. Hopefully, you can find one to borrow and it won't cost you a thing and will save you TONS of work!!!!
Julie
Related Discussions
To shovel-prune or not to shovel-prune...that is the question!
Q
Comments (28)
seil: I've had this peace rose for about 5 or 7 years now and its always grown the same way... in a large T shape and always full of blooms along that top T line. This last year its been a real pain. I have had it tied up along a fence then moved it and tied it up along a flat straight up trellis attached to the side of our redwood shed. This year its been a real brat and not wanting to cooperate with me. Hopefully now that I've hacked it down to the stump and this new growth is taking off, it will look better. When I had it along the fence my neighbor would come out and cut it down level with the top of the fence. Every year I saw buds starting to form the next day I would come out and look to see the entire top level with the top of the fence. So my husband and I dug it up and moved it away from that fence where the neighbor couldn't reach it. ANYTHING that grows up above the top of that fence they hack right off. Yes I've asked them not to touch our things. Even balled my eyes out after they dug up my flowers from my front yard right before mothers day this year. I yelled at them through tears on mothers day... Would you PLEASE leave my yard alone!! Stop touching my things!! Mind your own property and leave ours alone!! We still hold out hope that the peace rose is going to look better next year now that its out of the reach of our hacker happy neighbor.
...See More
How long before taking off the tops
Q
Comments (7)
It still doesn't seem to me that just removing the tops at those temps in zone 5 should kill 3 jugs full of sprouts. My sprouted ones have been open for several days. Last night it went down to at least 36 (TV weather reported this this morning) and my open jugs of perennials did fine. This afternoon it went to at least 67, a sunny day, and those sprouts happily soaked up the sun for hours. Some are so tiny, only 1/4" tall, but they're still happy campers out there. Are you sure you didn't have slugs visit, or fungus gnats, or something else? With the jugs so wet from all the recent rain, I have been expecting fungus gnats. Today was even warm but no gnats yet. I'm sure they'll be here soon, and I have mosquito dunks waiting to greet them. Karen
...See More
Shovel snow off my deck?
Q
Comments (3)
Your local code should account for a normal amount of snow. If you can an EPIC amount of snow for where you live, you'll want to shovel. Use a plastic shovel. My neighbor didn't shovel his, though, and while the snow pile up above his deck railings, his deck was fine once it reappeared in April or May.
...See More
how to take care my new sod lawn?
Q
Comments (11)
Who laid your sod? All those seams from the sod should not be lined up and should have been laid in a brick pattern. It's not a huge mistake, but the reason you lay it in a brick pattern is to keep the sod pieces from shifting. I would not apply any weed n feed products or pre emergents until your sod has rooted together and you can no longer see the seams in the lawn. Once you start seeing the lawn green up start watering it to keep the soil underneath moist and then you can apply a starter fertilizer or a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10. You are better off spot spraying the weeds over using a weed n feed product. The weed n feed product don't usually work all that well and cost a lot more. Just be sure not to spray weeds when the temps are over 85F as it may harm your lawn. Once all the seams are gone you can start using the Scott's Turf Builder for the rest of the season. You want to apply 1 lb of Nitrogen every 4-6 weeks, this will help keep the grass healthy and choke out a lot of the weeds.
...See More
Related Professionals
Clarksburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salt Lake City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Richmond Landscape Contractors · Harrisonburg Landscape Contractors · Manchester Landscape Contractors · Canton Landscape Contractors · Montrose Landscape Contractors · Morgan City Cabinets & Cabinetry · New London Cabinets & Cabinetry · Watertown Cabinets & Cabinetry · Toledo Cabinets & Cabinetry · San Jose Cabinets & Cabinetry · Yuba City Cabinets & Cabinetry · Salt Lake City Cabinets & Cabinetry · Cody Cabinets & Cabinetry
purplelotus
Original Author
19 years ago
thank you for the advice. I am starting my 'equipment' search now :)
yarddoctor
19 years ago
Well done Julie.

Trey Rogers
iowajewel
19 years ago
Thanks..........wasn't sure if I could post here too. Didn't want to step on any toes or rules!
Good luck with your project.......and hope your weather is better than mine!!!!
Julie

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Take a Winter Walk on the Safe Side

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Learn how to handle snow, ice and other cold-weather landscape factors to minimize falls and damage

FRONT YARD IDEAS Before and After: Front Lawn to Prairie Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

How they did it: Homeowners create a plan, stick to it and keep the neighbors (and wildlife) in mind

BEFORE AND AFTERS See 6 Yards Transformed by Losing Their Lawns

By Annie Thornton

Wondering whether a turf lawn is the best use of your outdoor space? These homeowners did, and they found creative alternatives

MODERN HOMES Houzz Tour: A Modern Take on a Montana Log House

By Mitchell Parker

Multiple buildings form a vacation compound that's more like environmental art than architecture

SUMMER GARDENING Photo Gallery: Summer Gardens Take a Bow

By Annie Thornton

Home gardeners amazed us with photos of their flower beds, sheds and outdoor rooms. Take a look and get ideas for fall planting time

MOST POPULAR Meet a Lawn Alternative That Works Wonders

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Carex can replace turfgrass in any spot, is low maintenance and adjusts easily. Add its good looks and you’ve got a ground cover winner

COMMUNITY Togetherness Take 2: Is a Cohousing Community for You?

By Jen Dalley //

Missing that sense of connection? Consider the new breed of neighborhood with a communal bent

LAWN ALTERNATIVES Stop Fighting the Patchy Lawn!

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Here are 3 situations where a garden may be a better idea than more turfgrass

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 6 Driveway Looks Take Landscapes Along for the Ride

See how to design a front yard that makes your driveway its own destination

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 17 Wandering Paths That Take Joy in the Journey

Explore secondary paths that are full of nuance and add intrigue to the landscape

Sponsored

More Discussions

What is doing this to my grass!?

0

coleus unhappy brown spot

0