How to resod a weed infested lawn

[67ghiaTIV]

The lawn is more weeds than grass and the home owner is looking to start with a freshly sodded lawn.
How could I ensure the weeds don't come back? Herbicides are not allowed.

I considered tarping the lawn for 3 weeks and smothering/cooking the lawn. I would then amend the soil with compost and sand to improve the clay soil.

How would you kill off the existing problem lawn?

Thanks,
Jamie

[JB1]

when he aint looking spray it.

[32vld]

Adding sand is a fallacy. Fine particle lime and large particle sand because of difference in size are one of the reasons when mixed they bind into concrete.

Adding sand will only make the soil more compact unless you remove half the clay soil and replace it with sand. That's a lot of sand.

Adding compost will keep the soil from getting hard, improving drainage, and adding nutrients.

[Smallaxe]

Suffocating the lawn with tarps almost Always brings on the Canadian Thistle... not sure where it comes from but it appears everytime someone leaves the ground covered with something...

I would weed whip it to the ground and cover the sod over the top of that...

[Smallaxe]

Originally Posted by 32vld

Adding sand is a fallacy. Fine particle lime and large particle sand because of difference in size are one of the reasons when mixed they bind into concrete.

Adding sand will only make the soil more compact unless you remove half the clay soil and replace it with sand. That's a lot of sand.

Adding compost will keep the soil from getting hard, improving drainage, and adding nutrients.

Soil Structure is difficult to accomplish with the 'platelet' properties of clay soils... the open spaces provided by the addition of OM and larger particles together gives the aggregates a chance to do more than turn to black 'platelets' for even slimier textures...
Ideal soils include both large and small particles, with adequate OM to bind them in proper order to form aggregates that allow for proper soil functions...

[easy-lift guy]

Rent a sod cutter remove all material, top dress as needed install new lawn, fertilize with Milorganite, water, Done. Under no circumstances should you guarantee this lawn in any way due to the fact that in One season or less you will have weeds all over again. Wait I have a better idea, don't bid the job at all. With the conditions imposed by the customer you will have more fun pounding sand!. Have a nice day.
easy-lift guy

[phasthound]

Originally Posted by easy-lift guy

Wait I have a better idea, don't bid the job at all. With the conditions imposed by the customer you will have more fun pounding sand!. Have a nice day.
easy-lift guy

It's not the customer's conditions, "cosmetic lawn pesticides" are banned in Toronto.

[easy-lift guy]

Originally Posted by phasthound

It's not the customer's conditions, "cosmetic lawn pesticides" are banned in Toronto.

Thru extension the customer is heeding to the wishes of the Government, of course you could still try my first suggestion which you kindly left out of my post to this thread.
easy-lift guy

[RigglePLC]

I have an old photo. A guy washed off his solar pool cover about June first...and left it on the front lawn to dry for one afternoon. It was hot. Killed a big square spot, (at least turned it brown).

[Gilmore.Landscaping]

I did one early this year... so far still weed free and it was terrible. here's what i did.
1. Sod strip entire area and remove
2. Till existing soil
3. Spread Triple Mix soil
4. Till soil to mix together
5. Sod.

here the before afters. Gilmore Landscaping - Pictures/Work Thread

Good Luck, DO NOT guarantee it weed free.

My customer agreed to a fert program for the remainder of the year and I told her I would hand pull weeds for 30mins each fert application.