Preparing weeded area for turf.

 
Hello

I have an area of garden that I wish to turf and would be grateful fo
some help with how to prepare it.
The area is approx 30' x 30' and has lots of weeds.I keep digging the
up and have put weedkiller on them many times (with little effect),the
i dont get the time to complete the job and the weeds come back.

Can i dig out most of the weeds and turf straight over ? someon
suggested putting black polythene over,waiting for the weeds to die an
then turfing ?
Will the weeds grow thru the turf or will the turf prevent thi
happening ?
Can i rotavate the blighters over ?

I really know nothing about gardening (see my username for m
speciality) and my back wont stand much more weeding.The end resul
just needs to be grass not an immaculate 'lawn'.

Here is a picture link to give you an idea.
http://tinyurl.com/lrx2o

Any help would be greatly appreciated.Regards

Rich

--
richthesparky

 
oops link to pic not working ,try again

http://tinyurl.com/lrx2o

Ric

--
richthesparky

 The first problem is, in your area, now is far from the best time to be
trying to establish a lawn, unless you are doing it from sod.  Now you
will have need to use a lot of water and will have competition from
weeds.  So, you may want to consider waiting till very late
summer/early fall which is optimal.

When you do it, first, I'd mow down what you have there with the mower
set as high as possible.  Then I'd wait a few days for the weeds to pop
back up a bit through the debris thats left from cutting.   Then use a
tank sprayer with Roundup or another glyphosate weed killer to spray
everything.   I'd make the solution relatively strong, about 3%, so
you'll be sure to kill eveything.  In about a week to 10 days you can
mow it again, this time as low as possible.   Then rake up any debris.
Rent a slice seeder and use that to seed it.  Apply a starter
fertilizer and keep it constantly wet.  I'd also check the PH now and
adjust if needed.

 
Let me stop you right there. Something is very wrong with your recipe.

 "weed" is a very generic term.

A few weeks ago a hired landscaper for a local dollar type store sprayed
roundup on the general grounds and parking lot perimeter.  It has/had all
kinds of "weeds".  It killed the Johnson grass commonly called a "weed", but
none of the other "weeds".

You should not have to use a herbicide more than once.  If it don't work the
first time, its not going to work.

If the ground is reasonably not rocky but fertile, just rent a rototiller.
Till up the first 3" or 4" of ground and let the sun and air kill the
foliage.  Then rake out the foliage with a bow rake.  Throw some sod on top
of the prepped soil.  Keep it well watered every few days, not everyday,
don't drown it.
--
Jonny