Tilling lawn with green mesh underneath

Question

We are going to redo the lawn of our new house ourselves. Digging the border today, I found this green mesh underneath, maybe 3/4 inch from the surface, clearly from a previous owner. Is this going to be a problem when I till the soil?

Southern Trillium LLC · Answer

What you are seeing is the mesh that was in the original sod.  It is usually just in Fescue sod to help hold the pieces together when cut and shipped from the sod farm.

You can till with all of that green mesh, but it will begin wrapping up on the tines.  What we have typically done is periodically stopped, and cleaned the mesh off the tines.  You still need to till, so don't skip that step.  But you will have some extra work to deal with along the way.

Douglas Hunt · Answer

Less of a hassle than buried landscape fabric, but still a nuisance. Good luck with your lawn renovation, Melissa.

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

They like to use it with grass rolls a lot. Yes, it is going to be a pain to get through and as ST stated, nothing for it but to get through it.  Are you renovating a large area?

Melissa G · Answer

We're going to try to do the whole front lawn, which is by a very rough estimate 60x80 feet.

Cin R · Answer

The mesh is most likely from sod being layed over soil.

Ana M · Answer

You go girl! You are going to get to much satisfaction from it and your lawn
is going to be beautiful!
Can't wait to see pictures! YOU CAN DIY!

Bonnie B · Answer

Geez.... That's a good question.  The same 'nylon' netting became exposed at our local dog park.  I tried pulling it up so the pups wouldn't trip or get cut.  Impossible stuff to break!

Susan S · Answer

When you say till - are you saying by hand or with a 'tiller'? If using an actual tiller I think you could run into BIG PROBLEMS if this mesh stuff gets entangled in the tines. Just a thought??????

Melissa G · Answer

Given the size, I was hoping to use a mechanical tiller -- keeping in mind what Southern Trillium said about stopping frequently to remove the mesh. I know it's going to be a big job.

Aurial · Answer

I'm having the same issue! I decided to dig it up with a shovel and then rake out the grass and plastic pieces. I just did one section and it has been such a pain in the ass that I am considering taking my risk with the tiller for the larger sections. The mesh broke so easily with the shovel (it's about 20 years old), I'm hoping I wont have issues.

Roberta Estrada · Answer

We tilled my yard with a tiller. The green mesh usually broke and didn't create a problem. I was able to rake most of the mesh up while leveling the dirt post tilling.

Candy Richardson · Answer

So sorry that some people don't remove the mesh before laying out the sod!! i would start out slowly with a tiller.

Spenser Cammack · Answer

To anyone just reading this, it usually just requires a box cutter knife to cut up the mesh that gets around the tines occasionally to keep too much mesh from mixing with roots and sod and clogging the tiller. I have just stopped every hour or so to clear the tines. It is a good 5 min break from tilling anyway. Then rake the mesh out that is sticking up through the ground. Whatever is left in the ground was there before, and not causing problems, so leave it.

Clement Chan · Answer

anyone know if this net/mesh to toxic to grown vegetables on?

Tilling lawn with green mesh underneath

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Tilling lawn with green mesh underneath

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