What to do with unwanted turf

Letsgetmoving

I’m looking to create a flower bed by lifting the existing grass. It’ll be around 9m2 so too much for the brown bin but not worth getting a skip. Do I just do loads of tip runs? Or is there a way to dry it out to be lighter? 

I don’t fancy the smothering method as would like to plant in the autumn. 

Any ideas?

FreeBear

Stack it upside down in the compost heap. it will rot down and you can reuse it on the flower bed next year.

Flugelhorn

agree with @FreeBear other option is to ask if anyone local wants it 

-taff

Or stack it upside down somewhere or bag it and leave it somewhere until next year. Makes good topsoil.

Green_hopeful

Or just use the no dig method. Cardboard and compost over the grass and it rots down in situ. No digging required. 

Letsgetmoving

Thanks everyone, compost is a good idea. 

carly

Dig your flower bed deeper than intended.  Place the turf upside down in base of new  bed whre it will rot and add nutrients. It will also add humus and improve water retention for your new planting.   Any surpus soil can be redistributed around your garden 

Slinky

How deep does it need to be buried?

-taff

 It can just be turned over. It only should be buried if you need soil to plant in so under the soil you want to plant in.

twopenny

I had to dig out a whole garden so used a mix of methods.

Compost heap with some Garotta to make it rot down quicker (I was glad of that effort later)

Knocked the soil off the base of the turf to add to the bed. Rest stacked to dry in another part of the garden so lighter and easier to get the excess soil off. Then remains composted.

I used some to infill on family graves where the soil had sunk around the stones. Made them look like new and not about to collapse

Green_hopeful

Have a look at no dig. It’s so much easier than digging up turfs. I have done it both ways and it’s very hard work even with a turf removing machine. https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-mulches/no-dig-gardening