How To Revive Your Neglected Overgrown Lawn

If you’ve found your lawn has turned into a bit of a jungle, don’t worry—life gets busy, and let’s be honest, the British weather rarely gives us a break! But if now’s the time to revive your neglected, overgrown lawn, the good news is it won’t take much to restore it to its former glory.

In this WHC Hire article, we’ll guide you through easy-to-follow steps to transform your lawn—all without having to call in a tradesman.

Assess The Scene

Before diving in, take a moment to assess the scene. A quick look around will help you plan the job properly and get it done in one go—without spending the whole weekend slogging away.

Check for areas where moss and weeds have taken over, and look closely at the edges where nature might be hiding a few surprises in the tall grass. It’s best to clear any obstacles or hidden debris before you start. You’ll be surprised what turns up!

Begin Cutting

The first step to revive your neglected overgrown lawn is to cut back the thick vegetation to a more manageable height.

A regular lawn mower often isn’t up to the task—especially once the grass has grown several inches high. In these cases, hiring a flail mower can take much of the hard work out of the job.

Flail mowers are specifically designed for tackling rough, uneven ground and long, overgrown grass. They break down dense vegetation into smaller, manageable pieces that can be easily raked and cleared away.

Once the heavy growth is removed and you can see the ground again, finish off with a lawn mower to achieve your desired cutting height—typically around 2–3 inches.

If you notice the grass looks yellow underneath, don’t worry—that’s completely normal after a heavy cut.

Removing Thatch & Moss

If your lawn feels spongy or certain areas are covered in moss, it’s likely suffering from thatch. Thatch is a layer of organic matter that builds up over time, especially if regular lawn care has been neglected. When this happens, your lawn struggles to breathe, and grass growth slows down.

So, what’s the solution?

Removing thatch and moss is a relatively simple task and can be done with a basic metal garden rake. However, if you’re short on time—or would rather avoid the back-breaking work—you might want to consider using a scarifier instead.

These petrol-powered machines make light work of the job, removing thatch and moss efficiently. This allows water, air, and nutrients to reach the grass roots more easily, helping your lawn grow back stronger and healthier.

Let Your Lawn Breathe With Aeration

Over time, soil becomes compacted—especially if your overgrown lawn has been a playground for kids or pets. The problem is, compaction can suffocate your lawn by restricting the flow of air and water to the grass roots.

To promote strong, healthy growth, aerating your lawn can make a big difference. Aeration involves punching small holes into the ground to relieve compaction and improve drainage. You can do this manually with a garden fork, but for larger areas, hiring a lawn aerator is a smart move.

Aerators are compact, petrol-powered machines that quickly and evenly punch holes across your lawn. It might look a bit drastic, but it’s an essential step if you’re serious about bringing your lawn back to life. If you’re working with a large lawn, using a machine will save you a lot of time and energy.

Removing Old Damaged Lawn

If you’ve decided there are areas of your lawn you’d like to replace, removing the damaged turf will give new grass the space it needs to thrive.

Start by marking out the area using a half-moon edger or lawn edger—this will also give you a clean edge to work from later. Then, divide the damaged section into 10 x 10-inch squares, which can be lifted more easily with a spade. This approach reduces the strain of removing turf by hand.

For larger areas, we highly recommend using a turf cutter. It eliminates the manual effort entirely, making the task much quicker—especially if you’re short on time.

Not sure how difficult turf cutters are to use? Check out this short video to see just how easy it is.

Reseed Or Turf?

Depending on how bad your lawn space is may determine the direction in which you decide to take the next step. Choosing to reseed or turf your lawn area can depend on a number of factors.

As you see in the table above, both choosing to seed or turf have a large number of benefits and drawbacks when trying to revive your neglected overgrown lawn.

Pros Of Using Grass Seed

• Cost-effective- Far cheaper than turf and is available most of the year around.
• Customise Your Seed- Choose the right grass seed to suit your lifestyle
• Healthier Roots- Growing from seed establishes deeper, stronger roots overall.

Drawbacks Of Using Grass Seed

• Season Sowing- Grass seed is best sown in Spring and Autumn when conditions are right.
• Growing time- You have to wait to see the results.
• Remove weeds- Monitor and remove weeds as new grass grows.

Pros Of Using Turf

• Instant results- Can have a massive impact in just a day
• Weed suppression- New turf acts as a barrier for weeds
• Weather resistant- Won’t wash away in the rain like seed.
•  Neat finish- Easier to get clean edges than with seed.

Drawbacks Of Using Turf

• More expensive- Turf rolls are normally available per square metre or yard.
• Limited availability- More of a seasonal product and not as readily available.
• Same prep- The same soil prep is required as seed.
• Possible inconsistencies- Always find a reliable supplier.

Soil Preparation

As you’ve probably gathered, whether you’re laying new turf or sowing grass seed, the ground preparation required is much the same—and just as important for the best results.

If you’re working with a small area, you can manage the job easily using a garden fork or spade. However, if you’re replacing a larger section of lawn, it’s worth considering the hire of a rotavator.

Rotavators

Rotavators take the hard work out of soil preparation by breaking up compacted ground and improving airflow—creating the ideal conditions for strong, healthy grass roots. While they might look complex at first, rotavators are surprisingly simple to use once you get the hang of them.

Watch this short video to see just how easy it is to use a rotavator:

Keeping Up With Regular Maintenance

Now that your lawn is back on track, the key is to stay on top of maintenance. Regular mowing, edging, and general upkeep can make a big difference in preventing your garden from turning into a jungle again.

Consistent watering and feeding are also essential if you want to achieve that lush, green lawn you’ve been dreaming of. And don’t forget—when establishing new turf or encouraging seed germination, frequent watering is vital to help develop strong, healthy root systems.

Ready To Get Started?

Reviving a neglected, overgrown lawn doesn’t have to be rocket science—especially when you’ve got the right tools for the job. Based in Gloucestershire, WHC Hire Services has been helping homeowners reclaim their gardens with high-quality, reliable lawn care and garden maintenance equipment.

Whether you’re simply looking to restore order to an unruly outdoor space, lay new turf, or start fresh with seed, we’ve got everything you need to get going. From flail mowers and aerators to scarifiers, rotavators, and more—our extensive hire range has you covered.

Not quite sure what equipment you need? Our knowledgeable and friendly team is always here to help with expert advice and guidance.

Get in touch with your local WHC Hire depot, or browse our full range of lawn equipment hire online—available from all our branches across the region.