If it were me I would remove the old lawn and start from scratch ensuring that all traces of weeds and moss have been removed.

Ideally lift and make a turf stack which will become wonderful loam in a few years. But if you don't have space to do that what you could do is lift the turf and place it face down where it is and then lay the new turf on top.

If you do not do some clearing and preparation it is likely the new lawn will not be any better than the old.

Agree with Drc726, good preparation is essential, and make sure you get them perennial weeds out.

Moss would seem to indicate drainage not too good so you will end up with the same problem again.

Sharonm/Scotsgran/Julien/Drc726/Moon growe

Many thanks to you all, there are some super suggestions;
which makes a somewhat novice like me, very grateful.

Davr

Have a look at this link. It explains how to plant a lawn and the necessary preparation. If you have no space to lift and stack the existing turf, bearing in mind that a garden is for life, would you be prepared to kill off the weeds using a systemic weed killer and then cover up the existing lawn with black plastic so that no regrowth happens, before sowing seed in September. http://www.plantideas.com/lawn/lawn.html

Can phlox plants planted this week, be split later
this year after flowering ?

Davr

I would say its too early as I split mine when the size indicates they will survive and make viable plants.

Agree totally with Drc far to early to split this year... You need to give the plants time to establish themselves.

It is also a good idea to ask a new question if you have a totally different query. Only those of us who responded to you or iginal question are likely to see this.

As a rule of thumb you would only split every three years after the plants have grown big enough to survive being cut up. By the end of the third year you often find perennials like phlox are starting to be less productive in the centre and splitting them encourages new growth. As MG says best to start asking about a different problem under a new question. Please do not think there is any restriction on how many Q's you can ask.

drc726/moongrowe/scotsgran

Thank you all - your advice has been taken

regards

Davr