IS IT BEST TO USE A DIGGER RO CULTIVATOR BEFORE LAYING GRASS SEED

However you dig the patch over, you will still have to get the roots of the weeds out, or they will just grow back through the new lawn.

A rotavator would be quicker for you to begin with - but it would just bury the weed roots. I think I would try a weedkiller first before you do anything - a systemic one that would kill the weeds without affecting the soil.

After the rotavating, when the weeds are dead and dug out, you'll have to rake the surface and remove stones, get the soil to a fine tilth before you can seed it - there's a lot of work ahead for you!

Good luck.

If your neighbour doesn't want to use chemicals, you could lay black plastic bags, weighted down and leave it for a while to kill off the seeds. Punch a few holes to allow drainage but not big enough to allow light thro' to the seeds.

If it is a really large area, builders merchants sell black membrane very cheaply for just this purpose.

You will still need to dig the ground over to lay the seeds down tho'.