grass dead in patches should I just strim the grass?

[what..the?]

hello I am venturing out in the new garden, I have a grassed area which is very rough it hasnt been cut in a year or two but is not tall just large round low level tufts, weeds, dead patches.

Main problem is someone has thrown a load of stone slabs on the grass in a scattered I don't care kind of way, this was about last summer, so the grass is dead underneath and the grass has grown up the sides and over the top of these slabs. I have lifted all the slabs and put them to one side.

My aim is to tidy up the grass in the short term so we could use the grass area to sit if needed but mainly to put a rotary washing line in the middle. Its a hazard at the moment as you just trip up on all the uneven weeds and clumps.

So i have dead patches and some almost carpet/rug bits of grass where the grass has grown over the slabs, should I place the rug grass bits (which are still rooted and living) over the dead patches and leave it in the hope the roots will take and fill in the patch or will this never work, I have just bought a strimmer and I am keen to get it going and trim the whole lot back, then the dead areas I could get new seed for, any thoughts please as I haven't a clue.The grass quality generally is very poor anyway. I was thinking btw if I do strim not to do it too short as I risk killing it. But I need advice

[Frank97]

I think I'd strim it and reseed the bare patches, if you don't reseed where the slabs have been I think you're more likely to get weeds growing there before the grass seeds itself.

[nungate]

having sown a few lawns in my time, I would dig up the whole lot, (hard work I know) and start again. Turn over the soil, flatten it and firm it and either seed it or put down some turf - however if you are living in one of the areas with a hosepipe ban it might not be a good idea to lay turf. You could use the slabs to create a path to your rotary dryer so the lawn wouldn't get worn away in the future