Turfing your new lawn

If you are going down the route of turfing your lawn, there are a few things to consider. Is the root zone the turf was grown on similar to yours, what type of grass does the turf consist of, is the quality of turf what you expect it to be and what is the size of each turf

Laying the turf

The ideal time for laying turf is between October and February, but it can be laid any time of the year. If it is laid during the summer months it will need a lot of water to help with establishment and to stop it drying out. Avoid days when the ground is frozen or waterlogged for laying turf. Ideally pick a day when the soil is fairly dry but this is not as critical as seeding. It is always better to order a little extra turf than is actually required as there will be some waste and off cuts.

It is best to lay the turf as soon as possible after delivery as the turf can suffer if left rolled up to long especially during the summer.

Start laying along a the nearest side of the lawn, ideally on a straight edge. The turf should be laid in end to end in rows. Each row should be staggered in brickwork fashion so the joins in the previous row don’t meet each other. This means starting every other row with a half length of turf to eliminate the joins meeting.

While laying the turf it is important not to walk on previously laid turf, always use boards or planks to walk on. As the turf is laid it can be lightly firmed down using the back of a flat rake head. Never hit it with a spade. For any turf that need cutting use a half moon or edging iron that is sharp.

Turfing aftercare

If the turf is laid in the spring or summer it may need watering on a regular basis to help it establish and to stop the turf drying out and shrinking. Give the turf enough water so that it soaks through turf into the root zone underneath but don’t over water so the turf is flooded.

Again if the turf was laid in the growing season it will need mowing when necessary. Turf can be mown about a week after laying, aim to just top the lawn to begin with using a small rotary mower or flymo. During the first few weeks try and keep off the turf, so only mow when necessary and make sure the ground is firm whilst mowing at this early stage.

If the turf was laid during the autumn or winter months there will be less initial maintenance as the growth is slow during this period. However once into the growing season the turf should have rooted and firmed up well leaving you with a new established lawn.

Conclusion

Which ever route you choose the success of lawn will depend on you site preparation and especially your maintenance program after the lawn is established. You can purchase the finest grade turf but if the correct site preparation and maintenance program are not adhered to you lawn can quickly deteriorate.

Oliver Thompson
Lawn Care Expert

About Oliver: Oliver Thompson, a seasoned lawn care expert from the Cotswolds with over two decades of experience, invites all enthusiasts to join him in exploring the world of lawns, sharing knowledge, and fostering a vibrant community of lawn enthusiasts. More info

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