Turffit

How Do I Lay My New Lawn?

Preparing the ground for laying turf

Proper ground preparation is essential for the establishment and future well-being of your new lawn. Inadequately prepared ground will never produce the best results.

Existing turf should be removed by slicing beneath the grass with a spade. For larger area consider hiring a purpose designed turf cutter (Contact us for details).

Raking

The ground should be raked to produce a smooth, level surface. Lightly roll or tread the surface by foot to reveal any soft patches which can then be raked level. This process should continue until the whole area is evenly firm and level. The surface should now be firm but not compacted. You are now ready to lay the turf.

Measuring your lawn prior to ordering your turf

Measure the proposed lawn area accurately in square metres or square yards.

Turf is supllied in compact rolls for easy handling and laying. As turf is generally harvested to order, it is recommended that you give as much notice as possible of the required delivery date.

When ordering, provide the area of turf required, the delivery address, contact name, telephone number and required delivery date.

Your turf must be laid as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of delivery. In hot weather, keep delivered turf in the shade. It is advisable to prepare the ground in advance of the turf arriving to avoid hold ups due to bad weather.

Laying the turf

Never walk directly on the prepared soil or newly laid turf. Use boards or planks to work from and walk on.

Start by rolling one strip of turf around the perimeter of the lawn. Avoid using small pieces at the edges as these can dry out and perish. Ensure that the underside of the new turf has full contact with the soil below.

Lay the next strip accross the longest straight run and continue to work accross the lawn, strip by strip, producing a staggered pattern similar to brickwork.

Firmly butt adjoining edges and ends against each other but avoid stretching the turf (You will notice the join as you lay the turves, however this will disappear as your lawn starts to grow and establishes). Overlapping pieces and ends of rows should be cut off neatly with a sharp knife or half moon lawn edger.

Watering your lawn

Between March and October, newly laid turf should be watered within half an hour of installation. Apply enough water to thoroughly soak the newly laid pieces of turf.

This watering should continue at least once a day until the roots are established. As a guide at least two hours per day of constant watering is essential across the complete lawn area. The hotter drier and windier the weather, the more water will be needed. Water immediatley and profusely on any sign of the turf drying out, e.g., gaps, lifting, browning or curling.

Feeding your lawn

As a rule of thumb, a balanced fertiliser containing similar levels of nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potash (K) should be applied every four to six weeks during the growing season. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations with regard to the quantity, timing and method of applications. A policy of "little but often" will help maintain your lawn in peak condition.

Mowing your lawn

Resist the temptation to make the initial cut until your new lawn has rooted. This can be checked easily by lifting a corner to see if the roots are attached to the soil below.

For the first mowings, set the lawn mower to its highest setting to avoid stressing the grass. Mow regularly, each time removing no more than one third of the grass height. When the lawn is fully established, the height of cut can be reduced gradually to an optimum height of between 15mm and 35 mm. Take care to avoid scalping.

Whats Wrong With My Lawn?

question 3

answer 3 Back to top

What Is It?

What?!