Turf Laying Guide | Garden Soil | Garden Turf

Preparation

1. Before preparing your soil bed, weeds should be sprayed with a Glyphosate based systemic herbicide (seek advice from you local garden centre)
2. Add topsoil if reuqired to ensure a fertile, firm base for the turf.
3. Ground should be firm and level.  Rake soil bed thoroughly, tread firmly and then rake a second time.
4. Turf should be laid on a drainage surface.
5. Rake fertiliser into the soil bed to encourage establishment and growth of the turf, as recommended on the packaging.
    

Laying

1. Rolls should be laid tightly together to ensure they fuse quickly.
2. Always use walking boards when laying turf as this avoids rutting and aids consolidation.
3. Lay edges and borders first, avoid using small pieces at the edges as they may dry and perish.
4. Once the border has been formed, lay turf in a straight line across the longest point of the garden,  then lay turf either side of this in opposite directions to ensure a neat finish.
5. When ordering turf allow for a small amount of wastage depending on the shape of the area.
6. Turf should ideally be laid within 24 hours of delivery - espacially in hot weather.
    

Aftercare

1. Turf should be watered thoroughly (soaked) after laying.
2. In drier weather, turf should be watered daily for upto two hours. Water the turf either in the morning or in the evening, avoid the sun scorching the lawn.
3. Turf should be watered profusely and immediately if there are any signs of drying out occuring e.g. gaps, lifting, browning and curling turfs.
4. Avoid mowing until turf has rooted (this can be checked easily lifting a corner, roots should be attached to the soil below) This can take upto 2.3 weeks.
5. The first mow should be at the highest setting on the mower, just take off the tip of the grass, to avoid 'Stressing' the turf.
6. Mow regularly, each time removing no more than one third of the grass height until the optimum grass length has been achieved (ideally between 6 - 30 mm)
7. New lawns may be used lightly after a month.  Please remember to take extra care for first year, using a "little but often" approach with regards to feeding and using.