A New Lawn from Turf

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Turf is pre-grown grass, which is cut from the ground ready for you use as an instant lawn. There are two types of turf available, Cultivated and Meadow. Cultivated turf if the most expensive but it gives a good quality lawn. Meadow turf is cheaper but it may have weeds or bare patches so will require more initial maintenance.

When you order your turf make sure you arrange for its arrival on a day when you are available to lay it. It is important to lay your turf as soon as possible after it arrives to ensure success. If you have had to leave it sitting for a while, give it a good watering before you begin to lay it.

You can lay turf from early autumn to late spring, as long as the ground not too dry, frozen solid, or boggy.

Laying turf is fast but it is at least 10 times more expensive than producing a lawn from seed.

Equipment Required

• A sharp spade

• A garden fork

• A garden rake

• Special lawn fertiliser

• The turf

• A wooden plank

• A sharp kitchen knife

The Process

• Dig over or fork the ground the soil removing stones and roots as you go

• Rake the soil gently until level

• Sprinkle on fertilizer at the recommended rate and rake it in

• Tread over the whole area, sinking your weight well down into your heels to consolidate the soft patches

• Rake again to cover the footprints

• Without walking on the prepared ground, lay a line of turf in a straight row along one end of the area, butting their short sides up together

Pat down the turf with the rake head so that each turf makes contact with the soil beneath

• Place your plank on the turf row you've just laid and walk along it as you lay the next row, staggering the joints between the turf like joints in brickwork

• Repeat, patting down each new row with the rake

• When you've covered the whole area, trim the outer edge of the turfed area with a sharp kitchen knife, so the lawn edge follows the shape of your beds

• Keep the area well watered for several days until the turf has knitted together

When the grass begins to grow cut the lawn with the blades set high so that only the tips are removed. The blades can be lowered as the lawn becomes more established. If you laid your lawn in autumn then apply a quick-acting fertiliser in April or May. You can also add a top dressing to help smooth out any bumps and hollows.

Continue watering during dry spells.