Turf Laying Guide

Follow the simple steps below to help you get a great looking lawn:-

Step 1 - Preparation

Clear the ground of all existing turf, weeds & rubbish. Spray weeds with a good quality weedkiller like Roundup (this kills through the roots and won't damage the soil)
Rotovate the ground to break up any compaction, aerate and help add fertility. If you don't want to rotovate then turn the soil over with a spade or fork
Level the ground. Rake & level the soil out until you are happy to have a good level surface
Leave the top 15/25mm soil loose on the top. The ground should look like the picture to the left
It is not recommended that you lay sand on top of the soil before you lay the turf. Sand has no nutrients and will be detrimental to the growth of the turf
Do not water the ground before laying the turf
Do not fertilise the ground, the turf is fed with essential nutrients before being cut

Laying the turf:-

Lay a border of turf round the area to be turfed
Use boards to walk on to avoid divots
Work up and down the garden rolling out the turf buffing the edges together
Make sure the rolls are staggered like brickwork and no two joints are together
Tamper the turf down lightly, paying particular attention to the edges
Once the turf is laid water well morning and night
Bear in mind that the water has to get through the grass, thatch and into the ground below In warm conditions the ground will quickly pull the moisture from the turf
Water morning and night until the turf has taken, paying particular attention to the jointsTurf only shrinks for one reason, lack of water
Check the turf has taken by trying to turn a corner of the turf it it doesn't lift it has taken

General Guidance:-

Keep off the turf for the first two weeks or until the extensive watering has finished (this includes pets)
Walking on the spongy turf will casue divots into the turf
Do not let pets foul the new grass. At best, you will get yellow patches or at worst it willl kill the turf on the areas that the animal has fouled
For the fist cut, the lawn mower should be set to the highest setting and the lawn
If you scalp the turf, it will die
Better to be slightly longer especially in hot weather conditions
Use an oscilating sprinkler to water the turf
A hand held sprinkler will not water the garden evenly
The turf may be fertilised after six weeks with a balanced fertiliser to replace the nutrients that have diminished during the extensive watering