Caring For Your Garden: How to Lay Turf

There might be many reasons why you are considering laying new turf. Maybe you have had your garden landscaped and need to lay a brand-new lawn. Or perhaps you have decided your old lawn is not worth saving and that a new lawn is both an easier and prettier option than spending time and money on improving your old turf. Regardless of your motivation, here is a straightforward guide on how to lay the turf yourself.

Laying your turf

Step 1 - When to lay turf

The ideal time to lay a new lawn is autumn as a new lawn needs moisture and the winter rain will help water the grass. But make sure the soil is neither too wet nor frosty, as both will hamper growth. If you lay the lawn in early spring or in autumn there is usually not much need for mowing as the grass grows slowly. This means it has time to establish.

But if you do choose to lay the lawn in spring, make sure you do not live in an area where there is likely to be a hosepipe ban during the summer months as you will probably need to water the new turf very regularly to avoid it drying out or dying.

Step 2 - Buying turf

It might be tempting to buy cheap turf from a bigger chain store but this could be of poor quality. You are probably better off buying from a reputable supplier who also delivers to your door. Quality turf is raised from grass seeds and comes in several grades suitable for different situations. Your supplier should be able to advise on what type of turf you need.

The turf will arrive in compact rolls. Once the turf rolls are delivered, store them in a shaded spot and aim to lay them within 24 hours of delivery to avoid the turf drying out. This means the area you want to lay the lawn should ideally be prepared in advance.

Step 3 - Preparations

If you are laying new turf in an area where there is currently no turf, make sure the area is level flattening any bulges and filling any holes. You can flatten the soil with a vibrating plate or simply by walking over it and using a rake. The soil should not be too compacted. If you are replacing old turf, you need to remove the old grass and also any weeds and stones.

You can use a weed killer to remove the weeds but make sure it is not a residual one as any chemicals left in the soil will prevent the grass from establishing. For the best result, you should turn over at least 15cm of the soil using a spade or motorised cultivator. Mix in some manure or other organic matter for soil improvement if you feel this is needed in your area.

This should now be left for several days to settle. If possible, leave it for several weeks. Then, before you move on to the next stage, you can check for weeds again and remove these by hand. Lastly, level the area using your feet and a rake to remove any stones or debris.

Step 4 - How to lay turf

Once the area has been prepared, you can lay your first roll of turf. Do this along a straight edge. Slowly unroll the grass to avoid it breaking apart. Then take the next roll of turf and butt it closely up against the previous roll. To make sure the turf has good contact with the soil underneath, use the back of the rake to tamp it firmly down.

After the first row is completed, lay the second-row butt up against the first row. The rows should be staggered in a brickwork pattern. Complete the entire lawn area in the same way. When laying the turf you should never walk on it as this will damage the fragile grass. Instead, use planks to lay across the turf as gangways.

Step 5 - Finishing touches

Once the whole area has been covered in new turf, cut the edges of the lawn off by laying down a flat board and cutting a straight cut along the length of the new turf. To prevent the edges of the turf from drying out, place some soil underneath. You can also spread a mixture of sand and soil into the joints of the turf using a rake or a brush. This will fill up any gaps there might be. If you have a sprinkler system set this up to soak the new lawn thoroughly. If not, use a watering can and water it by hand.

Step 6 - Aftercare

The newly laid turf will take a few weeks before it is rooted into the soil so avoid walking on it for at least a couple of weeks. A newly laid lawn needs to be watered every day until it is established. The best way of watering is by using a sprinkler. Water the grass for around two hours each day. If it is very hot or windy, you probably need to water the lawn for a bit longer.

If you see any brown patches forming water these areas straight away and more frequently until they recover. To maintain a great-looking lawn, you should as a rule of thumb feed it with a good grass fertiliser every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions in regards to how much and how often, as this will ensure the best result.

Step 7 - Mowing

Do not cut the grass until after you are sure the lawn has been rooted. For the first couple of mows, you should only trim it lightly using a high setting for the mower blade. A good guide is to only cut one-third of the height of the grass. Only when the lawn is fully established should you start cutting the grass lower. The optimal height of a lawn is between 15mm and 35mm.

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