HOW TO LAY TURF

Laying purpose grown turf will enable you to enjoy a fine lawn of instant beauty and maturity without the inconvenience, wastage or delay associated with seeding.

To help ensure optimum results and a quality finish to your lawn Easylawn recommend that you follow the guidance below.

Please remember that turf consists of a mass of living breathing plants. Applying appropriate care and attention to your new lawn will enable it to grow to its full potential and provide you with many years of enjoyment.

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Roll out lawn and grassin spring. Grass is motion blurred.

garden sprinkler on a sunny summer day during watering the green lawn

Spreading fertilizer and weed killer on the lawn.

Gardener in the park cutting grass with lawnmower

Soil Preparation

Soil Preparation
Do this before Ordering. Proper preparation is essential! The more work you put into the ground the better your turf will establish and the more longevity you will achieve.

– Remove any existing Turf or Vegetation / Weeds
Slice beneath the existing turf with a spade or for larger areas consider hiring a turf cutter. Discard any vegetation, do not simply turn it over.

– Turn over the Soil
Once you are left with bare soil its time to dig it over – up to 15cm in depth. Either use a spade or a powered cultivator such as a rotavator.

It is important to break the soil up as you go, putting air into the soil and improving drainage – both will help the turf establish.

– Remove Stones and Debris
By removing stones and debris you will maximise a more even and consistent lawn.

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.
If you need to build up levels or add topsoil now is the time.
This process should be continued until the whole area is evenly firm and level. Note, the surface should be firm but not compacted.

Measuring and Ordering

Measure the proposed lawn area accurately in square meters where possible. If you need any help with this either with measurement types or shape, try using our on-line turf calculator or give us a call.
Turf is best laid within 24hours of its delivery, so make sure all your preparation is complete and you have the time available to get it down as soon as it arrives.
In order to ensure you get the turf the day you want it please plan wherever possible to get your order placed in plenty of time – 2-3 days before you require your order to assure you get the date you require.

Laying The Turf

Laying Turf

You shouldn’t walk directly on the prepared soil or newly laid turf – use boards or planks to work from and walk on. You will also need a sharp knife to cut edges of the turf.
The longer turf stays rolled up the quicker it can perish. If you can, always store in the shade.
Start by unrolling one strip of turf around the perimeter of the lawn. Avoid using small pieces at the edge (as these can dry and perish more easily).
Lay the next strip along the longest straight run and continue to work across the lawn strip by strip, staggering the joints (like bricks)
Butt up all joints well without overlapping. Trim off any overlapping or end of rows with a sharp knife.
Tamp down each roll with a board especially along joints. This will ensure roots are in contact and there are no air pockets.

Watering

Once your new turf has been laid it will need watering straight away. The amount of watering will depend on the time of year and weather conditions.
Watering new turf and keeping it moist is critical until its roots are established properly (approximately 10 days but this can be longer depending on the time of year). If you do not use enough water you will get shrinking in the rolls creating unsightly tracks between the rolls. Water immediately and profusely on any sign of the turf drying out eg gaps, lifting, browning and curling.
As a general rule (weather depending) you should water turf at least once (if required, twice) daily. A way of checking that your turf has had enough water is to turn up a roll and make sure that the ground beneath the turf is wet (this will encourage the turf roots to work downwards into the soil).
Make sure you give the whole area a good water. It is easy to leave the sprinkler in one spot and think that’s enough. It is important especially with odd shaped lawns that it gets a full covering of water.

Feeding

A policy of “little and often” will help maintain your lawn in peak condition.
If you have used a pre-turfing fertiliser you should have a good two months grace on any requirements. As a general rule, a fertiliser should contain a balanced amount of Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P), and Potash (K). Application should be every four to six weeks during the growing season – Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation with regards to the quantity, timing, and method of application.

Mowing

Resist the temptation to mow your new turf until it has fully rooted in (10 days to 2 weeks depending on the time of year and weather conditions). You can check how your turf is getting on by turning up a corner of a roll and seeing how the roots are coming through – once you can not turn up the roll you know that the turf is ready to mow. Check more than one roll however as the establishment may not be even throughout especially if you have a large area.
For the first mow, set the lawnmower 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 the cut can be reduced gradually to an optimum height of between 15mm and 35mm. Take care to avoid scalping.

Easylawn are more than happy to advise you on any queries you may have relating to lawn turf.