How to lay Turf

How to lay Turf

Laying turf is easy as long as you follow a simple process, starting at the edge and working your way in. Follow our simple guide below to find out how to lay turf.

• Start from the outside edge – and lay your first strip widthways slightly overlapping the boundary (which you can trim back when you have finished). Press the turf carefully to make good soil contact but without squashing the turf too much.
• Continue lying pieces next to each other until you have completed the first row of turf along an entire edge.
• Start the next row. If you need to stand on already laid turf, use a plank if you can to avoid denting or squashing it. It is important to stagger successive rows so that the short edges do not line up (they should alternate like the vertical joints in brickwork).
• Continue like this, butting and pushing the edges for a tight join but be careful not to stretch the turf.
• Finally you need to trim any of the more untidy edges with an old saw or sharp serrated knife – don’t forget to use the planks to avoid walking directly on the turf if you can.

Remember, newly-laid turf must be watered well enough for the water to penetrate the soil but without turning it into a mud bath! You can gently pull back a piece to inspect the soil and see how much water has permeated through the turf. In hotter weather, be sure to water as soon as you have laid your lawn.

How often should you water your new Turf?

Your new turf must be kept moist until it has fully established itself in the soil. If it’s not raining you will need to water it yourself. In hot, dry or windy conditions you may have to water twice or even three times a day; and water immediately at any sign of the turf drying out or shrinking.

If you do find you haven’t given enough water and gaps begin to appear in between the rows and joins of turf, then fill those gaps with soil/seed mix to cover the joins. Eventually, you will see healthy new white roots when you start lifting a corner of turf, and you know these are fully established when it becomes difficult to pull back the turf.

How often should you mow your new lawn?

In Spring and Summer, your new turf will be ready for its first mow in 1 – 2 weeks. But make sure it’s just a very gentle cut. You’ll just want to level the top of the grass, so raise the cutting height of your mower and use a grass box. Then continue to cut as normal (twice a week in spring or once a week in summer), never removing more than one-third of the current height.

If you have laid turf in autumn, follow the guidelines above for Spring. For winter-laid turf, mow only if it is still growing. Otherwise, leave it until spring.

Now you know how to lay and manage a new lawn, why not pick up some brand new turf and get your new lawn laid down.