Lay a new Lawn
Find out how…
DO THE PREP First, prepare the soil by clearing weeds and any old grass, and by removing large stones. Fork over the earth and then rake so that it’s level. Tread down the area in various directions, then rake over the soil, also in different directions. Rake in some general purpose fertiliser (read the instructions on the container to work out the quantities required). Water well.
GET STARTED Begin at one side or corner of your garden, and stand or kneel on a long board to avoid making foot marks in the new turf. The board will also provide you with a straight edge to work with. Lay the pieces of turf along the board edge, butting them up closely together against each other to make sure there are no gaps, and pressing each one down firmly with the back of the rake. if the surface beneath the pieces of turf isn’t quite level, add or remove soil as needed to even it out.
LAY THE TURF Start on the next row, staggering the turf pieces to form a brick pattern. once the whole ground area has been covered, trim the turf edges, using your straight board as a guide, and a half-moon cutting tool (you can also use a spade or a sharp knife). Then spread over a light mix of sand and soil or compost with a rake, working it into the joins to help fill hollows and to encourage the pieces of turf to join together.
ALLOW ROOTS TO DEVELOP Leave the turf completely undisturbed and don’t walk on it for at least a few days (or ideally a few weeks) to allow the roots to develop and take hold.