How to prepare soil for turfing or seeding
If you are wanting to lay turf or reseed an area of lawn, then spring is an ideal time to do it as the damp soil and warming weather is perfect for rapid, strong grass growth. However, new grass takes time to bed in and root whether it’s turf or seeded, and if you are planning to use the area of grass in short order it may be best to wait until the autumn (another optimum time) when you are less likely to be using the lawn.
Whether you are using turves or seed you need to prepare the soil well beforehand and the starting point is clearing ground of weeds, old existing grass and roots. Dig it over and weed thoroughly, removing stones and breaking up clumps of soil so you are left with a fine crumbly tilth. If the soil is heavy clay, dig in grit and compost or manure to open it up and reduce the risk of waterlogging. With sandy or thin soils, adding lots of extra well-rotted organic matter (compost or manure) will enrich it and give the new grass something to feed on. Once you have done this, level the soil and tread it down and leave it for 2-4 weeks to settle. This will also give any missed weeds the chance to germinate and be removed. When the soil has settled, water it well and get ready to create a new lawn.