Cultivated turf allows you to enjoy a lawn of instant beauty and maturity without the inconvenience and time consuming problems of seeding.
In order to guarantee that the turf you buy is of the highest quality you should purchase from a member of the Turf Producers International UK which has a quality assurance policy.
To ensure the best results and a quality finish to your new lawn the following steps should be carried out.
Please remember, a turf is a mass of living plants and a certain amount of care and maintenance will be required to ensure it grows to its full potential.
Preparation...
Ground preparation is vital to the future of your new lawn. Inadequately prepared and unfertilised ground will never give satisfactory results.
Existing turf should be moved by cutting under with a spade. soil needs to be turned over to a depth of 15cm. This can be achieved by either digging over the area or by using a rotovator.
Ensure the area is free of any debris, stones, weeds or old turf.
Fertiliser...
A pre-turfing fertiliser should be applied and raked into the soil. The manufacturers application rate should be followed for the best results.
Raking...
The ground should be raked over to produce a smooth surface. At this stage the ground may be lightly rolled or firmed by foot to reveal any soft areas which can then be raked until the ground is evenly firm and smooth. A wide rake makes levelling easier. The ground should be firm but not compact.
Your Lawn is now ready to turf!
Ordering...
Measure your proposed lawn area accurately in square metres, see our online calculator to help you measure your lawn.
Turf is supplied in rolls for easy laying. As turf is generally cut to order you should contact your supplier giving as much notice of delivery date as possible - and in any case at least 24 hours.
Ensure you give full details of the amount of turf required (in square metres), your name, full address, telephone number and the date required.
Turf should be laid within 24 hours of delivery, therefore the preparation work should be carried out in advance of the turf arriving.
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Laying Turf...
Start by laying one strip of turf around the outside of the lawn. Avoid using small strips at the edges as these may dry outand perish. Turf can be shaped to follow gently curved borders.
Lay the first row along the longest straight line and work across the lawn staggering the joints in each row - as in brickwork.
Butt and push the edges and ends against each other but do not stretch the turf. Use a sharp knife or half moon spadee to cut the end of a row.
Avoid walking on newly laid turf - boards should be placed down for walking on, or walking along.
Ensure that the turf has full contact with the soil.
Watering Turf...
Newly laid turf must be watered within half an hour of installation. Give the turf a really good soaking and check that the water has seeped through the turf and into the soil below (turn up a corner to see that this has happened).
This watering must be repeated until the turf has established. Weather conditions will dictate the frequency of the water required.
Ensure that your new lawn has enough moisture to survive hot, dry or windy weather. If laid during a hot dry period, watering should be repeated at least three times a day, otherwise twice daily should be sufficient.
Mowing...
We recommend that you do not mow your new turf until it has rooted. This can be easily checked by lifting up a corner to see if the roots have attached to the soil.
Your lawn mower should be set to the highest setting - it is important that the lawn is not scalped during early mowings. Mow your new lawn often, each time removing no more than one third of the grass height. Once establishedthe grass height can be reduced gradually to your ideal level. Optimum heights between 15mm and 35mm.
Lawn Feeding...
Feeding in the first 8 weeks will not be necessary
as a pre-turf fertiliser has been applied. There are man lawn feeds available and you should contact your T.P.I. UK member for their recommendation. Manfacturers instructions should always be carefully followed.
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