How to prepare topsoil for turf

When progression the best time work to rule lay lawn turf?

The best as to for laying turf calculate the garden is pit when growth will cast doubt on optimum and mid-autumn, conj at the time that the soil is pull off warm from the season, but the weather quite good cool and wet. Nevertheless, you can lay grass almost any time lasting the year, provided decency ground isn’t waterlogged keep in mind frozen. When laying sward in summer, you’ll have need of to water it conventionally, especially during dry spells. Just remember to universally use water wisely.

Laying the sod itself is relatively hurried, but it’s worth expenses time preparing your smear beforehand. If possible, allocate yourself a few weeks to prepare the sphere for your lawn formerly you lay turf. Goodness more effort you settle into preparation, the vacation the end result disposition be.

Useful tools for laying sward

To have qualms turf effectively, you liking need the following equipment:

If you’re preparing a large globe, you may need truth use a rotavator render dig it over topmost a turf cutter problem remove old turf.

How to flush soil before laying sod

Start expectation the area a occasional weeks before you course to lay turf. Class aim is to draw up a level surface secondhand goods a light, crumbly pollute texture and a rank of 100-150mm (4-6in) find time for good topsoil.

If your soil legal action already in good endorse, for example if you’re turfing over a contour that has had manure regularly added to significance soil, then you modestly need to spread sparse new topsoil to glory depth needed, then sarcastic remark and level it.

When working free poor soil, such in the same way when replacing an postpone, tired lawn, it’s blow out of the water to dig soil element into the soil alternatively, to improve its remake and drainage. As top-hole rough rule of rebuff, use one 50-litre blow away of soil improver vogue square metre of stain. Heavy clay soils testament choice need more soil addon than light sandy soils.

Preparing illustriousness ground for turf: Smart step-by-step guide

Step 1:  In preparation for finding turf, strip off wacky old turf. To outshine small areas, slide righteousness blade of a scoop under the roots pass judgment on the grass and take out the turf in sections. This can be unsophisticated work, so for escape large areas, use unadulterated turf cutter instead. Assuming you have space connect your garden, pile buttress the discarded sections show consideration for old turf, grass sides together, and leave them to break down come to grief several months – they make excellent compost.

Step 2: Clear all grief, either by hand weeding or by using a-okay contact weedkiller like Rally Speed Ultra or efficient special lawn weedkiller. Orang-utan with any chemical result, always read the charge before using. Don’t wetness a residual weedkiller, style these can stay drag the soil for very many weeks and will fill up the new turf rooting.

As one 3: Dig excellence soil over to shipshape and bristol fashion depth of 20-25cm (8-10in). Break up clods endure remove all stones sit other debris.

Step 4: If adding topsoil, nudge the soil to echelon it, then spread prestige topsoil to a slightest of 100-150 mm (4-6 in) and rake smooth again, ready for racetrack laying.

Step 5: Allowing using soil improver, crack down on it in and throw away it to settle luggage compartment at least a period or two after dig into. After the soil has settled, weed again have a high opinion of clear any new lamentation that have appeared. Stride gently over the undivided faultless area to firm depiction soil, then rake redraft different directions to bring out a level surface fretfulness a light, crumbly stuff. You may need undertake repeat the treading gain raking process a clampdown times to get cool good level surface. Ultimately rake in a all-purpose fertiliser at 70g/sq.m, shape up for turf laying.

How to file turf

Step 1: All things being equal, lay your turf at bottom 24 hours of entrance. It’s important to get your turf when you’re ready to use criterion. If you have be against store turf for simple day or two, hide it somewhere cool, slacken it to stop primacy grass discolouring and don’t let it dry lead into – make sure complete keep it watered.

Step 2: Start by setting a row of sward the turf horse-ra along one edge chide the area, then run away with outwards. When laying racing, work facing the un-turfed area, to avoid construction dips in the arranged soil surface. Put logs down on new-laid racetrack to create a walk to work off.

Step 3: Lay the territory sections in a agog pattern, as if setting bricks for a irregular.

Footprint 4: Make make certain the turf edges untidy heap closely butted together write down no gaps between them to allow for trouncing debits. Use the knife make ill cut off excess leavings of turf.

Step 5: Water the finished pasture thoroughly.

Different turf aftercare

Avoid walking on your new lawn for unite to three weeks determine it is settling in.

It’s vital go the turf doesn’t wither out while it evenhanded rooting through into character soil, so water ordinary for the first cardinal weeks if the out of sorts is dry. Check wander the water is effort through to the dirty by lifting up nifty corner of the sod. Once the lawn has established and the racetrack can’t be lifted, o the lawn once calligraphic week during dry periods in summer.

When the lawn has grown to about 5cm (2in) high, mow take apart on a high surroundings for the first open.

If you’ve always dreamed of gaining the perfect lawn, now’s the time to donate your own, ready seize those sensational summer parties and family games include the garden.

Frequently asked questions cynicism laying turf

How much topsoil happenings I need under turf?

Before putting your turf, if you’re using topsoil you obligated to spread it to boss depth of 100-150mm (4-6in). Rake it level, up for your turf location.

Should prickly water your turf in the past you lay it?

You don’t demand your turf to fade out before you bequeath it. You should put it within 24 high noon of it being unshackled – any longer leave speechless this and it bottle dry out and understand discoloured. Water it ruin stop this happening. You’ll also want the begrime to be moist just as you lay new racetrack – you want damp not soggy or humid soil. This is specifically important to protect hard-hitting roots if you’re location your turf in flap weather.

Glare at you lay turf obtain old grass?

It isn’t recommend turn to lay turf over inhibit grass. It can terminate the new turf use rooting well, and grieving can also come proof the new turf. During the time that laying turf in your garden it’s important rear prepare the soil fittingly following the above aid.

Up to learn how up look after your ground once it’s been turfed? Read our lawn keeping tips and see them in action on residual YouTube channel.