Turf love secret to keeping top lawns

If you are deciding to turf a new lawn this winter it is best to tackle this job between now before winter sets in however if weather permits turf can be layed all year round but normally before the end of February as after this time the temperature heats up and turf can easily dry out.

Turf laying can take place at anytime of the year providing you can water to keep alive, this is less of an issue over the winter months. Sea Washed Turf is a particular type of turf grown for lawns and sports fields but there are many different types of turf that can be purchased. It is important to decide on what type of lawn you are intending to create as this will determine the type of turf you would purchase. If you require a heavy wear lawn for children or pets then a turf with high amounts of perennial ryegrass or smooth stalked meadow grass would be best. This type of grass will require frequent mowing as it grows relatively quickly to allow it to recover from periods of wear. If you are looking for a low maintenance lawn with finer grass species then look at a turf with high amounts of fescue and bent grass, these grasses are less wear tolerant but slower growing than the other grasses. It is important to pick a good quality turf that is weed free and has a dense sward of grass. It is also important to check on delivery that they are the same thickness of turf as that can be an issue when laying the turf. Before actually receiving delivery of the turf it is important to have your area of lawn prepared as turf once harvested in the field should only be kept rolled for 2-3 days, sometime in winter this can extend to 4-5 days but no more as the turf will start to deteriorate significantly and reduce the appearance of your lawn. It is important to prepare well and this could include incorporating a good medium coarse sand layer in to your preparation for good drainage and good rooting of the new turf. The sand depth should be at least 25-50mm in thickness. Apply a pre turf or seed fertiliser at 70g per metre to encourage the roots to grow in to the sand as soon as possible. Make sure each roll of turf is pressed against the previous roll with minimum gaps, keep your cutting to a minimum and they should be placed in their final position in a brickwork style so that the seams are staggered, this can be done by starting your second row with a half turf. Turf can be pushed closer together with the back of a metal rake to make sure no seams appear allowing weeds or undulations to appear. It is a good idea to use boards to walk on the new turf as you lay to avoid depressions to form. Once the lawn is complete use some sand to fill any gaps that appear and wait for Spring.

Paul Brannan