Summer Jobs – Laying turf for a lawn

Laying turf can certainly be the quickest way to get a lawn but (as with every other DIY Job in the home and garden) preparation is the key. Uneven lawns are a result of an uneven base which, in turn, is due to too little time and effort spent in preparation.

Our project page on laying lawn turf will help you get to grips with the fundamentals of laying lawn grass. There is a video on the page to make the instructions perfectly clear.

Cultivated turf, that is turf which has been grown specifically for lawns, is expensive as it should be free from weeds and is probably more at home on a bowling green than on your lawn.

Meadow grass, which is just what it says on the tin, can be treated to remove weeds etc, but can be quite coarse. It is generally the best option for a lawn at home.

 A third type of turf, although not so common, is Sea Marsh turf. Although generally good quality grass, Sea Marsh turf can sometimes cause drainage problems as it is (usually) grown on soil which contains silt.

You should look for a turf supplier that cuts the turf no later than one day before delivery to you. Some suppliers stock turf for days on end and this is not good. Ask your turf supplier where they recommend getting topsoil from as you will usually need to make up some areas of the garden for a lawn. The soil you lay the turf on will make a difference to your finished lawn.

Once again, as with yesterdays blog, if you get a chance to asking your local golf course green-keeper for some advice they will usually be happy to help.