The first and easiest option for laying turf is to hire a landscaping company to do the job for you. We have an extensive list of landscaping companies here at TurfPages™ for all types and sizes of jobs. However, hiring a landscaping company is an extra expense that many domestic turf users cannot easily afford.

As such, TurfPages™ is happy to provide a laying guide for those customers who want to lay their own turf but have some nerves about it. Don’t worry! Laying your turf doesn’t necessarily have to be a difficult job, as long as some preparation is done is advance.

Begin by using our Guide To Buying Turf for honest advice about the best way to buy turf for your particular needs.

Some general tips:

1. Try to lay turf in the more clement months of the year; frozen ground means that the turf simply can’t take root.
2. Be prepared! Have the right tools ready, and make sure your garden is ready to lay the turf at the time of ordering.
3. Read carefully through all the advice here, and ask your turf supplier for any specific turf tips.

After finding a reliable company and ordering the correct amount of turf, it’s important to make sure the prospective lawn space is prepared. Remove all previous turf using a spade, and don’t forget to dispose of it responsibly!

The ground the new turf is going on to needs to have fresh soil and be as level as possible; try rotavating the ground, and if this produces no fresh soil then additional top soil may be required. It’s also never a bad idea to introduce fertiliser into the soil at this stage to prepare the ground for the new roots; check TurfPages™ directory for companies selling fertiliser, or ask the company you’re using for turf about what they recommend for use with their products.

Store the turf in a shady area as close as possible to where you intend to lay your turf, and try not to keep the turf for any longer than 24 hours before laying it.

Lay the turf down in straight lines, and cut off any extra turf at the edges to use as ‘filler’ for any unexpected gaps. Don’t walk on the newly-laid turf at any time during the laying, and remember to thoroughly water your new lawn once laid.

Once the turf is down, let it develop its roots before doing anything to it, including mowing and fertilising. You can check if roots have established by gently lifting a corner of the turf. If you chose to lay your turf during a particularly hot season, water the turf in the early mornings and in the late evenings to help the roots develop further. Finally, keep on applying fertiliser every four to six weeks to ensure a healthy initial growth.

Remember:

• Make sure the ground is fully prepared before laying turf, including refreshing the soil and applying fertiliser.
• Don’t lay the turf on frozen or sodden ground; wait for the weather to improve before ordering, if needs be.
• If not laying immediately, store the turf in a shady area but do try to use within 24 hours.
• Don’t walk on the turf immediately after laying.
• Allow the turf to develop roots before using or mowing; however, regular applications of water during drier periods and fertiliser every 4-6 weeks will help keep your turf at its best

If you think there’s an aspect of laying turf we haven’t dealt with, or you have any further questions, then contact us to give us suggestions about what you think we should include in our turf laying guide!

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