Finding out how to lay turf from these lawn experts could mean that you don’t need to pay a professional to install it for you. It’s really a simple task even for a fairly novice gardener, albeit labour intensive.
The effort very much depends on the size of your space, but you can expect a fair amount of digging over and some lifting. So, depending on the side of the space and how fast you work, block out a day in your diary. Dry weather is necessary, sunshine is just nice to have when working on your lawn ideas.
“The best time to lay turf is spring or autumn when rain helps the new grass establish roots before summer sun or winter frost,” says lawn expert at Allan’s Gardens Jane Dobbs. To ensure that your day goes without a hitch and you lay turf which is going to thrive in your garden, all the information you need is below.
How to lay turf in 3 steps
Once you’re happy with the cost of re-turfing a lawn, making sure you have all the tools you need before you begin is just as important as picking a day get started.
According to David Hedges Gower, lawn expert and chair of the Lawn Association, you’ll be told that any time of year is the best time to lay turf, and whilst that is true to an extent, he explains that the hotter it gets the more water you will need and the bigger chance of turf failing.
Laying turf yourself is cheaper than hiring a professional but sowing grass seed is cheaper still though the results are much more delayed.
What you will need:
Don’t let your turf sit in extreme hot or cold(Image credit: Getty Images)
Enough turf for your area
An implement to cut the turf such as an edging iron, a long knife or even a saw
Wooden boards for walking on while turf establishes
Shop turf
Harrowden Turf Premium Lawn Turf 50sqm
This is a premium turf which is sold to be disease resistant and weed-free. They cut it to order too which means you can be confident that it hasn’t been sitting in a dark warehouse for weeks before it shows up on your doorstep.
Meadowmat Wildflower turf, 20m² Pack
If you’re looking for something a little more naturalistic then this wildflower turf could be an option. It’s pricier than standard turf, but if you’re into rewilding and bringing in pollinators then this option, containing native wildflowers will be perfect.
This turf is grown in the UK meaning it is acclimatised to the UK climate. It’s the same turf that many Open golf courses and commercial landscapes use so it’s very tolerable to leisure and sport.
1. Prep your soil area
David Hedges Gower, lawn expert and chair of the Lawn Association explains that if you have compaction, then alleviating it is important before laying new turf.
“You can dig over the soil with a fork or use a rotovator for larger areas. This is the perfect time to work organic matter into the soil or even using sand on the lawn, to ensure drainage is good,” says David.
“Spread a general-purpose fertiliser over the ground a couple of days before you lay the turf,” says Jane Dobbs. Then rake the soil to a suitable, even level.
“There are a lot of things that promote healthy root growth and establishment for turf. Don’t let the turf get stressed by extreme heat or cold,” says Jane.
David Hedges-Gower
David is one of the UK’s leading lawn experts, with over 30 years’ experience in the industry. He is Chairman of the Lawn Association, an educational platform for homeowners and professionals, and founded the world’s first lawn care qualification.
It’s important to have a well prepped base for your turf(Image credit: Future Publishing Ltd)
2. Lay your turf down
“It’s important to lay turf on moist, but not waterlogged soil. It’s easier for turf to establish in moist soil. It’s essential to have good drainage to prevent waterlogging, which can kill the roots,” says Jane Dobbs.
“Start laying the turf, preferably along a straight edge at one point on the lawn,” says David.
“Lay a single line and then on the next line ensure the turf edges are staggered, similar to that of brickwork. If turfing across a sloping garden, roll the turf across, not down. You can also ‘peg’ with biodegradable pegs if the slope is severe.”
Jane Dobbs
Responsible for leading the gardening team at Allan’s Gardeners, a landscaping and garden maintenance, business who do lawn care and installation. She has 10 years experience as a gardener.
Moisten your soil before laying turf(Image credit: CBCK-Christine / Getty Images)
3. Firm up and finish
“Lightly firm down the turves with the head of a rake or piece of wood to ensure good contact between the underside of the turf and the soil,” says David.
“Use the normal side of a rake to ‘tap’ in the edges of the turf that may have slightly curled. Any cracks can be filled with light sandy soil after you have finished. Trim the ends of the turf with a long knife, hand saw or cutting spade to shape around any trees, paths and beds.”
“Finally, where the outer edges of the new turf are exposed, cover with a light soil to prevent them drying out. This can be removed after a few weeks, once the turf is more established,” says David.
The turf should be in contact with the soil so be sure to flatten any edges(Image credit: CBCK-Christine / Getty Images)
Caring for your turf
“To grow well, turf grasses need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. It’s best to choose a location that gets enough sun,” explains Jane Dobbs.
“For the first two weeks, water the turf daily to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Try not to walk on the freshly laid turf for the first few weeks to allow the roots to establish well.”
“During this period, don’t put heavy objects or machinery like a petrol lawn mower on the turf, it’ll damage them. You should fertilise your turf about six weeks after installation. Check for weeds and moss in lawns and get rid of them as soon as you see them. Killing weeds by hand is often enough, but herbicides labelled safe for turf can be used if necessary. Herbicides don’t work on turf until it’s established.
Aerate your lawn periodically to lessen compaction and help air and water get to the roots. It keeps soil healthy and makes turf grow faster.
Avoid walking on a freshly laid lawn(Image credit: CBCK-Christine / Getty Images)
FAQs
Can you lay turf over grass?
“My recommendation is not to lay turf on top of grass because it can cause uneven growth. It’s risky to lay turf over grass because the roots won’t establish properly. The result will be shallow roots and poor turf health,” says lawn expert at Allan’s Gardens, Jane Dobbs.
What type of turf is best?
“There are few turf types available, but the best will be a native bent and fescue turf that replicates the rest of the UK (available from the Lawn Association),” says David Hedges Gower, Chair of the Lawn Association.
“It’s also perfect should you want to create a manicured ornamental lawn, a meadow lawn or just one that will never need seeding ever again. Ryegrass will be cheaper, but will be prone to probable long-term issues, and fescue can be used to create a wild meadow lawn or an ornamental,” says David.
How long until you can walk on new turf?
“Depending on the type of turf, the quality of the ground preparation and the soil and turf type, light walking is fine immediately, however, for more rigorous traffic, give it 2-3 weeks to be safe,” says David Hedges Gower Chair of the Lawn Association.
Can you lay turf on a slope?
“You can lay turf on a slope, yes. When you unroll turf, make sure you do it across the slope, not down it. To get good contact between the turf and the soil, use a rake head or piece of wood to firm up the turf. You can fill any remaining cracks with light soil and tamp them down,” says Jane Dobbs Lawn expert at Allan’s Gardens.
How much does it cost for a professional to lay turf?
“This, like buying turf can vary according to many factors. Technically, anyone can lay turf. It’s not a complicated task, but done well, using the best turf type and preparing the soil is far different. The prices to lay turf can be very low as £15 per m2 and for quality laying it can go up to £30,” says David Hedges Gower, Chair of the Lawn Association.
Once you’ve learnt how to lay turf then keeping your lawn healthy year after year is key. Knowing how to scarify a lawn is crucial to letting air and moisture get to your grass.
景观路上，有哪些公司在不同时空与我们同行，他们是缘何而作？奉行什么理念？mooool推出<企业报道>，呈现团队及项目背后的故事与思考，留与读者各自采撷。第三期为大家带来的是：上海亦境建筑景观有限公司。总策划：陈科君编辑：Maggie审校：Via Wang 上海亦境 是一支跨学科的设计团队，成员包括景观设计师、建筑设计师、规划师、古建筑设计师、风景园林学者、古典园林学者、历史人文学者等。由王云教授于2008年创立，当时正值中国城市化进程高峰，有很多空白领域亟待发展，也催生了以房地产为主的商业类景观，集中服务于一定阶级的商业购房群体。作为高校的专业老师，他看待行业的视角不太一样，加上自己对专业的认识，认为景观应是服务于所有公众的，企业、学科、行业应紧密结合为整体去发展，因此决定带领自己的团队，产学研用，结合学校的资源，做一些有一定探索和创新意义的项目和设计。 一支跨学科的研究设计团队 An interdisciplinary research design team 创始人的景观思维王云教授于1999年进入上海交通大学担任教师至今，经过多年的实践与反思，对于行业发展、景观本质及当前现状问题有着自己独到的见解。<传承不等于复古，景观一定要走出感性时代，迈向理性，实现感性与理性的综合>“一直以来，我的心灵深处，始终追求着一种江南韵味，中国几千年来传统农业生产景观造就的人居环境，衍生的古典园林，是渗透进我们血液里的东西，但从行业发展来讲，风景园林一定要走出感性时代，迈向理性景观，实现感性和理性的综合。就好像邻国日本现代建筑的发展一样，革新技术工艺，让现代外观下，依然能保有清晰的传统东方文化内核。中国的园林也要传承古典精髓，但传承不等于复古，我们要在现代居民需求的基础上，赋以传统文化精神，同时辅以现代工艺技术，给世界贡献中国风景园林样本。”<景观的本质是处理人与空间、人与社会、人与自然的多维度关系>“景观是一个着眼于未来的学科，它解决人地关系，要面对人、社会、环境、生态等。其核心是在特定的范围里处理人与空间、人与社会、人与自然的多维度关系。设计始终强调多要素的综合，包括地形、水系、植物等自然与人工要素的融合。设计师要做的是寻找一个非常好的平衡点，去平衡所有元素，它比建筑的要求更高、更复杂。所以好的景观设计师，应该是像哲学家一样思考问题，像科学家一样去推演推理，同时像艺术家一样去执著。但往往我们在处理人与空间的关系的时候，不如建筑学，处理人与自然关系的时候，不如生态学，处理人和社会关系的时候，不如管理学。所以这就需要我们不停的去学习思考：”从‘生态与设计、社会与设计、数字与设计’等层面去定位景观的发展方向，归根结底是要形成大的设计理念，应用现代技术与工艺，满足现代社会的需求，解决生态环境问题，才能推动景观的时代发展。”<景观设计师要有责任与情怀，推进社会正义与公平性>“景观是很苦的行业，如果是简单的为了谋生与挣钱，大多会选择金融等行业。景观设计师更多的是要有责任与关怀，有价值追求。景观作品一定是具有公共性的。如果一味地为了吸引年轻人打卡自拍，打造网红产品而获得短期效益，那么，它针对老年人和小孩的公平性就没了，我们的城市生活也就没了。景观的好坏与否，一定来自于周边社区的大众使用满意度与评价。美丽乡村建设更是如此，如果把城市里面所谓的时髦时尚，生硬的嫁接到农村去，东西做完了，我们的烟火气也就没了，本地人并不满意，只是拍照好看，必然造成烂尾结果。所以说，景观设计师是一种责任，我们时常要叩问自己的心灵，设计到底为谁而做？我们应有正确的设计三观，即本体观、文化观、环境观。回归设计本意，做有生命力、有价值的作品。” 王云 Yun Wang教授，博导，上海交通大学设计学院风景园林系系主任，上海亦境建筑景观有限公司创始人Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Director...
景观路上，有哪些公司在不同时空与我们同行，他们是缘何而作？奉行什么理念？mooool推出<企业报道>，呈现团队及项目背后的故事与思考，留与读者各自采撷。第三期为大家带来的是：上海亦境建筑景观有限公司。总策划：陈科君编辑：Maggie审校：Via Wang 上海亦境 是一支跨学科的设计团队，成员包括景观设计师、建筑设计师、规划师、古建筑设计师、风景园林学者、古典园林学者、历史人文学者等。由王云教授于2008年创立，当时正值中国城市化进程高峰，有很多空白领域亟待发展，也催生了以房地产为主的商业类景观，集中服务于一定阶级的商业购房群体。作为高校的专业老师，他看待行业的视角不太一样，加上自己对专业的认识，认为景观应是服务于所有公众的，企业、学科、行业应紧密结合为整体去发展，因此决定带领自己的团队，产学研用，结合学校的资源，做一些有一定探索和创新意义的项目和设计。 一支跨学科的研究设计团队 An interdisciplinary research design team 创始人的景观思维王云教授于1999年进入上海交通大学担任教师至今，经过多年的实践与反思，对于行业发展、景观本质及当前现状问题有着自己独到的见解。<传承不等于复古，景观一定要走出感性时代，迈向理性，实现感性与理性的综合>“一直以来，我的心灵深处，始终追求着一种江南韵味，中国几千年来传统农业生产景观造就的人居环境，衍生的古典园林，是渗透进我们血液里的东西，但从行业发展来讲，风景园林一定要走出感性时代，迈向理性景观，实现感性和理性的综合。就好像邻国日本现代建筑的发展一样，革新技术工艺，让现代外观下，依然能保有清晰的传统东方文化内核。中国的园林也要传承古典精髓，但传承不等于复古，我们要在现代居民需求的基础上，赋以传统文化精神，同时辅以现代工艺技术，给世界贡献中国风景园林样本。”<景观的本质是处理人与空间、人与社会、人与自然的多维度关系>“景观是一个着眼于未来的学科，它解决人地关系，要面对人、社会、环境、生态等。其核心是在特定的范围里处理人与空间、人与社会、人与自然的多维度关系。设计始终强调多要素的综合，包括地形、水系、植物等自然与人工要素的融合。设计师要做的是寻找一个非常好的平衡点，去平衡所有元素，它比建筑的要求更高、更复杂。所以好的景观设计师，应该是像哲学家一样思考问题，像科学家一样去推演推理，同时像艺术家一样去执著。但往往我们在处理人与空间的关系的时候，不如建筑学，处理人与自然关系的时候，不如生态学，处理人和社会关系的时候，不如管理学。所以这就需要我们不停的去学习思考：”从‘生态与设计、社会与设计、数字与设计’等层面去定位景观的发展方向，归根结底是要形成大的设计理念，应用现代技术与工艺，满足现代社会的需求，解决生态环境问题，才能推动景观的时代发展。”<景观设计师要有责任与情怀，推进社会正义与公平性>“景观是很苦的行业，如果是简单的为了谋生与挣钱，大多会选择金融等行业。景观设计师更多的是要有责任与关怀，有价值追求。景观作品一定是具有公共性的。如果一味地为了吸引年轻人打卡自拍，打造网红产品而获得短期效益，那么，它针对老年人和小孩的公平性就没了，我们的城市生活也就没了。景观的好坏与否，一定来自于周边社区的大众使用满意度与评价。美丽乡村建设更是如此，如果把城市里面所谓的时髦时尚，生硬的嫁接到农村去，东西做完了，我们的烟火气也就没了，本地人并不满意，只是拍照好看，必然造成烂尾结果。所以说，景观设计师是一种责任，我们时常要叩问自己的心灵，设计到底为谁而做？我们应有正确的设计三观，即本体观、文化观、环境观。回归设计本意，做有生命力、有价值的作品。” 王云 Yun Wang教授，博导，上海交通大学设计学院风景园林系系主任，上海亦境建筑景观有限公司创始人Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Director...
