Freshly laid turf:Do you know how to look after it?
Newly laid turf needs water to survive. Very often this requirement will be met by rainfall, but during dry spells you will need to keep it damp for the first 28 days by watering.
- When you prepare the ground for turfing, consider incorporating a soil conditioner to increase the soil’s ability to retain moisture.
- Plan ahead to prevent the turf drying out. Don’t have more turf delivered in a day than you can lay.
- Finish your ground preparation well in advance of the turf delivery so you can start laying it as soon as it has arrived. The quicker it is laid, the less likely it is to dry out.
- When your turf is delivered, stack it in a shady place.
- Dampen the ground immediately before laying.
- Tamp the turf lightly as you lay it to ensure good contact with the soil underneath.
- When you have finished turfing, water it straight away, ensuring that the soil is damp to a depth of 100mm. Thereafter, aim to keep the turf, and the soil underneath it, damp. You can check this by turning up a corner of the turf. Care should be taken not to flood or over-water the lawn.
- In the following days, only water in the early morning or early evening, so the sun doesn’t burn off the water you’ve applied.
- It’s important not to over-water your turf at any stage. This creates boggy conditions that encourage the development of moss and grass diseases. It is not always necessary to water if it has rained – check first to see if the soil is moist.
- Water less and less frequently over the next 28 days. The turf should never be allowed to dry out and go brown in this period.