Whats the best way to lay new turf?

" GREEN SIDE UP !" Cheers, Tony.

Very helpful thanks - ever thought of going in to comedy? - prob best ya don't ! lol

Lay the turf down on the ground in long rows.
Don't have the ends of the rolls next to each other, instead, stagger them like a brick-layer staggers bricks.
Butt all the joins tightly together, as you will most likely get a bit of shrinkage.

Not much else to it really.

1: OK, firstly, Get some boards - scaffold boards are fine, mdf sheets are better. You need enough to reach the whole length of your lawn.
2: Then, make sure your area is raked level, or as level as you can. Water it.
3: Lay your first row of turves down the centre of the lawn, rolling the turves AWAY from the main view-point of the house.
4: Lay the wooden boards/sheets on the turf you have laid, working down the garden. That way you walk on the timber, NOT the turf.
5: When you get to the end of the row, cut the last turf. Long-handled edging shears are excellent. Turn the spare (cut) section round, and start the second row, (working to the right side, for example) rolling the turves out TOWARD the house.
6: Continue alternately UP and DOWN the garden, moving the timber across each row as you go, so you don't stand on the turf.
7: When you reach the side edge, go back to the middle, and work away across to the other (left) side of the garden.

When finished, if done correctly, it will look like stripes when viewed from the house.

Remember to always cut and turn at the ends, don't throw away the off-cuts, just turn them the right way round according to where you need them, and cut them in - it's a jig-saw puzzle, not wallpaper! It is wasteful to just throw it away, and the gaps won't show once it has established.

When you have finished, and all your edges are cut neatly. Set up your sprinkler, make sure it covers the whole area, turn it on and leave it running for 48 hours non-stop. That should be it. (Note: You cannot, realistically, lay turf successfully during a hosepipe ban.)

After a couple of days, if you lift the corner of a turf, you should see small fleshy white roots protruding from the bottom. This is what you want. A few more days, and the roots should be properly established. You may need to water again after a few days, if it is dry. Always soak it thoroughly - a sprinkle is an insult. Do NOT walk on it when it is wet.

You can mow it, on a high setting, after the turves have grown in ie. you can't lift a corner. But avoid a really heavy powerful machine, and avoid a hover mower, as it can suck up the turves.

Good luck!


Oh, and remember, we're nosey b**gers, so we need before and after pictures!

Beat me to it.........

Hopefully June will be wet & cool for you (I do hope not, I want some summer), otherwise you will really have to keep on top of the watering. If you let it dry out at all, it will shrink back and leave big gaps all over the place (I prefer seed to turf, myself)