Laying a lawn

Every lawn expert will tell you don't skimp on preparation.

Dig in sand and compost or manure. Then level. Are you planting seed or laying turf?

If planting seed get the right type Shade/Sun even slow grow types. Will it be walked or played on (Get tough grass) or bowling green type (Fine grass) which will go bare in heavy traffic. Seed will give you a much wider choice than laying turf.

Thankyou Nightshade. I have plenty of sand that was laid under the paving, soil under that looks god. so just the manure to source now. I will look into grass options then. If going for seed, what time of year is best to sow? I was thinking Autumn as less need to water hopefully? As I am on a meter.

And how do you stop birds eating seed? Lots of them around here, despite my big cat. He just likes observing them... which pleases me most of the time.

Try putting up netting, similar to the stuff you would use for a fruit cage.

Although this would depend on the size you are doing...

Can anyone recommend a turf and/or seed supplier?

Just use the cheapest! Have a search on-line for the kind that suits your environment best; shadey, boggy, dry or whatever, and choose from there. Once you've done the preparation, water the ground. Get some boards, and lay the first row of turf, standing on the boards, not the turf. When you've laid one row, put the boards on the turf, and lay the next row from there. That way you don't walk on the turf, and the boards help to tamp it down.

Roll all turves away from you, laying the first row from house to bottom of garden, next row from bottom of garden toward house, and so on, then you get stripes. When it's all laid, set up the sprinkler, and remove the boards. DO NOT WALK ON IT! Leave the sprinkler on, non-stop for 48 hours, (unless the heavens open), by then it should have sent out enough little white roots, that it can start to root to the soil beneath. Lift the corner of a turf to see the progress of the roots. Once it has started to knit, you can walk on it if you have to.

Don't mow it for the first two weeks, at least, or it will lift. When you do, cut it high, with the collector on, only cut it lower after it has properly established.

Enjoy!

Hmm ok I am having new thoughts. I have removed all cement bits so now the ground is basically flat with an inch to 3 inches of sand on top of good soil. I was initially thinkng of digging the sand into the soil. However I am concerned this will create a lot of work trying to flatten it again. so basically I am asking, will the turf take and do well if laid directly onto the sand layer? it is already flat and I don't want to create work unless really necesary. I am aware turf is often grown on sand substrate anyway.. so why bother digging surface and creating uneveness? There is only me and I can only physically do so much. I don't have a roller and only have small feet for flattenign ground.

Please help me decide. ;-(

I'm not an expert on lawns but I think 3 inches of sand is too much.