Lay a Turf Lawn

Few things can compare to a lush lawn when it comes to improving the look of your home and property. One popular way to enhance the appearance of your yard is to lay a turf lawn. This will make for an even and uniformly green lawn. Whether you have a green thumb or not, you can be the envy of your neighbors when you learn how to lay a turf lawn.

Steps

  1. Prepare the ground. Some might make the mistake of believing that they can simply spread rolls of turf over any type of lawn. Preparation is crucial when it comes time to lay a turf lawn.
    • Get rid of any weeds. Use a strong weed killer, if needed.
    • Remove large rocks, stones, tree roots, old turf and any other possible debris from the ground.
    • Cultivate the soil with a spade to a depth of about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}.
    • Level the ground with a rake. Add topsoil if needed. Stamp down the area with your feet, and then rake again. Slope the ground gently away from the house and any other structure, such as sheds, decks or patios.
    • Spread a fertilizer over the prepared ground.
  2. Mark the lawn so you know exactly where you will lay the turf. Pound wooden stakes into the ground at each corner of the yard and use string or builder’s line to outline where you will be placing the turf.
  3. Begin at the longest edge of the lawn. Start with a single roll of turf and unroll it so the longest side is parallel to the longest edge of the lawn.
    • Stagger each roll of turf as you go along to avoid a single line of edges or joints across the lawn. Some compare staggering turfs to the way you would stagger bricks when putting up a brick wall.
    • Use a knife or blade to cut the rolls of turf as needed.
    • Butt one edge of turf up against another. Use a rake to pull edges close to one another. Do not overlap turfs.
  4. Fill any gaps with topsoil once you have completed laying the turfs. Cut pieces of turfs you have trimmed to fill in large gaps. Also repair any hollow spots under turfs by lifting and filling with topsoil.
  5. Water the turf lawn immediately. It is recommended that the first watering should soak the layer of topsoil or ground the turf is installed upon.
  6. Continue watering three to four times per day for the next four weeks. It is not necessary to soak the topsoil after the first watering, as this can cause soil damage. Cut back on the frequency of watering once you can pull up on a turf without it lifting.



Tips

  • Leave a border near fences and retaining walls to avoid the difficulty of cutting the lawn close to these objects.
  • Lay a turf lawn between the months of March and June and September and November for the best results.
  • Place a plank across turfs you have already laid down to avoid uneven compaction should you need to walk across these areas.

Warnings

  • Keep rolled turf moist if it is not installed the day it is delivered. Roll it out on your driveway and water it if you will not be installing it within a day of delivery.
  • Do not mow the lawn until you see new growth beginning. This will allow the root system to take hold.
  • Avoid stretching the turfs as you lay them, as some shrinkage may occur.
  • Walk on the new lawn as infrequently as possible for the first two weeks.

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Sources and Citations

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