Starting a Lawn from Turf
A lawn made from turf does not become established much quicker than a sown one, but the work can be carried out during late autumn and winter, when it is too cold for sowing grass seeds. And in a new garden, covering the lawn area with turf will give an instant effect and bring an immediate sense of perspective to the plot. A lawn from turf is only as good as the turf you buy in, so make sure it is of good quality.
The best time for turf laying is October to early March. It can be continued into April, provided there are facilities for watering the lawn if the turves start to dry out before they have knitted together.
Soil Preparation
Prepare the site in the way recommended for a lawn to be made from seed, to the point of firming the soil. A week or ten days before laying the turf, sprinkle Growmore fertiliser at 2 oz. Per sq. Yd., over the area and rake it into the surface of the soil. Where the soil is rather clay-heavy, a 2 in. Layer of coarse sand can be spread over the surface to make it easier for the grass to establish fresh roots.
There are two standard sizes for turf: 1 ft. Square and 3 ft. By 1 ft., the latter size being the most common. The quality and price can vary greatly according to where the turves are cut, but it is usually possible to obtain a reasonable sample locally which has been grown from lawn grasses and treated with chemicals to control weeds.
Prevent Grass Turning Yellow
Long turves are delivered rolled up, and provided they are to be laid within 24 hours they can be stacked in a pile. If they will not be laid for a day or two, however, they should be spread out, grass side up, in a shady spot to prevent the grass turning yellow. If they show signs of drying out at the edges, they will also need to be watered.
At the time of laying the turves, examine each one for any large weeds and pull out any that are found. Machine-cut turves should all be of the same thicknessâ – usually 1 in. If they vary they must be trimmed to a standard thickness or the lawn surface will not be even. Trimming turves is quite simple with the aid of a turf box – a three-sided box just large enough to hold a turf and 1 1/2 in. Deep. Slide each uneven turf grass side down into the box, then draw a blade along the top of the box to pare off the unwanted soil. An old bushman type saw blade, used upside down, serves as a suitable knife if it is cut to size and the ends are bound with cloth and tape to make two handles.
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