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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Specifically, I need to know how thick the sod is so that I can remove dirt to get a uniform surface. Lay sods with staggered joints as in the pattern of a brick wall and closely butted together avoiding gaps. Wait to lay down new turf until fall or spring if possible. Avoid walking on prepared soil before you lay down turf, so that you don’t create indentations in the soil. Next, carefully rough-cut the turf with a razor knife to fit the dimensions, leaving a little extra for final adjustments, and secure it … Water your new lawn well immediately after laying using a hose pipe or sprinkler. Lay each piece hard up against the last to avoid air pockets and any drying out. If you decide you want to go ahead, it’s important to know how best to lay turf over grass to give it the best chance to put down roots, grow new green grass and avoid subsidence and weeds over time. If it's poor drainage, an uneven surface or the lawn has become compacted, it's best to sort these problems out first. Water it well and keep watering every few days so it establishes well. It’s harder for the turf to set down healthy roots through the old grass layer. If you’ve ever envied your neighbor's lush green lawn, you might be thinking about laying down some turf in your yard. Most turfgrass species prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.2. Place adjoining edges and ends against each other, but avoid stretching the turf. Try as much as possible not to walk over the just laid sod. Start around the border, overlapping any rounded edges and trimming the excess turf once it’s all been laid. The quality of turf varies, so we ordered turf online for delivery then went to garden centres and DIY stores to buy it direct to find out how to get decent turf that will repay your efforts. Do you have existing turf to remove? Lay turf in a brickwork pattern, which simply means you stagger the joins to help retain turf moisture, and make sure you butt the edges closely together. Watersavers Turf is here to help you with artificial grass installation in addition to saving water, time, and money. Remove any rocks, debris or sprinklers that may interfere with the installation of the artificial grass. If the turf lifts up, it hasn’t rooted yet. Many models can be either pushed by hand or towed behind a tractor. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. site design by thrust creative, Where can grass be laid successfully if not on existing grass. Unwanted growth like weeds is more likely to just re-grow through the fresh turf. The first part of the answer is that, yes, it is possible to lay synthetic turf directly over your existing lawn. Before installing the artificial grass, lay the turf onto the base, and then position the pieces where they need to be. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Stop … The next step of the installation of your fake turf is to create the perfect base. Turf is perishable and can quickly dry out. So, after killing the old lawn I was going to add appropriate top-soil to raise the level before laying turf. The laying of new turf on old turf compared to grass seed. From the base prep to the turf installation, it's possible to do-it-yourself. Watch Monty Don‘s practical video guide to laying turf, above. Artscape Gardens covers all areas of the C-27 landscape contractor classification. Although laying turf is a quick way to achieve lawn cover, soil preparation before laying turves is just as important as for sowing seed. ", "Easy to read and understand instructions, in easy steps.". Lay the next strip across the longest straight run and continue to work across the lawn, strip by strip, producing a pattern similar to brickwork. Roll out the turf So as not to have lines, lay your turf in a brick pattern. Steps for Laying Artificial Turf. Positioning the Turf; If you do not have pets you can install a weed barrier at this time. Last Updated: October 13, 2020 Step 7: Water Do I loosen the soil on the bottom of the turf before I lay it? Step 1 - Remove all existing lawn. You shouldn't need to, as long as you've properly cleared, raked, and fertilized the soil you'll be laying down the turf on. Lay your turf rolls This is the fun bit! There are 24 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The second layer should be about three inches of stabilized decomposed granite. 6 October 2020. Shuffle along the board a few times, this will ensure you get good contact between the lawn (sod) and the soil underneath. If your ground is extremely compact or your soil has a clay base, you may require a bobcat to relieve compaction, then apply gypsum to the under soil before the turf goes down so the roots can grow through this layer. 0. Lay turf in a brickwork pattern, butting edges together. Laying purpose-grown cultivated turf will enable you to enjoy a fine lawn of instant beauty and maturity without the inconvenience, wastage or delays associated with seeding. Ideally, you should utilise laying boards when installing your turf. Repeat, repeat... until you've tamped down the complete reinstalled lawn (sod) area. Step 2: Soil Preparation. This year I plan to kill off the existing patch (about 30ft x 20ft) and relay with new turf. When the entire lawn is covered, use the back of a rake to pack down each row before you water your new lawn. Lay your first piece of turf, making sure you butt it up nice and firm against the corners – it’s important not to kneel on the turf or stretch it. VAT registration number 819164812 How do I stop animals from ripping up my turf lawn? If you must walk on the turf, wear flat-soled shoes. Once you’ve got the first patch in, continue rolling additional patches in the same way, making sure there’s no gap between them. Avoid foot indentations in the newly laid turf by working from boards. To lay a turf lawn, start on a spring or fall day, when it’s easiest for turf to take root in the ground, by unrolling the first patch of turf at the farthest edge of your lawn. This article has been viewed 125,986 times. Proper topsoil preparations are essential to get the best results. Almost like an outdoor, grassy carpet, it can be laid to fix patchy areas in an existing lawn or to create a new lawn completely from scratch. To ensure that the turf you buy and lay is of the highest quality, always insist on turf produced by a member of the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA) which has a quality assurance policy. How to Lay Garden Turf. In most cases it won't be necessary to add too much extra dirt, but the little bit of compost will help give some nutrients to the roots while your new grass becomes established For this it is important to ensure that you carefully measure the artificial grass you will need for the area. Yes, as long as it isn't more than a few inches deep and of a loose, non compacting type. This year I plan to kill off the existing patch (about 30ft x 20ft) and relay with new turf. When you order the new turf, it's a good idea to add a little bit on top of your order (around five per cent), especially if you have to place the turf around obstacles like trees. First, remove all existing turf and weeds (see below on how to remove your existing lawn). Soil compaction – new turf needs freshly prepared soil for the roots to grow well; Disease – any disease could affect the new turf; Pests – existing pests in the soil may attack new turf If you wish to put down turf in the summer, or your area does not get enough rainfall in fall and spring, install a watering system or use a hose and sprinkler to make sure your turf gets enough water. Posted on March 6, 2019 at 5:05 pm by carbuttsturf. Any old grass you remove can be stacked in an unused corner of the garden or at the back of a shrubbery, where it will rot down to create a natural fertiliser – which you can then use to feed your new turf lawn, so none of those nutrients are lost. Garden lime can be bought in most garden supply stores. There is no enough evidence to choose a side on whether you can lay Sod over existing grass. When planning how to lay instant turf on your property, proper soil preparation is essential. Lay a scaffold-board over the top of the reinstalled lawn (sod). Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 125,986 times. This is a guide for laying turf on topsoil, however you can appropriate some of these steps to increase that chances of your turf taking root over old grass. Benjamin Hansen. Will I need a roller to level and flatten the turf? When to lay turf Turf is best laid in mid-autumn, but can be laid any time between mid-autumn and late winter whenever the soil is not too wet or frosty. How to lay turf. To test if the new turf has rooted, grab the surface of the turf and gently try pulling it upward. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. With over 12 years of experience, Benjamin specializes in transforming properties into aesthetic, functional, and drought-tolerant oases. You will probably have to arrange to have it delivered. 1 Remove any existing damaged lawn. The best time to lay turf is during spring or autumn, when rain will help the new grass establish roots in time for summer sun or winter frosts. We also provide a lawn laying service and can professionally install a brand new lawn for you. If you are working on a particularly hot day use a sprinkler to water one section while you lay the next. Your present lawn and clay soil will have become compacted over the years and drainage will not be at it's best. This allows the roll to acclimate, a helpful pre-installation step. They may or may not introduce a turf underlay but the faster the job is done, the sooner they can get paid and move onto the next job. Fall and spring are the best seasons for turf to root into the ground because of all the rain. That comes out to $400 for a 1,000-square-foot lawn area. Aftercare. Laying a new lawn is an exciting time for any landscape project or garden installation. Using a sprinkler will help to keep the lawn hydrated. 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