Your Guide to a New Lawn

John

Informations

• Publié par: trafficmonsters
• Publié le: 08 octobre 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: English

Extrait

Your Guide to a New Lawn If your lawn is looking tired and jaded,
and repeated attempts to spice it up a
little have failed, the time may have
come to hold up your hands, admit
defeat and lay a brand new lawn using
lawn turf.
You can turn a shapeless patch of grass
with threadbare patches into the kind of
gorgeous new lawn your local lawn green
bowling club would even cast envious
eyes over.
In truth, laying a brand new lawn works
out more expensive than sowing a new
lawn using grass seed, but the benefits
you receive will easily outweigh your
expenditure.
You receive almost an instant and
perfectly usable lawn that's free of
weeds, moss and bald areas.
Fortunately laying turf is not an onerous
task, although it is one that must be
done carefully. You can save money by
doing the turf-laying yourself, rather
than hiring a professional.
The first thing to understand is that a
new lawn cannot be laid at any time of
the year. The best time to lay lawn turf is
during spring or autumn, and then only
during a warm spell.
 The UK receives more rain at these
times which will help the new grass gain
roots into the underlying soil in time for
the harsh summer sun or winter frosts.

When it comes down to the actual
physical process of laying the turf, the
first stage is preparation. Your new
surface must be level, and be free of big
stones or any other unwanted items.
If you cannot obtain an even surface,
buy some topsoil and add it to the lawn
area. Smooth the surface down using a
rake.
The next stage is to firm down the soil
surface by walking up and on it.
Use small but heavy steps. If you create
holes in the surface fill them in using
topsoil.
Once you've attained as compact and as
level a surface as you can, give your new
lawn area one last raking.
At this point you may wish to spread a
layer of fertiliser over the ground. If you
can, leave the surface one week before
laying the turf.
When you actually come to lay the turf,
make sure the surface is smooth,
compact and flat once again, and get
your trusty rake out for one last scrape.
Rolls of turf are called turves. Lay the
turves on the soil. Make sure you stagger
the joints, just as if you were laying
bricks. Try not to walk directly on the turf
as you are laying it.
Use a plank of wood to walk or kneel on.
If your lawn is neither square nor
rectangular, leave the awkward areas
until the end.
Create a clean edge to your new lawn by
cutting off the excess turf, using a sharp
knife. Once that is complete, use the end
of your rake to butt the turves all over.
This is to make sure the turves make
decent contact with the underlying soil.
Give the whole lawn a good watering.