Gravelmaster - How to Lay Turf - Step by Step Guide
At Gravelmaster we like to make sure our customers get the most value from all our quality products, therefore we have written a step by step guide informing you on how to lay our turf correctly for best results. This guide tells you everything you need to know from the planning and preparation stage right through to the aftercare of your lawn, we have also included some top tips along the way.
Tools needed to lay turf
• Wheelbarrow
• Rake
• Knife
• Spade
• Planks
• Garden Hose
Planning Stage
The weather is a significant contributing factor when it comes to laying your Gravelmaster turf, we advise you to lay your turf in mild conditions. Do not lay turf in frosty weather and avoid leaving your turf outside in long periods of heat. All of our turf is cut fresh on the day before delivery ensuring it arrives with you in the best condition possible.
Well before the turf arrives, the first step is to select a topsoil to lay the turf on. The topsoil you choose is extremely important and will assist you in achieving a high quality lawn once completed. The Gravelmaster ProBlend Turfing Soil will act as a superb base for turfing and is designed to enhance turf strength and durability. Ensuring that the topsoil is evenly spread is essential as this will ensure the grass roots infiltrate equally. *Top Tip* use a ruler to make sure the topsoil is evenly spread and is a good 10-15 cm deep. Add more topsoil if required.
Once the topsoil is laid you should walk over the whole area to make sure it is well compacted, this will help create a solid structure for your turf. This process should be repeated until you have created a compacted and level base for your turf. This will minimise the risk of settlement which could cause the turf to sink and become uneven.
*Top Tip* You must make sure your soil base is free of stones, pebbles and debris. All Gravelmaster ProBlend Turfing Soils are peat free and have minimal stone content making them perfect for the job. Once you have ensured the topsoil is compacted and to the right level, lightly rake again, however be sure not to make the surface uneven. This process is the most tedious however ensuring your topsoil surface is even is crucial to the overall success of your finished lawn. The more work done at this sage in creating a level surface will have a significant impact in the quality of the final result.
*Top Tip* Water the soil a few days before laying the Gravelmaster turf, this will help give moisture and allow the soil to settle.
Calculating how much turf and topsoil you require
To calculate how much topsoil you require you will need to measure the length, width and depth of the area you want to cover, then multiply these together to give you the volume you need. At Gravelmaster we supply our ProBlend Turfing Soil in volumes of 800 litres/0.5m3.
You will then need to calculate the amount of turf required, all Gravelmaster turf is supplied in standard m2 rolls. If you measure the length and width in metres and then times these together it will give you the amount in m2.
Laying the turf
All of our turf is as fresh as possible when it arrives with our customers, so for best results it is critical that the turf is laid at the earliest opportunity once you receive it. In the event you are unable to lay the turf immediately ensure it is kept watered, damp and stored in the shade.
Begin to lay the turf by rolling out the first strip on a straight edge. On the following rows of turf try and stagger the joints which will produce a pattern similar to bricklaying. Lay a plank of wood on the completed strip and roll the next roll whilst stood on the plank so not to damage the freshly laid turf. Repeat this for each additional rolls by moving the plank on to the last roll and repeat this process until the area is completed. Avoid stretching the turf to the edges as this could potentially damage it, any gaps can easily be filled with soil. Once all the turf is laid lightly firm down the rolls using the head of the rake to make sure that the turf and soil make contact.
Directly after laying
You may think that the hard work is over however the process after your turf has been laid is the most crucial.
Once completed give your new lawn a thorough watering, this is essential. For the following week we recommend you water your lawn daily, this helps to establish a healthy lawn. We advise that you water the lawn either first thing in the morning or later on in the evening as this ensures less water is evaporated. On hot days take necessary precautions and water your lawn more frequently. You must also make sure that the water is reaching your soil, carefully lift up a corner of your turf to check.
Shortly after laying
You now need to mow your new lawn, this should be done no later than 3 days if possible. Be careful when mowing not to take too much grass off, we recommend a third of the grass blade. Also be careful not to dislodge the lawn, if this does happens replace the lawn and do not commence mowing until the lawn has fully established.Aftercare
Now you have a beautiful lawn be sure to maintain it. Keep regularly mowing your lawn and be sure to water on a regular basis. To ensure your lawn is given sufficient nutrients we recommend a balanced fertilizer containing similar levels of Potash, Phosphate and Nitrogen, this should be applied every 4-6 weeks of the growing season. All fertilizers should be applied in strict adherence with manufactures recommendation giving special consideration not to exceed the stated dose. .
Head over to our website where you can read all our customer reviews on all our turf and topsoil products. Alternatively you can like us on Facebook where you can share your experiences with our fellow customers.
We would like to think this guide has been of assistance to our customers, if it has please feel free to send us in photographs of your newly laid lawn which we will share on our Facebook page.Remember to buy turf online at Gravelmaster!