Caring for Your New Lawn Turf
Okay, so you've done the hard work; you've lain your lawn turf and have a fabulous new lawn to be proud of. The question you're probably now asking yourself is, what steps do I need to perform to take the very best care of my new lawn that I can? You can use topsoil.
ď śThe first, and most crucial aspect of your new lawn care regime is watering. Lawn turf is a living mass of plants and other organisms. Plants of course need water to survive and your lawn turf will not have yet established deep enough roots in the ground by which they are able to draw moisture. ď śThis means you are on watering-duty and will be for at least two weeks. Your first watering must take place within half-an-hour of the lawn installation.
ď ś Your new turf will be striving to merge roots with the underlying soil, and will need all the help it can get. When you water, you must check that water is seeping through the lawn turf and into the underlying soil. Lift up a small piece of your new turf at an edge and check to see if the underlying soil layer is damp. ď ś Remember to pat the edge back down firmly with a rake afterwards. When you are watering your new lawn it is usually better to water in the evening, and not in direct sunlight.
ď śIt is probably best to leave your new lawn to settle for around two weeks after you have installed it. You may walk across it for access, but prolonged and medium-to-heavy use is out of the question. ď śYou could disrupt the process by which your lawn turf is merging with the underlying soil.
ď śAs for mowing, it is probably best to allow your new turf to grow naturally and become established before you think about cutting the grass. Again, this usually means a two-week wait. Check to see if the lawn turf has attached roots to the underlying soil layer. ď śWhen you do mow for the first time, set the blades high so there is no danger of 'scalping' the turf.
ď śMow at least once a week for the first few weeks of your new lawn's life. Make sure though that you never take more than the top one-third off the grass each time you do mow. Once you're convinced that the lawn has become fully established, you can reduce the grass to its optimum height. ď śThis is usually between three-quarters of an inch and one and a half inches.
ď śIt will pay you dividends to give your new lawn a helping hand once it has become established. If you performed the installation properly, and spread a layer of fertiliser between the underlying soil and the lawn turf prior to installation, then your new lawn can be left to its own devices for the first two months.
ď śOnce those two months are up, you should apply fertiliser every five to six weeks to your lawn, except during the winter months. You may also consider using a lawn feed from a specialist garden centre, just to give your lawn a little extra help in becoming established. ď śThe garden centre staff will be happy to recommend a suitable product for you.
ď śIf maintained properly, you will be the proud owner of a luscious green lawn for countless years ahead. ď śVisit http://www.turfgrowers.co.uk for all your turf growing needs and get more information about top soil.