Turf will produce an instant lawn and within four to six weeks the lawn can be used
. Make sure you use a good supplier though. Always use a cultivated turf which will have been fed, watered and looked after. Some companies supply pasture turf which is cheaper but of a lesser quality and may contain weeds and weed seeds.
Preparation for turf is the same as for sowing a new lawn. Time spent in preparation will pay off in the results.
Do not worry about what the turf has been grown on, it will not make any difference at all; you do not have to match soil types.
Go through the same preparation process as for sowing new lawns. Apply the same turf starter fertiliser and water it in thoroughly. Make sure you have ordered the turf for the day you intend to lay it or, if you have a large area to cover, either have some help or stagger the deliveries to keep the turf fresh.
Do not keep turf rolled for longer than two days as it will yellow and heat up and kill the grass.
Laying the turf
Take your first roll of turf and cut it in half. Lay half in one corner and then proceed with laying the full rolls. Make sure they butt up against each other. Do not walk on the turf; if you have no choice walk on a board laid across the turf.
The after care for instant turf is the same as for a new sown lawn, and again the result will depend mostly on how well the client waters. Tell them to do it daily. As soon as growth starts, they can gradually reduce to once or twice per week.
If the turf is not watered enough the turf will shrink and crack, then you will have to fill in the gaps with compost and seed mixed in.
You should really only think about laying turf in the autumn or winter and as long as the ground is not frozen or water logged. If you lay in the winter it will mean that you will not have to water at all and the turf can root without the use it will get in the summer.
The first mow is just as important as for a sown lawn. The first mow will only take the top 10mm off the grass. After that, gradually reduce the mowing height to that most suitable for the type of grass.