After making the decision to have a new turf laid, you need to make your investment worthwhile and this comes with the right advice. In order to keep your turf looking as healthy as possible, there are some tips you should follow and we have them here today!
Of course, you need to first keep in the mind the time of year you’re reading this. If you’re reading in September/October, less maintenance is required than if you were to lay new turf in the summer. With the heat pounding down on your new lawn, you’ll need to pay close attention to it after a summer installation. If you’re only in the planning stage right now, keep this in mind (as well as any garden hose bans that may come into place!). Once you’ve considered this, be sure to follow our advice below!
#1: Water Well – If you speak to professional services, they’ll often recommend laying a new turf in the autumn and this is because hosepipe bans can prevent this first tip; to water the lawn well after being laid. Since this is one of the most important waterings you’ll do, don’t be frugal and allow the water to really soak through to the ground below.
#2: Water Carefully – If you water too much or too regularly, there’s a real risk of lawn disease so always check the underside of your lawn; lift a corner and take a look. Without dripping, it should be moist and dark.
#3: Water Daily – For the first couple of weeks, we always recommend watering every single day via lawn sprinkler or hose. If you’re in the summer, water early in the morning or later in the evening so the sun doesn’t evaporate the water before it gets a chance to jump into action. Depending on the time of year, the professional might recommend watering each day for a month. If you’ve had it laid in autumn, daily watering may not be necessary because it’ll hold the water for longer. Ultimately, we recommend keeping an eye on the underside of the turf and this’ll tell you everything you need to know. For the first month, it should always be moist before then pulling back on the waterings.
#4: Be Patient – Especially if the turf is on a slope, it might take longer to root in so just be patient. If you aren’t sure, there’s nothing wrong with waiting for six weeks if it means a healthier lawn in the long-term.
#5: Limit Walking – Until the roots have bedded into the soil, try not to walk on the lawn at all. When you suddenly can’t lift the corner anymore, you’ll know the roots have bedded into the soil and this is when you can feel more confident about walking on it without causing damage.
#6: Wait to Mow – In terms of mowing, we advise waiting a number of weeks. Once it’s bedded in and has been for a while, have the mower work on the highest cutting setting. Of course, early spring and autumn should see you cut higher anyway so keep this in mind.
#7: Fertilise Twice – Finally, a healthy lawn can be encouraged by fertilising twice a year. For most, they see success in spring and autumn (either side of summer).
There we have it, some tips for looking after a new lawn. As long as you pay attention to these and get the first few weeks right, you’ll have a nice looking lawn for many years to come! It also a good idea to know the type of grass you have in case you need to top up with grass seeds at any stage.
For detailed garden advice check out our ultimate guide to lawn care here and check out our guide on killing moss on lawns.
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