anyone ever laid a lawn?
28 January 2010, 07:21 PM
#1
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anyone ever laid a lawn?
hi all,
the house i live in now has had the whole back garden paved and i want to lift the slabs up and lay a lawn down.never done it before so firstly when do i do it and secondly how do i do it?
do i just buy turf and lay it on the ground or is there more to it than that?
thanks
the house i live in now has had the whole back garden paved and i want to lift the slabs up and lay a lawn down.never done it before so firstly when do i do it and secondly how do i do it?
do i just buy turf and lay it on the ground or is there more to it than that?
thanks
28 January 2010, 07:36 PM
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Have done several lawns being a landscape gardener.....
Before we start,do you want an instant 100% perfect lawn ie turf?
Or a 90% perfect, wait a month lawn ie seed?
A seed lawn is about 10 times cheaper and MUCH less intial work,but needs a little more after care for a month or 2.
You generally do lawns in spring and autum,it 'can' be done in summer but would need constant watering.
Before we start,do you want an instant 100% perfect lawn ie turf?
Or a 90% perfect, wait a month lawn ie seed?
A seed lawn is about 10 times cheaper and MUCH less intial work,but needs a little more after care for a month or 2.
You generally do lawns in spring and autum,it 'can' be done in summer but would need constant watering.
Last edited by ratboy; 28 January 2010 at 07:37 PM.
28 January 2010, 07:39 PM
#3
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just want a nice grass lawn.not really arsed about price (unless turf is expensive ?)
my garden gets rammed with birds so i think seed would just get eaten.
do i have to do any prep once i remove the slabs?
my garden gets rammed with birds so i think seed would just get eaten.
do i have to do any prep once i remove the slabs?
28 January 2010, 07:49 PM
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Turf varies a lot in price.
Different quality seeds they use defines this as well as a few other factors.
There be lots of 'grades' available. Some are 'super fine' grades (bowling green style) that look great but have poor ware properties.
Id suggest a hard wareing general purpose (usually has some tough rye grass in it)
This will still look very nice but wont go bald if you walk on it too much.
Down this way its about £3 a square metre.
Preperation is VERY important or it will look crap.
You need to invest in a soil rake (£10 in homebase)
Once slabs are lifted,and all cement bits gone you have 2 options.
Either some hard work on your existing soil or the easy way,get a few ton of top soil delivered...which would you want.....................?
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28 January 2010, 08:02 PM
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Well if your going for the non top soil option you will need to prepare your soil.
Luckly for you it must be very level already being under a patio.
What you need to do is loosen up all the soil thats been packed down hard from many years under a patio.
With the soil rake you can go forwards as well as backwards to do this.
Do it hard enough to loosen about 3 inches deep but try to keep the decent level you have....no bumps,as you will see these just like you would if you put something under your lounge carpet.
Work backwards is best.
The reason for loosening is to give the roots a chance to get into the soil.
If you have stoney soil,then rake all stones larger than hazel nut out.
Once the soil is good,its best to apply a granular fertilizer.
Growmore is good and very cheap and widely available at any garden centre.
Sprinkle this on at least a few weeks before you want to lay the lawn as it needs to break down into the soil.
Getting it wet often will speed this up.....thats the prep.
Now laying it is the next phase.....
Luckly for you it must be very level already being under a patio.
What you need to do is loosen up all the soil thats been packed down hard from many years under a patio.
With the soil rake you can go forwards as well as backwards to do this.
Do it hard enough to loosen about 3 inches deep but try to keep the decent level you have....no bumps,as you will see these just like you would if you put something under your lounge carpet.
Work backwards is best.
The reason for loosening is to give the roots a chance to get into the soil.
If you have stoney soil,then rake all stones larger than hazel nut out.
Once the soil is good,its best to apply a granular fertilizer.
Growmore is good and very cheap and widely available at any garden centre.
Sprinkle this on at least a few weeks before you want to lay the lawn as it needs to break down into the soil.
Getting it wet often will speed this up.....thats the prep.
Now laying it is the next phase.....
28 January 2010, 08:08 PM
#9
I have seeded lawns for customers and it's fairly simple with the right use of topsoil/subsoil bla bla bla, but for my own lawn I decided to go quick fix ! Some really good turf farms who supply direct with topsoil if you need it.
This is about a month in IIRC...it was a hot March/April too when it was laid
This is about a month in IIRC...it was a hot March/April too when it was laid
28 January 2010, 08:39 PM
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