How to Lay Turf

A lovely soft lawn is the centrepiece of a garden, and it gives you a great foundation for borders, beds and paving. Fortunately, laying new turf is relatively simple if you prepare the ground well. Follow our laying turf tips and watch our helpful how-to video to get started. You’ll soon end up with a healthy lawn that lasts a lifetime.

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Spring and early autumn are the best times to lay turf, avoiding hot dry spells or frozen ground so the roots can establish properly.
To prepare the soil, dig to a depth of 150mm, remove weeds, compress the earth to remove air pockets, and rake to a fine, level finish.
Lay the turf in an offset brickwork pattern, ensure there are no gaps between sections, and water it thoroughly every day until the roots bind to the soil.

When to lay turf

You can lay turf all year round, with a couple of exceptions. Try to avoid laying lawn turf during a hot, dry spell. The turf won’t bind with the soil, so it won’t take up moisture and will dry out quickly. You should also avoid laying grass turf onto frozen ground.

The best time of year to lay turf is during the spring and summer. Make sure your preparation for laying turf is complete before it arrives as you must unroll and lay it within 24 hours of delivery. This means it’s important to get it delivered on a day that fits your schedule.

Planning and preparation for laying turf

If you’re planning a completely new lawn, it’s best to map it out. Think about how the finished lawn will look and how it complements the rest of your garden. For example, are there dry or shady areas where grass might struggle?

Like all plants, grass relies on water and nutrients drawn from the soil. So, buying excellent quality turf is not always enough to ensure a healthy lawn. Grass roots are shallow, but you still need to prepare the soil well, so the grass draws moisture from deeper down.

To find out what kind of soil you have, dig a test hole. If your soil is very sandy, add some compost to help retain moisture. If you have heavy clay soils, work in some sharp grit and compost to help with drainage.

How much turf will you need?

It’s simple to calculate how much turf you need. Measure the length and width of the area to work out the square metres. If you’re working on a curved area, divide it into smaller rectangles and add the totals together. When you order, factor in an extra 5-10% for wastage.

Do you need topsoil?

If you’re concerned about your soil quality, you can add some topsoil as a suitable base. Adding topsoil and firming it down creates the ideal conditions, and adding a lawn establishment fertiliser will also help encourage root growth.

How to remove old turf and prepare the soil

Getting the ground ready is the secret to a great lawn. Here’s how to level soil before laying turf.

If you’re replacing an existing lawn, you need to remove the old turf. A garden spade works, but a turf cutter is much quicker. You can compost the old grass or put it in a green waste bin.

Next, dig or rotavate the soil to churn and aerate it, digging down to a depth of 100-150mm. This is much easier when the soil is quite dry.

Rake the ground to remove larger stones, weeds, and old roots. You might need to rake it twice to get a fine, crumbly texture.

Now you need to compress the soil to remove any air pockets. Walk up and down the area using very small steps, keeping your weight on your heels. You’ll need to go back and forth to ensure it’s properly compacted.

To encourage root growth, spread lawn establishment fertiliser evenly across your prepared area. Follow the manufacturer instructions for the best results.

Lightly rake the fertiliser into the topsoil. This helps the turf roots bond properly with the earth.

How to lay grass turf

Now your soil is ready, it’s time for turf laying. But what is the best way to lay turf? Follow these steps for the perfect finish.

Start off with a straight edge or your longest border to lay against. You can use a plank as a guide. If you’re turfing a circular lawn, start in the middle and work your way out.

When you’re laying your turf, ensure there are no gaps between the sections as you roll them out. Push them firmly against one another.

Lay the rows in an offset brickwork pattern so the joints are staggered. This stops the edges from drying out. If you have any unavoidable small gaps, fill them in with a light sandy topsoil as you go.

As you put down each row, use a scaffold board to kneel on or walk across. You should not walk directly on newly laid turf.

To make sure there’s good contact between the grass and the soil, tamp down each row as you go. You can use your hands or the back of a rake.

If you need to lay grass turf around a path or tree, roll it out and use a handsaw or sharp kitchen knife to carefully cut around the obstacle.

Once everything is laid, cover any exposed outer edges with soil so they don’t dry out.

Begin watering the grass as soon as it’s laid. Your new turf needs plenty of moisture to become established.

Continue watering regularly in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation. You should even water through spells of light rain. Carefully lift a corner to check if the soil underneath is moist.

Your lawn will be ready for its first shallow mow once the roots have bonded. Try lifting a corner. If you feel resistance, it’s ready.

Although you shouldn’t allow the grass to grow too long before you mow it, the first mow should be with a shallow cut – there’s no need to take too much grass off the top. You can gradually adjust your lawnmower blades to cut closer to the ground once the lawn has been established for a few weeks.

If you’re using a rotary mower then the turf needs to be particularly well rooted before mowing, as the updraft can cause the turf to lift. Make sure the mower blades are sharp, so they cut the grass cleanly and don’t drag the turf upwards.

How to maintain turf

A little ongoing care keeps your grass looking fresh. Here’s how to maintain turf throughout the year.

Lawn fertiliser
Rotary spreader
Fork
Grass seed

Apply a lawn fertiliser in spring and autumn. You can spread this uniformly by hand or with a rotary spreader.

Reduce soil compaction by aerating the ground twice a year. Use a fork to aerate your lawn in May and September. This helps grass roots grow deeper.

Once the lawn is a year old, you can begin scarifying it with a rake to remove moss and dead vegetation. It’s best to do this in March and September.

Sowing additional grass seed is a great way to make your turf denser. This minimises the risk of moss invading.

Which fertiliser and nutrients are best for newly laid turf?

To get your new turf off to the best start, you should apply a lawn establishment fertiliser directly to your prepared soil just before you lay the grass. Adding this, along with plenty of water, will encourage strong root growth and help the turf establish itself in its new environment. Just make sure to spread it evenly and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best results.

Once your lawn is fully settled in, you can keep it looking fresh and healthy by applying a standard lawn fertiliser uniformly across the grass each spring and autumn.

How do you manage weeds in a newly turfed area?

The best way to manage weeds is actually to tackle them before you even lay your new turf. When you’re preparing the ground, make sure to thoroughly rake the soil to remove any existing roots or weeds. You might need to rake the area twice to ensure it’s completely clear.

Once your turf is established, a great way to keep moss and weeds at bay is to sow additional grass seed in early spring. This makes your grass denser, which naturally minimises the risk of unwanted plants invading your lawn.

Once your lawn is a year old, you can also scarify it with a rake in March and September to remove dead vegetation and moss. If you do need a little extra help dealing with stubborn weeds, you can also get weedkiller in store or online.

Laying new turf is a rewarding job that completely transforms your garden. With the right soil preparation and some gentle ongoing care, your grass will quickly settle in.

We hope these steps give you the confidence to tackle the project yourself. And once the hard work is done, you can sit back and enjoy your lovely new lawn for years to come.

Looking for some more ways to elevate your garden? Check out our article on how to make a big impact in a small garden.

FAQs

We don’t recommend laying turf on top of grass. Old weeds and uneven ground will ruin your new lawn, so you’ll need to dig up the old lawn first.

You should avoid walking directly on your new lawn until the roots have established into the soil. This usually takes a couple of weeks. When you’re actually laying the turf, use timber boards to walk and kneel on to spread your weight.

You can usually mow your lawn within a few weeks of laying it. Try gently lifting a corner of the grass. If you feel resistance, the roots have bonded with the soil, and it’s safe to mow. Make sure your first cut is on a high setting so you only take a small amount of grass off the top.

If you need to lay your new lawn around a path, flower bed or tree, simply roll out the turf as normal. Then, use a handsaw or a sharp kitchen knife to carefully cut around the obstacle. A sharp blade will cut through the grass quite easily, leaving you with a neat and seamless finish.