Laying turf is quick and straightforward. Preparing the ground underneath it is neither, and it is the entire difference between a lawn that establishes and one that disappoints.
If somebody proposes to strip, prepare and lay a large area in a morning, the preparation is what is being left out.
What We Do Before the Turf Arrives
- Strip what is there — old turf, growth and thatch, taken off site rather than rotovated in, because a buried old lawn decays and settles
- Cultivate to 15 to 20 centimetres, breaking up compaction so roots can get down
- Remove perennial weed roots by hand — couch, bindweed, ground elder, bramble, nettle, dock. Rotovating chops each one into several new plants, so they are picked out rather than turned in
- Clear stones and debris out of the top layer
- Import topsoil where the depth or the quality needs it
- Level and grade, roughly then accurately
- Firm evenly, which is the step most often skipped and the reason lawns develop dips
- Rake to a fine tilth so the turf makes proper contact
Then the Laying
Turf is laid in staggered rows like brickwork, butted tight so there are no gaps, boards used to work off so the prepared ground is not walked on, and cut to the edges and round any curves. The whole area is watered thoroughly the moment it is down.
It is delivered and laid within a day or so of being cut, because turf is perishable — which is why it is ordered for the day the ground will genuinely be ready rather than in advance.
What Our Turf Laying Service Covers
- Existing lawn or growth stripped and removed
- Full cultivation, weed root removal and levelling
- Topsoil imported where depth or quality requires it
- Turf supplied, delivered and laid tight and butted
- Cut to edges, borders, paths and curves
- Pre-turf feed and a thorough first watering
- Written aftercare for the first six weeks
- Honest advice where an area is too shaded or too wet to hold a lawn
The Three Things That Actually Decide It
- Depth of decent soil. A lawn wants at least 10 to 15 centimetres under it. Many gardens, new builds especially, have a few centimetres over compacted subsoil
- Even firming. Not compacting — removing air pockets, so nothing sinks later. Soft spots become dips and dips cannot be corrected once turf is down
- Weed roots out. Turf suppresses annual weeds perfectly well and does nothing against established perennial roots, which then cannot be removed without lifting the lawn
When We Would Tell You Not To
Two situations where we would rather say so than lay turf. An area shaded for most of the day will not hold a lawn whatever is done to the soil — planting is the better answer. And ground that stands in water through the winter needs the drainage dealing with first; turf laid over it will not survive, and no amount of surface preparation changes that.
Turfing Work Across Hertfordshire
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Other Turfing Work
Turf Laying in Your Part of Hertfordshire
We cover the whole county. Each town has its own turfing page covering the ground, the plots and the access that shape the work there.
Turf Laying — Common Questions
How long does it take?
Preparation is most of a day on a typical domestic lawn and laying is a couple of hours.
Do you supply the turf?
Yes, supplied, delivered and laid, ordered for the day the ground will be ready.
Can you lay turf over my existing lawn?
No. It has to come off — a buried old lawn decays and the new one settles into it.
Will you bring topsoil?
Where the depth or quality needs it, yes. It is often the difference between a lawn and a disappointment.
When can I walk on it?
Three weeks for light use, six before you treat it as a lawn. We leave written aftercare covering the first six weeks.
Get a Quote for Turf Laying
Tell us what needs doing across Hertfordshire and we will quote for the work. Call 07388 094829, message us on WhatsApp or use the form below.