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A freshly laid lawn can transform a tired or neglected garden. Tree Masters Hertfordshire provides turfing and new lawn installation throughout Hertfordshire, including preparation after garden clearance where required.
Call 07388 094829 for a quotation, or message us on WhatsApp.
Turfing Services
- New lawn turfing
- Replacement lawns
- Turfing after garden clearance
- Turfing after stump grinding
- Preparation of suitable lawn areas
- Small and larger garden turfing projects
Preparation Is Most of the Job
Laying turf is quick. Preparing the ground it goes onto is what takes the time, and it is what decides whether the lawn is still there in two years. A lawn laid onto unprepared ground looks excellent for about three weeks.
- Clear what is there. Old turf, weeds and roots come off rather than getting turfed over
- Sort out the levels. This is the step that is most often rushed. Hollows collect water and dips show up permanently once the grass is growing
- Break up compaction. Ground that has been walked on, parked on or worked over during building is usually compacted, and roots will not get into it
- Improve the soil where it needs it. Topsoil added where there is not enough, or where what is there is builder's subsoil
- Firm and rake to a fine tilth, so the turf is laid onto an even, settled surface rather than a fluffy one that will sink
Laying
Turf is laid in rows with the joints staggered, butted up tight rather than overlapped or stretched, and cut to fit at the edges. It goes down as soon as possible after delivery — turf is a living product and it deteriorates quickly rolled up, particularly in warm weather.
When to Lay It
Turf can be laid almost any time the ground is not frozen or waterlogged, but the easiest months are autumn and spring: the soil is warm enough for roots to move and there is usually enough natural rainfall to keep it alive.
Midsummer turfing is perfectly possible and puts the entire burden on watering. If a lawn is going down in a hot spell, be honest with yourself about whether you can keep up with it before the work is booked.
The First Month Decides It
Almost every failed lawn fails from lack of water in the first few weeks, and it fails from underwatering far more often than overwatering.
- Water thoroughly and generously, so the water goes through the turf and into the soil beneath. A light sprinkle wets the turf and leaves the soil below it dry, which encourages roots to stay in the turf layer
- Check underneath. Lift a corner in a few places. If the soil under the turf is dry, it needs a great deal more water than it is getting
- Keep off it while it roots — usually two to three weeks. Shrinking gaps at the joints are normal and close up
- First cut once it has rooted and is growing, with the mower set high. Take a little off, not a lot
The test for rooting: take hold of a corner of a piece of turf and lift gently. If it resists, the roots have gone into the soil beneath and the lawn is established. If it comes up like a mat, leave it alone a while longer.
Turf or Seed?
Turf gives an instant lawn, can go down across a longer season, resists weeds while it establishes and can be walked on within weeks. It costs more. Seed is much cheaper, offers more choice of grass mixture, and takes a season and a good deal of patience — and it needs the same ground preparation, which is the part people hope to avoid.
For most gardens where the point is to have a lawn back, turf is the straightforward answer. Where a large area is being done to a budget and nobody is in a hurry, seed is worth considering.
Turfing Advice Centre
Our advice centre answers the questions Hertfordshire property owners ask before arranging this kind of work.
Turfing — Specific Jobs
Each of these has its own page covering what the work involves and what drives the price.
Turfing Across Hertfordshire
Every town below has its own turfing page covering the ground conditions, property types and access that shape the work there.
Other Tree Masters Hertfordshire Services
Turfing Frequently Asked Questions
Do you lay turf throughout Hertfordshire?
Yes.
Can you replace an old lawn?
Yes.
Can turfing follow a garden clearance?
Yes, where the site is suitable.
Can you turf after stump grinding?
It can form part of the wider project, depending on the area.
Do you prepare the area first?
Preparation requirements are assessed when quoting.
Do you work on small gardens?
Yes.
Do you provide quotes?
Yes.
Do you work for landlords?
Yes.
What should I send for a quote?
Photos and the property location are useful.
How do I contact you?
Call 07388 094829.
Get a Quote for Turfing
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.