When it comes to our gardens, some of us relish in the DIY aspect of it, with it becoming a hobby and a passion. Others among us aren’t fans, and would prefer to sit back and allow someone else to do it for them.
Laying your own turf has merits which are not to be ignored. But why exactly should you lay your own turf?
The main reason you should lay your own turf is that it is fairly easy, if you are fit for the job (and you don’t need to be an Olympic medallist!) and it will save yo money!
Here is a quick, easy, step-by-step how-to for laying your lawn:
- Prepare the topsoil. Take up any old grass, then remove any stones or weeds left in the ground. Level off your garden, roughly is fine, by flattening any lumps and bumps as well as filling holes. Use a fork to loosen all the soil, then use a rake to finish it off. Go back over your soil to firm it, either using a roller or by walking on it. Then sprinkle it with fertiliser and rake the soil once more, watering it well afterwards, preferably with a sprinkler attachment to ensure even water distribution.
- Buy your turf. We offer next day delivery provided you order before the right time of day, so you can prepare your garden in time for delivery. Ideally, you should buy your turf when the garden surface is prepared so you aren’t rushing at the last minute. If you live in a dry area, choose drought-tolerant turf that will resist the dryness.
- Water your turf on arrival if you do not plan to lay it the same day, unrolling each roll carefully as you go.
- Starting at the furthest straight edge of your garden, lay your first row of turf. You should unroll the turf slowly to prevent damage to the grass. Keep the pieces as close together as you can, patting it down firmly (but not too firmly) with either a shovel or the back of a rake.
- Lay another row, staggering the pieces as you would when building a wall. Again keep the pieces close and tamp each piece down.
- Using a cutting tool, such as the semi-circular cutting tool, and a board (if trying to achieve a straight edge), crop the edges of your turf. You may prefer a curved line, or be aiming for a straight finish. Either is possible.
- Next, get your sprinkler attachment on the hose going. A watering can is rarely enough. Give your lawn an initial good soaking. Avoid walking over the turf if you can, as it can take several weeks to root and walking on it could disturb the process.
Professionals can charge upwards of £11 per square metre, some charging around £20. For a complicated job, it could be worth getting a professional to at least assess the work, but once you know what needs to be done, it is much cheaper to do it yourself if you make a point of doing it correctly. For a lawn of 20 square metres, the prices above could mean you are anything from £220-£400 out of pocket! You could instead use the money for garden accessories or even a new garden furniture set.
By laying your own turf, you will get a personal reward, knowing you did it successfully yourself, learning a new skill in the process. When your neighbours come over, you can proudly say that you laid the turf yourself.
If you lay your own turf, nurturing it carefully in order to help it to establish in the beginning and to allow it to continue to grow healthily, you will enjoy it for a long time to come while remembering that you accomplished it ‘all by yourself.’