CRF Services Ltd

Turfing for small lawns: preparation, laying and aftercare

New turf gives you a finished looking lawn in a day, but how long it stays that way depends almost entirely on the ground underneath. Rolls laid straight onto lumpy, compacted soil sink in places, dry out at the edges and never knit in properly. CRF Services Ltd lays turf for small domestic lawns around Rochester and Medway, with the preparation done properly first. Front lawns, back gardens of terraced and semi detached houses and the patch left over after a patio or path has gone in all suit the service.

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Clearing the old lawn

Most turfing jobs start with an existing lawn that is past saving: moss, weeds, bare patches and bumps. The old grass and roots are lifted, rather than buried, so they do not rot and leave hollows later. Stones, rubble and old roots are picked out, and any perennial weeds are dealt with before the new turf goes down. If the area is overgrown, it may need a clearance visit first.

Waste from lifting a lawn is heavier and bulkier than people expect. How it is taken away is agreed in the quotation.

Ground preparation and levelling

Once the area is clear, the soil is loosened, broken down to a fine tilth and raked level. Compacted clay, which is common across Medway, is broken up so roots can get down and water can drain. Low spots are filled with topsoil and the whole area is firmed by treading and raked again until it is even underfoot. Levels are set to sit just below paths and edges, so the mower runs over them cleanly.

Old turf and roots lifted and removed
Soil dug or loosened and stones picked out
Topsoil added where levels are low
Ground firmed, raked and checked for level
Pre turf feed raked into the surface
Edges set against paths, beds and patios

Laying the turf

Turf is best laid within a day of delivery. Rolls are laid in a staggered pattern like brickwork, with the joints butted tight and never stretched. Laying is done from boards so the prepared soil is not trodden into dips. The finished lawn is firmed down so the roots touch the soil all over, the edges are trimmed to shape, and it is watered straight away.

Aftercare for new turf

The first few weeks decide whether new turf takes. It needs watering every day in dry weather, enough to soak through to the soil, and should be kept off as much as possible. Once the roots have gripped, which you can test by gently lifting a corner, the first cut can be made on a high setting. Clear written aftercare is left with you on the day.

Spring and autumn are the easiest times to lay turf, when the weather is mild and the ground is moist. Summer turfing works if you can keep up with the watering.

Repair or new lawn?

If most of your lawn is healthy and only a few patches have failed, repairing it is usually cheaper than replacing it. The lawn repair guide explains when patching is the better answer. What affects the price of a full new lawn is covered in the turfing cost guide. Turfing is part of landscaping. Send photos and rough measurements through the contact page for a quote.

This work is part of our Landscaping service.

Common questions