How to lay a lawn

The best time to lay a lawn is in the early autumn or the spring and, with a little preparation, you can have a lush green lawn in no time at all.

You will need:

• Spade or fork
• Rake and a hoe
• All-purpose granular fertiliser
• Sieved topsoil mixed with horticultural sand
• Wooden plank
• Broom
• Hosepipe

1) Prepare the ground by removing any big stones and weeds and raking the ground into a fine crumb texture. Flatten the surface by walking the length and width of it with your heels.

2) Leave for five weeks to allow weed seeds to germinate then hoe lightly to remove them. Rake the ground until it is level and apply a dressing of all-purpose granular fertiliser. Leave for three days.

3) Arrange a turf delivery for a few days after applying the fertiliser. Starting at the edge, unroll the turf in large pieces. Stand on a wooden plank to distribute your weight and use the front of a rake to push the turf down.

4) To prevent gaps, lift the edges of the turf so they are almost overlapping (see picture). Push down firmly with a rake.

5) The rows of turf should fit together like brickwork, with staggered joins . Use an old bread knife to cut pieces to size.

6) Brush a blend of sieved topsoil and horticultural sand into the joins with a stiff brush to help the pieces of turf grow together and to raise any flattened grass.

7) Water the lawn well to avoid shrinkage and use an edging iron or border spade to shape the edges. To create a curved edge, lay out a hosepipe and carefully cut around it.



From Encyclopedia of Garden Design from The Royal Horticultural Society, published by Dorling Kindersley, 2009.

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