Mistakes to Avoid When Installing Grass Turf

Whether you’re a seasoned landscaper or a first-time homeowner, installing grass turf correctly is crucial to ensure your lawn looks great and lasts for years to come.

To make the whole process easier, we’ve pulled together the most common mistakes, so you know what not to do when laying turf.

Contents Overview:

• What are the most common turf laying mistakes?
• 5 common Turf Installation mistakes
• How to lay turf successfully
• Choosing the right turf
• Speak to the experts
• FAQs

What Are the Most Common Turf Laying Mistakes?

Can you lay turf wrong? Although it’s a fairly straightforward process, installing natural turf can still go wrong, turning your new lawn into a patchy, costly disappointment.

In our turf experience, the 5 biggest mistakes to avoid when installing grass turf are:

1. Not preparing the ground properly
2. Leaving turf rolls too long before laying them
3. Laying turf incorrectly or leaving gaps
4. Not watering newly laid turf enough
5. Walking on or using your lawn too soon

5 Common Turf Installation Mistakes

Turf Mistake #1: Not Preparing the Ground Properly

Good soil preparation is one of the most important parts of laying new turf. It’s why we repeat it again and again!

It’s tempting to rush straight to rolling out your fresh turf, but for turf to succeed, it needs direct contact with healthy, well-prepared soil.

What to do:

• Remove existing grass, weeds and debris
• Turn over the soil to a depth of 150mm
• Rake over to create a flat, even surface
• Add a layer of topsoil to improve soil condition

Read More: How to Prepare Your Soil for Turf

Turf Mistake #2: Leaving Turf Rolls Too Long Before Laying

Turf is delivered in rolls to help protect it during transport. But fresh turf is a living product and should be installed as soon as possible after delivery.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is leaving their turf rolls stacked up, sometimes for days at a time. This will cause the roots to deteriorate, the soil to dry up, and the turf to become stressed before you’ve even started.

What to do:

• Make sure your ground is prepped and ready to go
• Have people on hand ready to lay turf rolls ASAP
• Keep it cool and moist while stacked up
• Keep it out of direct sunlight
• Separate rolls rather than keeping them stacked, if you can

Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Turf Rolls

Turf Mistake #3: Laying Turf Incorrectly or Leaving Gaps

Laying turf is straightforward, but it takes some practice. For example, turf rolls need to be laid tightly together with staggered joints for the best growing results.

If you leave gaps between turf rolls, overlap edges, or position your turf poorly, you can create weak areas that affect your lawn’s performance and appearance. It also creates spaces for weeds to thrive and take over!

What to do:

• Follow our How to Lay Turf Guide
• Butt neighbouring rolls tightly together
• Don’t overlap rolls of turf
• Avoid stretching turf rolls
• Use a sharp knife for clean cuts

Read More: Achieve the Perfect Lawn with Turf Rolls

Turf Mistake #4: Not Watering Newly Laid Turf Enough

Newly laid turf needs consistent moisture while its roots establish. In autumn, winter or spring, this is easier as rainfall is higher, but in summer, fresh turf needs more watering than usual.

Still, some people rely purely on rainfall, which isn’t always enough for new turf. Your grass may look green on top, but it’s what’s underneath that matters. The soil and roots need as much water as the grass blades.

What to do:

• Water new turf daily
• Check the soil to ensure water has been fully absorbed

Read More: How Often Should You Water New Turf?

Turf Mistake #5: Walking on or Using New Turf Too Soon

You may be excited to use your lawn, but walking, playing or even placing furniture on it too soon can cause long-term damage.

It takes 2 to 3 weeks for shallow grass roots to establish. Ideally, you want to wait until your turf is fully established, around 4 to 6 weeks, as the grass will be stronger and more resilient to use.

What to do:

• Aim to lay turf when your lawn isn’t in demand
• Keep pets off the grass as much as possible
• Avoid walking, playing or sitting on fresh turf
• Don’t place furniture onto newly laid turf
• After 6 weeks, pull a corner of your turf; if there’s resistance, your turf is rooted in

Read More: How Soon Can I Use My New Lawn? 

How to Lay Turf Successfully

Installing fresh turf can be easily achieved in four easy steps:

1. Remove Existing Turf

Strip away the old turf along with weeds, large stones and other loose debris.

2. Prepare the Soil

Turn over the soil to a depth of about 150mm. Add a layer of topsoil to improve its condition.

3. Level the Ground

Rake the area over and press the soil down to create a flat, even surface.

4. Lay Your Turf

Starting in the top corner, roll out your fresh turf in a brick-wall pattern, butting the edges together.

Read our How to Lay Turf Ultimate Guide for a full step-by-step guide and video tutorial from George himself.

Choosing the Right Turf for Your Garden

Installing the wrong turf that’s not suited to your garden or preferred use can also cause lawn problems later on.

At George Davies Turf & Stone, our turf range includes different options for a variety of environments and uses, including:

• Trident Turf – A hard-wearing, versatile option for high-use domestic and commercial lawns.
• Shade Tolerant Turf – Ideal for areas with limited sunlight where grass struggles to grow.
• Hardwearing Turf – A tough, resilient turf designed for high-traffic areas and drought-prone locations.
• Show Lawn Turf – A premium turf choice where appearance and a fine finish are your priority.
• Clover Turf – Highly resilient turf with minimal maintenance and vibrant green, even in the harshest conditions.
• Wild Flower Turf – Suited for areas with high levels of sunlight and to support pollinators in your garden.

View Our Fresh Turf

Speak To The Experts

We don’t want all your hard work to go to waste. By avoiding these common turf problems when installing grass turf, you can give your lawn the best chance and save yourself a lot of money and stress correcting these errors!

If you need more turf installation tips or advice, get in touch with our turf experts, who are happy to help. And remember, we can arrange to have your turf delivered where and when you need it, so there’s no delay in your project, and your turf can be laid as fresh as possible.

Are you a landscaper? Be sure to check out our Trade Account and instantly access additional benefits, bulk order discounts and trade support.

FAQs

What should you put down before laying turf?

You don’t need to put anything down before laying turf, but you do need to prepare the soil correctly. Remove all grass, weeds, and debris, then rake over to create a smooth, even surface.

How long does new turf take to root?

New turf can start rooting in 2 to 3 weeks when growing conditions are good. It’ll take 4 to 6 weeks for roots to establish fully.

Should you water the soil before laying turf?

Yes. Prepared soil ready for turf should be moist, not dry or waterlogged, when laying turf. This helps fresh turf bond effectively with the soil and allows roots to start growing.

When can you mow newly laid turf?

Wait until your turf has fully established and is actively growing. Set your mower to a higher setting for the first cut to trim the top of the grass.