Mistakes to Avoid When Installing Grass Turf

Can you lay turf wrong? Although it’s a fairly straightforward process, unfortunately, when it comes to installing natural turf, there are errors that can turn your new lawn into a patchy and costly disappointment.

Whether you’re a seasoned landscaper or a first-time homeowner, installing 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.

5 Common Turf Installation Mistakes

1. Unprepped Surfaces

Preparation is the most significant and influential step in laying grass turf. If you want a healthy, flat and lush-looking lawn, then this is the part to perfect! There are a few things to consider when prepping your soil for turf installation:

• Soil quality – Preparing soil for turf will make a positive impact on your lawn’s success. Check your soil’s pH level and nutrient level; a nutrient-rich soil will help your turf take root and grow strong grass blades. To improve your soil quality, add a layer of compost or topsoil.
• Surface Level – A flat, even surface makes laying turf easier and prevents a lumpy, bumpy, uneven lawn. Be sure to rake and level your soil before laying turf. For any dips or divots, add topsoil to fill and level them out.
• Weeding – Now’s your best chance to weed the area you’re turfing. Applying weed killer or a weed membrane will kill and suppress any weeds from coming through, giving your turf the best chance.

2. Poor Drainage

Water is great for your new turf, but you don’t want too much of a good thing! Especially if there’s nowhere for the water to go. If you lay turf onto soil with poor or zero drainage, you risk drowning your grass before it’s even begun. Water pooling or waterlogged lawns indicate a drainage problem, which could be caused by compacted soil or no elevation on the lawn for surface water to drain off. Our guide on how to prevent your lawn from becoming waterlogged can provide more advice.

3. Waiting Too Long to Lay Turf

Grass turf is a living, breathing product. Like plants, they need water, food, and oxygen to survive and thrive. When your turf is rolled up for long periods, with restricted access to these essential elements, it starts to deteriorate. Not to mention the increasing temperature inside the turf rolls, which can affect the colour of your turf and encourage mould or lawn diseases

At GDT&S, we deliver your order from field to the site as quickly as possible. This means you have the freshest turf possible for your landscaping project. The quicker you roll out and lay your turf, the best chance it has to anchor in with minimal stress for you or the turf.

4. Laying Disjointed Turf

There’s a reason why we lay turf in a staggered, brick wall pattern. It allows the edges of each turf roll to knit tightly together, creating a strong, resilient lawn. If you lay your rolls side-by-side, you’ll experience gaps – turf will struggle to knit together, leaving gaps which can cause trip hazards and space for weeds to grow.

5. Neglecting Turf Aftercare

The first few weeks after turf installation are critical for root establishment, lawn health and long-lasting success! It can be easier to leave it to ‘do its own thing’, and in many ways, it will. But at the beginning, fresh turf needs regular watering and zero mowing. Whether it’s your lawn or you’re advising a client, water your new lawn every day for the first couple of weeks and avoid walking on it. Wait until the grass is well rooted before mowing or using it. Our blogs on how soon you should water new turf and how soon you can use your new lawn can help.

How To Lay Turf Correctly

Our turf laying guide walks you through the key steps and turf tips for installing turf. It’s full of turf prep tips, the tools you need and how to achieve a professional finish every time. As long as you follow the correct advice, turf can be laid any time of year for incredible results.

Pick the Right Type of Turf for Your Project

• Trident Turf – A great all-rounder for domestic & commercial lawns.
• Wild Flower Turf – Encourage colourful flowers & pollinating insects into your garden.
• Clover Turf – An eco-friendly option that maintains its colour all year round.
• Shade Tolerant Turf – Ideal for areas with minimal sunlight but seeking lush green grass.
• RTF Turf – A strong and resilient turf for areas with high foot traffic, such as sports pitches.
• Greens Turf – Beautifully manicured lawns for the perfect putting greens & golf fairways.

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.

Helpful Blogs

Top Tips for Laying Turf in Warmer Climates

Ultimate Guide to Turf Rolls

How Does Rain Affect Laying Turf?