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Preparation for a new lawn

Making a new lawn deserves all the care and trouble you can give it. It is going to last you a long time and so to achieve this the best preparation possible must be given to the ground.

A general misconception is that if you are going to use turf, the ground does not have to be as well prepared as one grown from seed, but if you are going to spend a lot of money on turf, it makes sense to make sure that it is going to survive.

Generally digging the ground over to one spades depth is enough but it is wise to pick a small area and do a 'test' dig to see if there is a hard underpan below this depth. If there is the whole area will have to be dug to this underpan to break it up. If the underpan is particularly bad you might even consider putting in a drainage system before laying the new lawn.

Very heavy soil should be lightened using fine grit to help improve drainage, while light soils should have plenty of organic matter dug into them.

When the area has been dug over or even rotavated, you can then start to level it off.

Choose a day when the soil surface is fairly dry and does not stick to your shoes. If the soil is too wet and you walk on it, it will cause the soil to compact again and your digging efforts will have been in vain.

If the surface is particularly lumpy, break the lumps up with the aid of a garden fork. Rake the surface until it is level, taking soil from high spot to low spots if necessary.

When this is done, walk over the area with a 'gardeners walk' to consolidate it. This involves walking with your feet close together putting your weight onto your heels. Cover the whole area in this way until it is well firmed. Rake the surface again removing any stones at the same time. You will find that by firming the ground it will show up the hollows and bumps again. Repeat the process until the area is level and raked to a fine tilth.

At this stage it is wise to apply a general fertiliser such as Growmore at the rate of 4 oz per Sq. Yd., if you are doing the work during the growing season and especially if you intend to sow seed. If you are doing the work during the dormant season and intend to lay turf use a slower release fertiliser such as Bonemeal (at the same rate). Lightly rake this into the soil surface and rake level again.

Ensure that the surface is flat and level, as any hollows will be shown up by the lawnmower once the lawn is laid.

The area is now ready for sowing seed or laying turf on.