Aftercare Tips to Keep a New Turf Lawn Beautiful

Creating a new lawn or regenerating one that's not in its best condition can completely transform your outdoor space. Grass immediately gives colour and vitality to gardens, as well as giving you a pleasant surface to walk, sit and play on.

Many people opt for having turf laid instead of getting grass seed, planting, waiting to see what happens and then potentially having to do further work. Once it's done, it's done — mostly. You should still follow some aftercare tips if you want your new turf to last as long as possible and look as beautiful as it can.

Watering

Like all plants, grass needs water to grow healthily, and this is never more important than in the period after having new turf laid. However, you must be careful to give the right amount of water.

It's best to use a hose with a sprinkler head so you can ensure the water is spread as evenly as possible. Pay attention to where you're watering and make sure no parts of the lawn are missed. You should do it at least once daily, depending on how hot the weather is, but keep an eye out for waterlogging. If water is pooling on top of the turf, you're overdoing it. Wait for it to dry out, and reduce your frequency.

Keep off the grass!

At least for the time being, you should avoid walking over the turf until the roots have established themselves and preferably a little longer than that. You can check the roots periodically by carefully lifting up a piece of turf at an edge or corner. When it won't lift, the roots have settled into the ground and you may walk on it. Try to minimise your use of the lawn at first.

Fertiliser

If you've had turf professionally laid, it probably will have been fertilised already, so you don't need to worry immediately. After three to four weeks, when it's settled in, apply another dose of lawn fertiliser.

Mowing

When the lawn is ready for foot traffic, it's also ready for mowing. Go easy at first and don't remove too much. After a couple of weeks, you can commence a normal mowing routine.

Be vigilant

You should always be on the lookout for any signs of trouble. Discoloured, limp or drying grass could be signs of disease, too much or too little water, mowing it too short or walking on it too early, so adjust what you can as soon as possible.

Talk with a supplier of turf and turf supplies if you're concerned about your new lawn.