Advice wanted from turf experts

Smick100

I have laid new grass on my lawn from turfs and have a few questions.

It has been down for a week now and people have suggested lifting a corner to see if it is taking. When I have tried it, it has lifted right up and there are a few small white roots beneath but they don't seem to be going in to the soil. Is this normal? I had bought topsoil on several occasions and I laid the turfs down on to that. The last batch of topsoil was particularly dark in colour and I mixed some sand in with it.

The grass is a good colour but I am detecting a slight yellowing on the joins between turfs. Is this because I am not watering it enough? There is advice that lots of water is needed, but not too much. Any easy way to tell? I have just been putting the hose over it each morning until it is wet. Maybe 3 minutes to water a lawn 350cm * 450cm. Is it more likely to do damage by watering too much or too little?

Finally, there is talk that the lawn needs cut quite soon after laying and I can see some of the grass is long now. I do not have a lawnmower, only a strimmer. My neighbour has used my strimmer to cut his lawn. Is it going to wreck the lawn by cutting it with a strimmer at this early stage? What are the consequences of letting the grass grow on?

With such a small lawn, it seems excessive to buy a lawnmower.

Any help offered is appreciated.

Smick100

sobie

Thats doesn't sound like enough water to me. A good 30 minutes or more is normally needed. Your better to do one big soaking a few times a week rather than lots of sparce spinkles.

Easy way to test is when you pull up a corner stick a screwdriver in the soil beneath the turf and see if its dry. Should be at least 1-2 inches of soil at a good dampness (not wet). Once the corner has taken take a screwdriver to anywhere on the lawn and skewer it and test. including the turf you're looking for at least 6 inches of damp soil. Think cake baking and you won't go far wrong.

Although as the grass is growing you may find the edges have come away from contact with the soil and thats why they've gone yellow and the rest of the lawn is fine.

As for strimming - I am totally against strimming a lawn. Its impossible to get the cut level correct and if you 'scalp' the lawn you'll end up with bare patches prone to moss and weeds. I'd go for a second hand push cylinder mower.

Smick100

Thanks a lot Sobie. I had guessed as much about the strimmer. I bought a sprinkler and I'll get a push mower.

I can't wait to have the garden usable.

Smick100

Can I just ask one more question, with the turfs down new and the ground moist, is a push mower likely to damage the grass as I will have to get traction on the wheels to make the blade spin, pushing it down?

I have ordered a Qualcast Panther 30.