New lawn feels quite uneven

TheCyclingProgrammer

As part of a wider re-landscaping project, we had new turf laid in our back garden nearly 3 weeks ago now. It seems healthy, very little die back at the edges of the turves which seem to be knitting together OK and it seems well rooted.

We watered it every other day over the first few weeks and then eased off this week as it was growing so well. Because it was getting close to 10cm tall in places I gave it it's first mow today on the mower's highest setting (70mm) and I was planning to give it a further mow at 55mm in a week's time. We've mostly stayed off the lawn until the last few days and we're still trying to keep off it when it's damp.

I'm a bit concerned about how uneven the lawn feels when I mowed it today. There seems to be small bumps and dips all over the place. I'm fairly sure they prepared the ground correctly. They spent ages digging it over, compacting, removing old roots and weeds, then added a layer of top soil, levelled the whole thing off with a straight edge and then compacted it again.

There was a week's delay as we were having the garden office built and as a result during that time of people walking over the prepared ground it had gotten quite uneven so before they laid the turf they raked it over again and as far as I'm aware went over the surface and levelled and compacted it a second time.

Is it normal for a new lawn to feel so uneven? I was expecting a nice level, flat lawn. Does it just need more time to settle and for the ground to firm up? I've emailed the landscaper yesterday but I've not yet had a reply - I'm guessing if it needs sorting it will be best to wait until Spring anyway? Any advice?

glasgowdan

They haven't compacted it properly between levellings. Not to say it should have been firmly compacted, but it should have been even.

They may just offer to topdress it a bit. That will get it even eventually, but the alternative, to lift all the turf, work again and returf will be a last resort they want to try and avoid due to the cost.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Well I had a reply and they didn’t seem to think there was a problem. They said the ground will still be too soft to take my weight and that it was still too soon to walk on it or mow it.

This contradicts everything I’ve read that says it should be safe to mow as soon as the turf has firmly rooted. If I let it grow much more then even on my mowers highest setting I’d be taking off more than a third of the blade.

It doesn’t feel like the ground is giving under my weight but I’ll still keep off it except for when I mow it again in another week.

They have said it would correct itself in the Spring once the ground has firmed up and it is in regular use.

So I guess all I can do is wait and see?

Mnd

Is there a roller on the mower, if so that may eventually lowe the worst of the raised lumps, and topdressing in the spring

TheCyclingProgrammer

Yes my mower has a lawnmower. Spoke to my brother in law who’s a gardener and he also seemed to think any small lumps and bumps would even out with use. As you say, if there’s any bumps left in Spring I can look at top dressing if I want to get it nice and level. Thanks.

glasgowdan

The grass isn't going to grow much more this year so leaving it isn't a bad thing. The roots will properly establish right through the winter and things should be much healthier come spring.

I still think they just haven't prepared the ground properly. It's a hard thing to do right and needs a lot of experience.

TheCyclingProgrammer

I gave the lawn another mow today. I had been planning to drop down the height a level but it had grown back up to 100mm or so in the last week so I left it on the highest setting. It’s also been quite warm and dry so I gave it a good water with the sprinkler afterwards.

It seems healthy, but still seems really uneven and it’s really noticeable when mowing. I’m starting to suspect the rushed it the second time and didn’t compact the soil down properly when they levelled it. I noticed a few small bare spots too - hopefully they will fill in otherwise I guess I’ll have to think about overseeding when I top dress next year.