Garden

Gardens

Natural drainage to gardens depends on many factors such as the soil type and cultivation of the garden and can take a number of years to re-establish following construction activity. The spreading of your topsoil is one of the very last activities that will be completed in your home prior to you moving in. It can take some time for this to settle and for natural drainage to form. As standard we rotovate and de-stone the surface of the rear garden, however further cultivation will be required prior to grass seeding or turfing, and to assist in re-establishing the natural ground drainage.

All planting/shrubbery that lies within the boundary of your home is the responsibility of each homeowner to maintain and look after.

We usually turf your front garden. The grass will need to be watered regularly and fed to ensure it establishes fully. During dry weather, we recommend you water more frequently to overcome any dryness in the ground and cut the grass regularly to stop it turning yellow and restricting root growth.

Maintaining your lawn

Immediately after laying – water

Watering your new turf is the single most important step you need to take to establish a beautiful and healthy lawn.

• Start watering on the day turf is laid. On hot days, you may need to commence watering large lawns prior to laying all the turf.
• Ensure that the new lawn is never short of water. Lift corners of the turf to check water has percolated through to the underlying soil.
• Water repeatedly until the turf is well established.
• If rainfall is experienced you still need to check that the lawn is receiving sufficient water.
• It is best to water turf in the early morning or during the evening so that less water is lost to evaporation.
• Once established, occasional watering during dry periods should be adequate.

Soon after laying – mow

Be prepared to mow your new lawn as soon as it needs it, provided this can be done without disturbing the turf. If turf is dislodged, replace it and allow the turf more time to establish before recommencing mowing.

• Don’t delay. Most people allow turf to get too long. Mowing encourages establishment, although this should be the only traffic in the first few weeks.
• Never remove more than one third of the grass blade length.
• Alternate the direction in which you mow your lawn.
• Clippings do not have to be collected if they are minimal, provided sunlight is reaching the blades of grass. Clippings in small amounts return nutrients to the soil, encouraging a healthy lawn.

Careful maintenance is the key to a beautiful lawn

The appearance of your lawn will be affected by the environment it is living in and the treatment it is receiving. A healthy lawn requires a balance of air, food, water and light. An appropriate maintenance programme helps to keep these elements in balance.

Mowing

Turf is used to a cut height of 25mm (1”). You should aim for the same, taking no more than one third of the grass blade length at any one time. Adjust how often you mow your lawn dependent on how quickly the grass grows. In the peak growing seasons frequent mowing can dramatically enhance your lawn’s appearance.

If your lawn becomes too long, gradually bring it back down to the correct height. Mowing a lawn from 75mm (3”) down to 25mm (1”) in one cut will result in a weak, sparse, pale lawn. Whatever type of mower you have it must be well maintained, with blades sharpened at least once a year.

Feeding

It is vital your lawn receives sufficient nutrients. Rolawn’s range of lawn fertilisers promote a healthy, green and hardwearing lawn.

Rolawn GroRight® Lawn Fertiliser Weed & Moss Killer can be applied any time between late spring and early autumn, when grass and weeds are actively growing. Rolawn GroRight® Autumn Lawn Food should ideally be applied in early autumn (September) just before rainfall.

Dealing with moss

If you have moss in your lawn you will need to scarify it out to allow the grass plants to grow. Scarification also reduces the build up of thatch, which stops water and air penetrating through to the soil and prevents dense grass growth.

Apply a moss-killer such as Rolawn GroRight® Lawn Fertiliser, Weed & Moss Killer. Once the moss has turned brown/black, scarify using a spring-tine rake or a mechanical scarifier. Only scarify if your lawn is more than 12 months old and the grass is actively growing.

Topdressing

Topdressing your lawn is vital to retain a level surface, improve drainage and control the build up of thatch. It will enhance a lawn’s appearance by stimulating new grass growth and increasing tolerance to wear and tear.

Rolawn Lawn Topdressing is a high quality, sand based, multi-purpose lawn dressing, designed for use on lawns. It can also be used to improve any utility lawn. It can be applied anytime, when the grass is actively growing. Apply at a rate of up to 3 litres/m2 and work it into the lawn’s surface with a stiff brush or back of a rake.

Aerating

Aerating helps to relieve compaction and assists with drainage.
Use a garden fork or powered aerator in spring and autumn to spike your lawn, especially before applying a lawn fertiliser or topdressing.

Other maintenance procedures

Other aftercare procedures for controlling pests and diseases should be undertaken to maintain the quality of the lawn.

Frequently asked questions

How should I remove toadstools from my turf?

When conditions are right for them, toadstools may appear in any turf, whether long established or recently laid. Generally they are harmless, but they should not be eaten. Remove by picking them off (wear gloves), however if they are too numerous they can be mown off with a box on the lawn mower in order to collect them.

Following an appropriate mowing regime will help reduce appearance of toadstools. A sharp frost also tends to reduce a toadstool population.

What should I do if my turf develops Fusarium?

Certain weather conditions in autumn/winter can result in a fungal disease called Fusarium occurring in both new and established lawns. This is not unusual, and, although unsightly, should not kill the turf. Sharp frosts will arrest its development and the lawn should recover during spring.