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Turf Aftercare
Proper care for your turf after laying is vital for developing a
healthy, beautiful lawn. The following information is intended to
guide you through the early stages when your turf is at its
most vulnerable. Bear in mind that site conditions and time of
year should be taken into consideration when caring for your new
turf.
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Watering
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NEVER LET ESTABLISHING TURF DRY OUT!
- Water your new lawn immediately after installation using a hose and sprinkler. A watering can or hand held hosepipe is not good enough. If cracks appear in the turfed lawn, it is a sign of under-watering.
- Pay particular attention to the edges and corners. You should have the sprinkler on for approximately 45 minutes on each area. Check under the middle of the turf to see if water has penetrated to the underside.
- Irrigate twice a day for the first week.
- Irrigate once a day in the second week.
- Irrigate as necessary depending on weather conditions in the third and following weeks.
- Water areas near buildings and paths more often where reflected heat dries the turf out faster.
- Be aware that windy days dry the turf out just as fast as hot days.
- Turf is a living plant and requires as much loving care as any other garden plant - more so during establishment.
- It is best not to walk on the turf while your lawn is establishing; when moving your sprinkler use planks to spread your weight across the area.
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Maintenance
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- During the first three weeks, avoid heavy or concentrated use of your lawn. This will
give the turf and roots an opportunity to firmly knit with the soil and ensures that your turf will remain smooth.
- Mow your new turf approximately ten days from laying during the Spring and Summer seasons, or after three weeks during Autumn / Winter depending on grass growth.
- Adjust your mower to its highest setting - it is vital that the new turf is not cut too short or scalped during the early mowings, or left to get too long.
- Take care to avoid scalping, keep mower blades sharp and never use a strimmer to cut your lawn.
- An occasional change of mowing direction can be beneficial.
- Rolling of your new turf may benefit the establishment of your new lawn.
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Feeding
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As a rule of thumb, a balanced fertiliser containing similar levels of Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potash (K) should be applied every four to six weeks during the growing season. Always follow the manufacturer's
recommendations with regard to the quantity, timing and method of application. A policy of "little but often" will help maintain your lawn in peak condition.
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Fungi Growth
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Fungi Growth: Many types of toadstools are capable of growing in lawns; this is
a perfectly natural occurrence. The cause is a combination of rich organic
matter, moisture and warmth; this can activate the growth of fungi spores.
The air carries billions of these microscopic spores around. They float in the breeze
and might land anywhere. Although it is not clear what exact conditions are required
to activate spores, the combination of moisture, rich organic matter and warmth
are the main considerations. Autumn is a very
common time for toadstools to grow (warm and wet).
The life cycle of the toadstool is so very short (one to five days is normal)
that spraying with a fungicide is not necessary. Brushing the toadstools away with a yard brush is a solution, alternatively
you can try iron sulphate (1/2 oz in a gallon of water per square metre) or a
dilute solution of washing up liquid.
Often the problem of toadstools is very short term. Toadstools are particularly
common in establishing new lawns and periodically afterwards.
Our advice at Teal Turf is to bear with the short term problem and try not to
resort to chemicals. The only complete solution would be to have a totally
sterile lawn with no organic matter, which would not be desirable to anyone. The
spores cannot be prevented from landing, so largely the problem is best left to
run its course. |
Leatherjackets
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Leatherjackets are grey or brown legless grubs growing to approximately one inch in length.
They are the grubs that hatch from eggs laid by crane flies (commonly known as daddy-long-legs). Leatherjackets feed on the roots and base of grass stems, causing patches of yellow or brown grass to appear which are most noticeable in
spring and early summer or during a prolonged spell of dry weather.
If you suspect you may be suffering from the attentions of leatherjackets, water
a patch of grass in the evening and cover it with polythene sheeting. In the early morning remove the sheeting and check for the grubs which should then be visible under the sheeting.
To prevent attacks, improve the drainage of your lawn by aerating it. This will remove the conditions in which leatherjackets flourish. If they prove a regular nuisance you may wish to use a suitable insecticide. |
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Urine contains chemicals that can permanently damage grass lawns. Telltale signs are brown circular patches with healthy grass surrounding. This will be most visible in dry weather.
The only treatment is to water affected patches plentifully. In extreme cases, re-turfing can be the only answer. |
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