How to lay your new turf

Laying day, step by step

Soil prepped and ready? Here's how to get it from pallet to lawn with the least stress on the turf.

• Order for delivery day Turf is a living product, so order it for the day you're ready to lay it, not before. We can usually deliver the next day if you need to move fast.
• Lay it fresh Turf is cut to order and should go down within 24 to 48 hours of delivery, don't leave rolled turf stacked in the sun.
• Start at the far end Begin at the point furthest from your access path and work back toward it, so you're never walking on turf you've just laid.
• Butt joints tightly Push each row hard up against the last with no gaps and no overlap, stagger the joints like brickwork so they don't line up row to row.
• Handle slopes carefully On sloped ground, lay the rows across the slope rather than up and down it, so the turf doesn't slide before it roots in.
• Shape around obstacles Use a spade or a pair of turf shears to cut pieces neatly around garden beds, trees and edges rather than forcing whole rolls to fit.
• Water as you go if it's hot In warm weather, water each section as you finish it rather than waiting until the whole area is down, so the earlier rows don't dry out while you're still working.
• Roll and water immediately A light roll presses the turf into good soil contact, then water thoroughly straight away so it doesn't dry out before it roots in.