How to lay new turf

[Like_knowlege]

I have an area of grass which is in poor condition and want to lay new turf. The dimensions are around 5m x 6m (total area 30m2).

I am thinking the top 5cm needs to be removed then top soil and level, then lay the new turf over and water well for first two weeks.

Does this seem the correct way to do this? Also if I hired someone to do this what would be a fair labour only cost for the removal of the old turf and laying the new top soil followed by turf?

[davyp1]

Do you have an area where you could stack the turf you remove?
I ask this because turf stacked upside down in the open and allowed to rot becomes good useable loam.
If you are able to do this, just remove the turf with a spade and try to keep them about 1" thick, then stack them in a pile up to say 1M high.
Idealy, the area now wants preparing for the new turf which would start with digging it over with a fork. While doing this, remove any obvious stones and perennial weed roots.
Start to level the area as best as you can. Use a 'straight-edge' (a flat timber about 3M long and of course- straight) to determine the hollows and high spots and remedy them with the spade.
Next, walk the whole area with feet close together and with a shuffling movement start to consolidate the surface.
Then rake the whole area and repeat the process several times. During this work, keep stone-picking any stones which catch your eye and discard.
By now you should have a firm and level area of prepared ground. Some people add a fertilizer while preparing but I prefer to top dress the new lawn about 2 months after laying it.
When laying your turf, remember to 'bond them!
You do this by laying the first line of unrolled turfs, then start off the next line with just HALF of an unrolled turf. Then continue with full ones.
The next row being started with a full roll again.
Remember to keep watered after laying if rain is not evedent.
Good luck with it . . .

davyp1

[Dave54]

And:
Green side up!

[davyp1]

[wine~o]

apart from the excellent advice above... get a couple of lengths of decking or similar to work from so that you don't compress the turf or soil too much.

[Grendel]

When laying your turf, remember to 'bond them!
You do this by laying the first line of unrolled turfs, then start off the next line with just HALF of an unrolled turf. Then continue with full ones.
The next row being started with a full roll again.
Remember to keep watered after laying if rain is not evedent.
Good luck with it . . .

davyp1

I've only done a limited amount of turfing and I have bonded it but that's because "it's the right way to do it " rather than actually knowing why it's done. I can see why brickwork is bonded but it's much less clear to me why we Bond turf as once it starts to grow it all seems to mat together and become a single mass. Not criticising just wanting to know why I do it the way I do

[davyp1]

When laying your turf, remember to 'bond them!
You do this by laying the first line of unrolled turfs, then start off the next line with just HALF of an unrolled turf. Then continue with full ones.
The next row being started with a full roll again.
Remember to keep watered after laying if rain is not evedent.
Good luck with it . . .

davyp1

I've only done a limited amount of turfing and I have bonded it but that's because "it's the right way to do it " rather than actually knowing why it's done. I can see why brickwork is bonded but it's much less clear to me why we Bond turf as once it starts to grow it all seems to mat together and become a single mass. Not criticising just wanting to know why I do it the way I do

It's a good point Grendel!
Same as yourself, I do it because that's the way I was shown.
But thinking about it, with the bonding all the internal 'cross-joints' are bridged by another turf which I assume helps keeping the corners from drying out and curling which I have known to happen with some of the outside cross-joints.

davyp1