At this stage it’s well worth thinking about digging organic matter into your soil. For example, if you have very sandy soils, organic matter will add structure to the soil, and improve its ability to retain moisture and nutrients. If you have heavy clay soil, the addition of organic matter will help break up the clay and make it easier to work. It will also improve the drainage.
Dig over the soil, (a rotavator is desirable for larger areas), and remove any weeds and rocks etc. Rake to a rough level. At this point, walk over the whole area on your heels – this consolidates the soil, making sure that you are not left with soft spots. It’s worth taking time over this part of the job to avoid uneven settling of the soil later on.
Apply a general fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and mix thoroughly into the top 50mm of soil. Rake over to obtain the final level and a fine tilth. This level should be the height of joining areas so that the turf sits proud once laid. This allows for settlement,
Make sure you order enough turf for your needs. It’s well worth adding about 5% extra to your order rather than being a few metres short at the end of the job. Turf must be laid immediately in the summer to avoid deterioration. As a general rule, lay your lawn as soon as possible after delivery. The sooner you lay it, the better the results will be.
