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New lawn brown patches

Jill_patterson1973Jill_patterson1973 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
hi I really need some advice.
we had a new lawn laid in June 15th Rolawn. We cut if for the first time on 7th July. Before we cut it it was looking pretty lush green although there were a couple of patches.
today it looks awful.really patchy,spongey on the brown parts underfoot and most of all, reallydisappointing.
we have been treating it well- lots of watering (no hosepipe ban in Newcastle upon Tyne) I have been in touch with supplier but has so far not got back in touch. What I want to know is is it dead? 

Thanks,Jill 

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    That looks to me as if it's been cut far too short and the roots are being scorched by the sun.  Shade it as much as you can, keep it damp but not wet, and cross your fingers. 

     :) 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Unless there is no choice, you should never lay turf in the summer, never mind with weather like this, autumn, or spring.  Pretty sure there will be soon be a hosepipe ban, we havent had any rain for over 6 weeks, my lawn looks awfull, but I wouldnt water it.
  • Jill_patterson1973Jill_patterson1973 Posts: 4
    Dovefromabove said:
    That looks to me as if it's been cut far too short and the roots are being scorched by the sun.  Shade it as much as you can, keep it damp but not wet, and cross your fingers. 

     :) 
    Do you think so? Oh no. The worst brown patches are mainly in the shade anyway. I thought that they hadn’t take as well and that’s why they were brown? 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited July 2018
    I suspect that as Dove says, the mowing of it in this weather put it under too much stress, especially as it had been laid less than a month before. The roots wouldn't really have had time to get into the ground and the whole thing start to "knit together" . Again, don't over water and don't walk on it if you can avoid it. Hopefully when this weather eventually breaks, it will recover. Leave for several weeks before mowing again.
    When you do mow it again, make sure the blades are set high .  :)
  • Jill_patterson1973Jill_patterson1973 Posts: 4

    Nanny Beach said:
    Unless there is no choice, you should never lay turf in the summer, never mind with weather like this, autumn, or spring.  Pretty sure there will be soon be a hosepipe ban, we havent had any rain for over 6 weeks, my lawn looks awfull, but I wouldnt water it.
    Hi we weren’t advised of that- we’ve just had our garden remodelled. The turf is only three weeks old. Do you think it’s died? 
  • Jill_patterson1973Jill_patterson1973 Posts: 4
    AnniD said:
    I suspect that as Dove says, the mowing of it in this weather put it under too much stress, especially as it had been laid less than a month before. The roots wouldn't really have had time to get into the ground and the whole thing start to "knit together" . Again, don't over water and don't walk on it if you can avoid it. Hopefully when this weather eventually breaks, it will recover. Leave for several weeks before mowing again.
    When you do mow it again, make sure the blades are set high .  :)
    Great that’s really helpful. What do you think about the gaps between the rolls? 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If the lawn recovers (fingers are crossed for you here) you'll be able to fill the gaps with lawn top-dressing (a mix of sieved top soil and sand) in the autumn ... the grass will grow across the gaps and next year they'll have disappeared.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I can't see any particularly large gaps, the turf should have been laid like bricks, if you know what l mean, off set so that it's like looking at a wall. It looks as though that has been done but l would have off set them slightly more.  The gaps are just because the turves have shrunk, they should have been laid slightly overlapping, not butted up to each other. (Sorry if I'm telling you stuff you already know!). In due course if the gaps are still there, you can fill in with topsoil mixed with grass seed. I know it looks bad, but l don't think it's a total disaster. Let us know what the supplier says  :)  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think it'll be fine Jill.  In Scotland - you can lay turf at almost any time of year, apart from winter, as it's never normally dry for any length of time, nor exceptionally hot. Many parts of the UK are exactly the same, and I'd expect that where you are, in  the north east, it wouldn't usually be an issue.   Unfortunately, this year has been unbelievably hot and dry, so it's just one of those things that you couldn't have predicted. Hindsight's a great thing   :)  
    As Dove has said - if there are gaps opening up later - you can fill and seed them.
    Keep the joins well watered in particular, and don't cut it!  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • glasgowdanglasgowdan Posts: 632
    Water it at any time of day you can. It may not recover as it's new. And it's nothing to do with the supplier.  It's between yourself and the landscaper. They should have given you slightly better advice and stressed just how much water a new lawn needs right now and how not to cut it short, but they are experts at creating NOT maintaining. 

    I suspect you'll have a nice lawn eventually but it may not be until part way through next year.
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