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Turf dying

serenacurmiserenacurmi Posts: 15
in Problem solving
Hi, can anyone tell me if this is normal? We laid turf 3 weeks ago. We did the prep ourselves. Dug the entire garden up, weeded it, removed stones, levelled it, rolled it, levelled it again, let it rest for 2 weeks, blood, fish and bone, etc. The turf was quite dry when it arrived but we were told to just water the hack out of it which we have been doing twice a day. We didn't walk on it for the first 2 weeks and we mowed it for the first time yesterday. Can't help thinking this is not how it is supposed to look. Any thoughts? Many thanks.
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Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    edited May 2019
    It is possibly not 'bedded' in yet. Two weeks is not long enough and you have cut it too early. It should recover though. Just water when dry. It is advisable to leave a clear circle around any tree to avoid competition for food and water.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • serenacurmiserenacurmi Posts: 15
    Ok thank you. Fingers crossed it will bounce back. 
  • glasgowdanglasgowdan Posts: 632
    Not enough water. Cut too soon. Don't worry about a circle round a tree! I think it's way more natural to have grass up to the trunk and I guarantee a tree won't suffer due to the competition!

    Try to lift a bit of turf... has it rooted well yet? 
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    I think you should cut a larger circle round the trunk of the tree, otherwise when you need to cut the grass you can easily damage the trunk. Strimmers are bad for this.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    floralies said:
    I think you should cut a larger circle round the trunk of the tree, otherwise when you need to cut the grass you can easily damage the trunk. Strimmers are bad for this.
    I agree ... it’s so easy to knock into a tree trunk with a mower or strummer and cause irreparable damage ... maybe not such a difficulty for skilled professionals like Glasgowdan 😊 but a real possibility for those of us less skilled gardeners 🙄

     A larger circle also makes it possible to feed and mulch the tree ... mulching is an important consideration if we’re going to get more extended dry spells in spring and summer as last year. 

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





  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150
    I agree with Ladybird and floralies about the tree circle. It will make mowing the grass much easier and strimmer damage can ring bark a tree.
  • serenacurmiserenacurmi Posts: 15
    Thanks everyone for the advice about the tree but regarding the grass which is my main concern at the moment, @glasgowden - it can be lifted in some areas but seems to have rooted in others. I contacted the supplier who said we cut it too short (I wish they would have told us this when I called to ask if it was ready for mowing which they confirmed it was. Had no idea we were only supposed to cut it a little bit). Is there anything that can be done at this point? Should we lay grass seed in the dead areas? Fertilizer?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Just water it really well, and let it get to a few inches before cutting again. Pay particular attention to the joins and any edges that are lifting, to give them a chance to get the roots down and establish. 
    Keep the mower at a highish setting so that you're not taking off too much. That's always better for grass generally, especially as we head into summer. It encourages the grass to thicken and spread too. It should be fine  :)
    It was a bit negligent of the company not to inform you of how short to cut it, but it should recover. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • serenacurmiserenacurmi Posts: 15
    Thank you Fairygirl, that gives me hope. We just used a Flymo that doesn't have settings so we'll have to buy a proper lawnmower. I appreciate your help. 😊
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Ah - that's the problem with those, although I think you can put spacers in them. I seem to remember having one like that.
    They're ideal for rough areas, but not so good if you don't want to scalp something right back. 
    You can get basic little mowers for not too much money, and they're ideal for small spaces.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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