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Please help! Have I overwatered my new turf???

oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
in Problem solving
Hi all!

My first post on here. 

I had new turf layed 10 days ago, the people who layed it said to water for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening for 2 weeks. It seemed pretty excessive, but they're the experts so I have been following this advice. Today, however, I have noticed an area which was completely bare. I stretched over to touch and the soil is completely waterlogged. Most of the turf is knitted but this section just pulled up with no resistance. Is the grass permanently dead or is there any chance it will recover if I water less?

Thank you so much in advance. 
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Posts

  • KEEPGREENKEEPGREEN Posts: 108
    Hi, Could we have some pictures of the lawn please . 

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited September 2020
    Does that area normally get waterlogged when it rains heavily? If it's waterlogged after only an hour a day of watering (which isn't at all excessive for a new lawn), that suggests there's an issue with drainage in the underlying soil and it will get waterlogged when it rains. Try spiking that area with a garden fork (push it in vertically as deep as it will go, wiggle a little, repeat every few inches over the affected area). If that doesn't improve the drainage then there's a deeper issue that needs to be addressed before grass will be happy there. If the people who did the turfing for you also did the ground preparation, maybe ask them about it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
    No it never became waterlogged before. I've placed my hands on other areas of the lawn I can reach and it also squelches under my hand 12 hours following watering. I'll try to attach a photo. Thank you for your help. 
  • oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
    KEEPGREEN said:
    Hi, Could we have some pictures of the lawn please . 

    Hi there. I've just posted some below. Thank you. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Looks fine. It's almost impossible to overwater grass. Unless the drainage is poor, it should dry out reasonably well after 12 hours. If it's still damp after a full night or day, then there's no need to water. 
    Bear in mind that 10 days is also no time at all for grass to 'take' and get itself well rooted in. If the grass is till waterlogged after a day or two, that would be different, and would certainly need looking into as @JennyJ says. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Hopefully stating the obvious, but you will not need to water if there has been heavy rain.  As Fairygirl said, it's almost impossible to over water grass.  The small bald spots will recover over time.
  • oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
    Thank you. Think I looked into it too much about drowning the roots etc. I just blindly followed the two waterings for 30 min a day advice, when maybe I should have cut down if I'd have noticed how 'squelchy' it was! 
  • oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
    Hi again. Sorry for another query. Forgot to mention that when I lifted the turf there was a lot of slate and stones (presumably from the old borders) just under the surface. The men rotivated first but it appears that they've rotivated the slate into the soil. Will this prevent the roots taking? Not sure whether to be annoyed at the soil prep or if this is just something that happens? Sorry for another query. Just spent a lot of money on this project and don't want to see it fail! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That doesn't sound great to be honest @oliver.greatbatch  :/
    If the slate has been broken down enough, and the stones are small - ie about 10mm or less, it shouldn't cause a problem, and as long as there is then a decent enough layer of soil above for the grass the roots will establish. Grass doesn't need a huge depth of soil to root into. Keep an eye on it for the next month or so.

    Stones have a way of working up to the top, so they need to be small to avoid causing too many problems.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
    Thank you @Fairygirl. Slates are about 30mm and directly underneath where the sod has been laid :-(
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