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New turf sodden

d4rkcelld4rkcell Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi a complete novice here and have a few questions about newly laid turf. Me and a family member laid the turf about a week ago on a new build property. The soil was incredibly clay like but we did our best to rotovate it and rake it out. We laid the turf and I watered it. It since rained a fair bit. The turf doesn't seem to be drying out or draining that well. It's quite damp and sodden underfoot. I've only walked on it twice in the last week to test how wet it was. I have read that forking holes can improve aeration and water drainage. Should I be doing this now or should I be waiting? I am concerned that some heavy rain is forecast and it's still wet from the rainfall a few days ago here. Any advice on improving the drainage would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Let me bump it up...hope everyone is not fed up of lawns by now 😉
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Clay soil and new turf. Always tricky.
    The soil probably needed some additional drainage, but that's a difficult thing to judge without seeing it and having more info. If it's really bad, you may need proper drains put in. 
    New builds are notoriously dreadful as there's often all sorts of rubbish there below soil level, and builders then just chuck a layer of soil over it. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    I would not try to aerate it now, as you'll probably just end up lifting bits and breaking the roots' new connections to the soil - if they have even got that far. I think you'll just have to wait, and try not to walk on it at all.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • d4rkcelld4rkcell Posts: 4
    Ok thanks all I did try and get rid of the bricks and building debris from under the soil. I'll give it until the end of October and think about aerating it then.
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