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New Turf issues!
DeanG
Posts: 3
Hi - complete newby to gardening in any 
meaningful way; by virtue of laying some turf. I’m now concerned it’s not worked as I’d hoped as there are patches of yellow appearing. Looking for advice, guidance, reassurance 😊.
meaningful way; by virtue of laying some turf. I’m now concerned it’s not worked as I’d hoped as there are patches of yellow appearing. Looking for advice, guidance, reassurance 😊. Here’s the story:
- I’ve laid the turf about 4 weeks ago. Bought from B&Q.
- I’ve laid the turf about 4 weeks ago. Bought from B&Q.
- I prepared the ground underneath with top soil and watered before laying.
- I’ve watered each day - apart from missing a few days in the first week(!)
- I cut the grass for the first time last week, so approx 3 weeks after laying. I read an article online which said if you pull the grass and there’s resistance then it’s rooted and ok to cut. My mower does cut quite close which I’ve read might be an issue as well(?)
- It looked fine before cutting but I’m concerned with how it’s looked since. There are good green shoots but also patches of yellow. There are some green shoots (not in abundance) pushing through the yellow now. There are brown patches which look dead (no new shoots coming through) but these appear to be at the joins of the turf.
- Where there are yellow patches - the turf feels tight - kind of knotted.
- I’ve watered each day - apart from missing a few days in the first week(!)
- I cut the grass for the first time last week, so approx 3 weeks after laying. I read an article online which said if you pull the grass and there’s resistance then it’s rooted and ok to cut. My mower does cut quite close which I’ve read might be an issue as well(?)
- It looked fine before cutting but I’m concerned with how it’s looked since. There are good green shoots but also patches of yellow. There are some green shoots (not in abundance) pushing through the yellow now. There are brown patches which look dead (no new shoots coming through) but these appear to be at the joins of the turf.
- Where there are yellow patches - the turf feels tight - kind of knotted.
Couple of pics added. I’ve put some top soil in a few joints and grass seeded - that’s what the brown lines are on the pics.
I dreamt last night that it was all brown and dead so it’s playing a little on my mind 😀.
Any advice is most welcome
Cheers
Dean
Any advice is most welcome
Cheers
Dean
0
Posts
Really appreciate your reply 😊
It hasn't been very suitable temps for healthy grass growth yet, and as you've only had it in for a few weeks, it's barely had a chance to root yet. I think it'll be fine.
Don't be in a hurry to cut it. Be guided by the length.
Depending on the type, Flymos can have spacers added to avoid cutting too close, but if grass is constantly being cut very short, it gets weakened, so if you can avoid that, it'll help enormously. Ideally, you cut regularly, but only taking off a small amount, so that you encourage sideways growth [tillering]
Later on, if there are still some gaps, you can sow a bit of seed, but I think that'll knit together as the season progresses. Don't let it go short of water if you're in a dry area. Watering is best done for a long time [an hour or two] every few days, rather than every day for twenty minutes. That will encourage roots to go down, and they'll be better able to withstand drier periods in future
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Our new lawn was laid mid March and it has only properly knitted together now.
April was annoying, with no rain and night frosts still on the menu.
It has improved in May, but always goes a little yellower after being cut, at the start, when the longer grass caused some of the shorter stuff underneath to die off.
Definitely don’t cut it too short.
Water is all it needs for the next wee while, and cutting appropriately. In another month or six weeks, it could have a light feed if it's really needed. Seaweed is ideal, especially as you have to water it in. Much better than a granular feed during summer.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.