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New turf dying

nawal.hassan0188tLZrdoj8nawal.hassan0188tLZrdoj8 Posts: 4
in Problem solving

 I had new turf laid 10 days ago professionally. 

I was initially watering twice daily due to the very hot weather last week but have since been told not to water in hot weather and have been watering in the evening only for the past 5 days. I am making sure soil is moist after watering. 

The lawn  has started becoming yellow within a few days, the edges look dry and are slightly lifting. I am concerned it is dying and starting to panic. We havent had any rain since the turf was laid.

I try to keep the children away from the lawn whilst its settling but they have played on it on several occasions

I am not sure what else to do and I dont know if this is normal. I would appreciate any advice. 


The photos show when  when turf was first laid and on day 10. 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    It does seem to be struggling, particularly at the far end where it's sunnier. Depending on whereabouts you live there may well be no rain in the forecast so the watering will definitely need to carry on .
    The fact the edges are lifting is a concern, turves do tend to shrink slightly after laying which is why they are usually laid slightly overlapping. 

    I know it's very difficult, but if you can keep the children off it, that will definitely help. It's not been down long enough to cope with small people. 

    Have you tried carefully trying to lift a piece down at the shader end?  If there is a slight resistance it means that it's starting to root, at least in that area.

    Hopefully forum members with more turf knowledge will be along soon  :)
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Was it properly tamped down onto firmed and levelled soil when it was laid to make good root contact? If it was, and the turf was fresh and not dried out when you got it, then probably not enough water. It probably needs a sprinkler on it for a good while each day if you've been getting the dry windy weather that we have (wind is very drying even if it's not warm).  And yes, try to keep off it except the bare minimum to place and move the sprinkler.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • nawal.hassan0188tLZrdoj8nawal.hassan0188tLZrdoj8 Posts: 4
    JennyJ said:
    Was it properly tamped down onto firmed and levelled soil when it was laid to make good root contact? If it was, and the turf was fresh and not dried out when you got it, then probably not enough water. It probably needs a sprinkler on it for a good while each day if you've been getting the dry windy weather that we have (wind is very drying even if it's not warm).  And yes, try to keep off it except the bare minimum to place and move the sprinkler.
    The soil was firm, levelled and the turf wasnt dried when it was laid. I am in London, it has been dry and windy. Thanks for your advice
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    When you were watering, how long for each day?

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





  • nawal.hassan0188tLZrdoj8nawal.hassan0188tLZrdoj8 Posts: 4
    Dovefromabove said:
    When you were watering, how long for each day?
    I intially started out with 20 mins twice daily. Im currently doing 60-90mins in the evening using the hose as the pressure on sprinkler is not powerful enough. 
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    edited April 2022
    I wouldn't say the weather has been so hot that it shouldn't be watered, and it certainly looks as if lack of water may be the basic problem.   When I had a new lawn laid, it was watered every evening for about 30 minutes per section plus a shorter session in the morning if the weather was hot.
  • MrMowMrMow Posts: 160
    If the turf is curling at the edges, it must be drying out to do that. 

    A cheap  rain Guage will measure how much your sprinkler is putting out ,you will need at least 3 to 4mm of water per day to keep up with evaporation rates. but that does change in where you are in the country, here we have had very little rain in the past 6 weeks. And the winds are very drying at present.

    So work out how many square meters of turf you have ? Length x Width.

    Take a water meter reading and then water and post your results. 

    Or use a flat tray and throw in a pound coin ( 3mm thick) and water to cover the coin per area of the sprinkler coverage,




    I never knew retirement would be so busy. :smile:




  • nawal.hassan0188tLZrdoj8nawal.hassan0188tLZrdoj8 Posts: 4
    MrMow said:
    If the turf is curling at the edges, it must be drying out to do that. 

    A cheap  rain Guage will measure how much your sprinkler is putting out ,you will need at least 3 to 4mm of water per day to keep up with evaporation rates. but that does change in where you are in the country, here we have had very little rain in the past 6 weeks. And the winds are very drying at present.

    So work out how many square meters of turf you have ? Length x Width.

    Take a water meter reading and then water and post your results. 

    Or use a flat tray and throw in a pound coin ( 3mm thick) and water to cover the coin per area of the sprinkler coverage,




    Interesting. Thank you. Will try the coin trick
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