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Sinking turf

karen305karen305 Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Hello, I wonder if someone could give me some advice as to what to do with our sinking lawn. We had turf laid in October of last year, and I don't think the ground was flattened down before this was done as the lawn is unusable even now four months later. If you walk on it the lawn sinks, up to a couple of inches in places. We therefore haven't used it at all.

The lawn has rooted though as it is still green and growing as much as a lawn does in the winter months. Would it be possible to flatten it down without removing it, or could we potentially still roll it back, or is it a case of ripping it up and starting again?

Any advice much appreciated!

Posts

  • Hortum-cretaeHortum-cretae Posts: 979

    I wouldn't disturb it unless absolutely necessary. It will have made some root growth which would be a shame to disturb. Option one - potentially it could be lifted in the low patches in about April, in a damp spell and the dips filled up with some sieved topsoil.

    Option two - top dress it thinly in the low patches over the course of the year, starting in about March and let the grass grow through the top dressing until it's a level lawn again. If there aren't too many low bits, I think I'd lift go for the first option. 

    H-C

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355

    Hi Karen

    We also had new turf laid in October. The site was definitely prepared properly but there are areas where the turf has still not fully taken due to the weather. I am still trying to stay off it as much as possible because I think it is all still quite fragile. We've had a lot of frosty mornings here and it's advisable to avoid walking on frozen grass even if it's well established - let alone newly laid.

    We've stayed off the grass but unfortunately nobody told the moles to stay away - and they started burrowing underneath within days of the turf going down. They haven't broken through to make mole hills but there are areas where the ground is distinctly rippled.

    I have stepped on some of the ridges to push them down but my plan is roll some of the areas to reflatten them in spring and, if there any hollows, I'll fill them slowly over the season as HC suggests.

    For me, the saving grace is that it's a country garden and the lawn doesn't have to perfect - just better than it was. 

    I definitely wouldn't be tempted to overfill any low points and reseed unless you are positive you know exactly what the grass mix is in the new turf. It will probably end up patchy as different grass mixes are different colours and textures.. 

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • PalaisglidePalaisglide Posts: 3,414

    A lawn laid down in October will still be fragile, stay off it and wait until well into spring when you will see the new growth. Run a mower over it with the blades up at that time and see what happens before starting remedial work. If I need go onto my well established lawns I use planks, the lawn can be quite spongy in winter. The best idea is leave alone until it needs cutting in around three months or so.

    Frank

  • karen305karen305 Posts: 3

    Thank you all so much for your comments.  The issue however is not so much that certain patches have sunk, rather that anywhere on the lawn will sink (a lot)  if and when you put any weight on it. What happened was we had two inches of topsoil put down some weeks prior, the people laying the turf then laid it straight into the dry topsoil (I believe) and then flattened it after (not before). 

    From your comments though it sounds like the best thing to do would be to leave it until the Spring regardless,  I'm just not sure what to do after, maybe mowing it then would squash it down somewhat and we'll take it from there?!  

    Thanks for your help! 

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    So do you think the turf is not in contact with the soil??

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • karen305karen305 Posts: 3

    Again, thanks for your help! The turf must be in contact with the soil as it is growing, but I think the soil underneath is just very loose and full of air, if that makes sense! I'm not worried about sink holes (touch wood anyway!) as I'm confident this issue is just due to the earth not being compacted before the turf was laid.

    I think I'll leave until Spring, try and squash it down then and then topdress as recommended. Thanks all :-)

  • Gardener JohnGardener John Posts: 114

    Hi Karen I would wait till spring and the grass is dry then run a roller over it.

    Use the roller down the lawn then across. Maybe on of your neighbours owns a roller you can

    borrow or some companies hire them. Some times a heavy roller on a lawnmower is enough

    to compact the grass down. Hope this helps.

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