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New turf installed
Ruth170
Posts: 8
Hello! I need a quick tip on newly installed rolls of turf. We just lay them down 2 weeks ago, we had already to mown it because it grew. The thing is I see the soil under it a bit stack together like clay, though we don't have clay, and I'm not sure if this can be affecting it as I see that from a week ago or so it's beginning to look not too good; it already has patches of yellow grass 
Can someone help me please?
0
Posts
Could be a number of things. Your sub / top soil may be the issue or the dry weather. Cutting it after only two weeks is a little quick but as long as you did it on a v.high setting and only took a small amount off then you should be ok. Are you keeping it watered? It will easily shrink in dry, hot conditions so I would be saturating it every day if there is no rain.
How was the ground prepared to receive the turf?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
That was my fear, satyrating it too much so it doesn't breath...lack of drainage. I have been watering it twice a day 20 minutes. I live in the centre if Spain, next to some mountains, max 25-30°celsius, zone 5.
I only cut it a bit because it was growing a lot! So I should keep watering...oh the top soil is a centimetre or so of sand, and then slighty acidic rich soil.
We laid a centimetre or so of sand with a bit of organic fertiliser indicated for turf. Underneath the sand was cleaned of every single plant that was there, raked thoroughly and leveled.
Sounds ok
I wouldn 't mow for a bit ... longer grass will help protect the roots from the sun.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Great! I will then ket nature do its thing ? water it well and let it grow.
Thanks very much!!!
Hi Ruth, I'm guessing in Spain you have pretty different conditions to us here in the UK both in terms of soil and turf types. You mentioned in your first post you can see what looks like clay and in your second post you mention you have used 1cm of sand. Depending on the type of sand used it may be that it is that which is turning to 'clay' with your watering. We see this when 'builders' sand gets wet. I wonder if the sand base is not the ideal 'type'?
I would keep doing as you are and fingers crossed.
Last edited: 02 June 2017 10:17:04
Thanks Dave.
It's river sand. The part I see looks like clay is the soil the turf came with. Our soil is loose (loam? You call it?) it never compacts.
I will keep watering and cross my fingers ?
Ah, OK Ruth that makes sense. Sounds like you've done the right prep and ongoing maintenance so all should be good