Important considerations

Suitability – Choosing the right grass mixture for you is initially the most important factor. Whether you want a hardwearing family-friendly lawn for a high traffic area or a pristine ornamental lawn, we have a selection of mixtures that are suitable. We formulate our mixtures using varieties of grass that we know are fit for the job.

Before a new lawn is sown there are seven steps of preparation we advise in order to ensure that you get the best out of your new product and your new lawn.

1. The ground should be dug up – spade deep.
2. Rake the seed bed, remove any coarse stones and level at the same time.
3. Now the surface should rest from 14-21 days so that the ground can settle and weeds will germinate in the soil.
4. After the weeds have established, apply a suitable (Glyphosphate type) weed killer at specified application rate. After 7-10 days, when the weeds have died, break up the surface again, using a rake, to a depth of 3-4 cm. This will remove the weed content. Ensure the ground is not too loose and roll the area or tread down with boards.
5. If the surface is not too wet, sow a suitable lawn mixture by hand (use the correct sowing rate; see sowing rates). Lawns can be sown from spring all the way through to the end of autumn. Be sure to choose a day when there is no rain and very little wind. Gently rake in the lawn seed and fertiliser, if necessary. To create the optimum start for the new seedlings, a special fertiliser (starter fertiliser) should be applied.
6. During the following 3-4 weeks, the newly sown surface must be protected against drying out – apply water if necessary. It is important that the sprinkler is set to a fine nozzle so that the seeds do not get washed away and the ground does not become encrusted and hard. The most favourable time for watering is early morning or late evening.
7. When a height of 8-10 cm (hand height) is achieved, the young lawn is mowed for the first time. The lawn mower should have very sharp blades; remember the lawn plants are still very young and sensitive. Only the top (1-2 cm) should be mown with the first cut. The following cuts can be made to the desired height of the lawn. Frequent cutting, particularly in the early stages, leads to a thick strong turf.