Replacing an old lawn with turf

[Garden Manager]

After years of struggling to keep it looking good, our front lawn finaly succumed to the hot dry summer this year. Consequently we decided to replace the lawn by using turf.

The old turf was stripped and it was discovered that the soil underneath was very thin, poor and compacted. Clearly this was the reason why the old lawn gave up the ghost. it simply could not survive growing in conditions such as this. The aspect of the front garden is south facing and sloping, so this did not help either.

Anyway i have started to dig over the lawn area in order to break up the compacted soil and remove the rubbish. I know i will have to rake level and consolidate the area before laying new turf but is there anything else i can do to help the new turf to survive and even thrive? I do not smply want to lay new turf and find it goes the same way as the old in a few years!

Thanks

We have been particularly unlucky with our front garden and lawn. It is blighted by incredibly poor soil, no doubt dumped there by the builders in our garden because it was all they had to make the garden with. All our neighbours gardens with the same aspect have reasonable soil and lawns in their front gardens.

[Garden Manager]

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you can get a load of organic matter - it doesn't necessarily matter that much what sort - and dig it in, that would help the soil structure. Try reseeding with a grass/clover mix, as the clover fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere and feeds the grass.

[Garden Manager]

Thanks Robert.

Just a couple more things I need advice on.

Tha site is sloping, anyone got any tips for getting the turf 'bed' level across the slope (Obviously i cant flatten out the slope itself but I would at least liek to get it level in one direction).

Also, any ideas or recomendations on suppiers of turf? I am looking for turf that is drought tollerant if this helps.

Thanksin advance.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I wish I could help, but I've never bothered to level beds. No idea about suppliers either; my idea of a lawn is a bit crude, since it's not my thing!

[Garden Manager]

I wish I could help, but I've never bothered to level beds. No idea about suppliers either; my idea of a lawn is a bit crude, since it's not my thing!

Not really mine either. Technicaly the lawn is in my parents garden. They quite like lawns. Besides what else would you do on a sloping site apart from grass or planting? Paving? too expensive. Gravel or bark? it would end up all down at the bottom of the slope! Never mind I am sure someone out ther can help me out. Cheers Robert.

[Hyacinth]

Well.....yes I can understand your parents liking lawn & wanting the old traditional...but...howzabout this to put to them?

1) existing lawn's gotta be taken up - a given?
2)after renewing the soil you're left with a blank canvas.
3) to redo the area with turf is going to need a lot of water (OK poss in the winter) but will then need water, water & more water to maintain in subsequent years.....
4)think of the implications & poss.cost & doing it with hosepipe bans?
5)think of the man-hours maintaining it-IF it can be maintained at a lush level?

SO...

5)what else to do on a sloping site? Terrace it, lad! Think of the Incas - they managed it OK & made mountains productive!

so......

howzabout selling them the idea of gentle terracing with drought-loving ground-cover on each level? Once it's established no weeds will get in there, guaranteed...

And it'll free time for you to get on with The Essentials out back  8)