Use this guide when creating a lawn from bare soil or replacing a worn one. Have a spade or rotavator, a rake, a roller or flat board, topsoil if needed, and your seed or turf ordered for delivery the day you lay it.
Step by step
Pick the right time
Early autumn and mid spring are usually the best times, when the soil is warm and moist. Avoid laying turf or sowing in hot, dry spells or when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. Turf gives an instant result, while seed is cheaper but takes longer to establish.
Clear and dig the ground
Remove old turf, weeds, roots and large stones. Dig or rotavate to about a spade's depth, breaking up compacted soil. On heavy clay, work in well-rotted organic matter to improve drainage.
Level and firm the soil
Rake the soil level, then firm it by treading across it with small shuffling steps or using a light roller. Rake again to create a fine, crumbly surface. Aim for a level finish a little below paths so the mower can run over the edges.
Lay turf or sow seed
For turf, start along a straight edge and lay rolls in a staggered brickwork pattern, butting edges tightly and working from boards so you do not dent the soil. For seed, spread it evenly at the rate on the pack, half in one direction and half across it, then lightly rake it in. Protect seed from birds with netting if needed.
Water well
Water turf thoroughly straight after laying, so the soil beneath is wet, and keep it moist until it roots. Keep seeded areas lightly moist until the grass comes through. Lift a corner of turf to check that water is reaching the soil.
Mow and use it gently
Keep off the lawn as much as possible for the first few weeks. Make the first cut when the grass is several centimetres tall, with the mower on its highest setting and the blades sharp. Lower the height gradually over later cuts.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Timing avoids hot, dry or frozen conditions
- Weeds, roots and stones cleared
- Soil dug, levelled and firmed
- Fine raked surface ready
- Turf laid in staggered rows with tight joints
- Seed sown evenly in two directions
- Watering routine in place
- First mow on the highest setting
Practical tips
- Lay turf within a day of delivery, keeping unrolled turf in the shade and watered if there is any delay.
- Choose a hard-wearing seed or turf mix if children and pets will use the lawn a lot.
- Use a hosepipe or rope to mark out curved edges before cutting them with a half-moon edger.
Common problems
Gaps are opening between the turf rolls.
The turf is drying out and shrinking. Water more deeply, and brush a mix of topsoil and seed into the gaps.
Seed has come up patchy.
Birds, uneven sowing or dry spells are the usual causes. Lightly rake bare patches, resow, cover with netting and keep moist.
The new lawn has yellow or brown patches.
Often this is underwatering, especially near edges and slopes. Check the soil beneath the turf is moist, water more deeply, and avoid walking on it until it recovers.