Rolled turf can be installed in no time. To ensure that the green carpet adorns the garden in the long term, the following care instructions answer all the important questions. This is how you properly treat a finished lawn so that it grows perfectly into a dense sod.
How do you optimally care for turf?
For optimal turf care, you should only mow it 7 to 14 days after laying it, water and fertilize it regularly and remove weeds and moss if necessary. Additionally, aerating can help loosen the soil and keep the lawn he althy.
What should you pay attention to when mowing turf?
Freshly laid turf is mowed for the first time within 7 to 14 days after it has grown. Determine beforehand whether the grass is actually growing. To do this, lift one corner. If the finished lawn is difficult to remove from the ground and there are many white roots, it can be mowed.
- Mow the turf by a maximum of a third
- The ideal cutting height is 4-6 centimeters
- Do not mow in direct sunlight or when it is raining
How to water turf?
Water turf with 15 to 20 liters per square meter on the day it is laid. In the following 2 weeks, sprinkle the finished lawn every 2 days so that the grass grows properly. In the further course of the summer, the greenery should be watered thoroughly 2-3 times a week.
How often is finished lawn fertilized?
Valuable nutrients are lost with every mowing pass. Targeted fertilization compensates for this loss. How to do it right:
- In March/April a nitrogen-focused spring fertilization
- A summer slow-release fertilizer in mid/end of June
- Autumn fertilization with plenty of potassium takes place at the end of August
- Water thoroughly after each fertilization
A soil analysis every 2-3 years shows which nutrients the turf is missing and also provides detailed care instructions.
What to do about moss and weeds?
If dense thatch with moss and wood sorrel spreads on finished lawns, the soil is usually acidic. Measure the pH value. If the result is below 5.5, apply a well-dosed portion of lawn lime. Ideally, you get out the scarifier (€119.00 on Amazon), comb out everything that doesn't belong in the green carpet and then lime it. Don't forget to irrigate so that the noble grasses don't burn.
Can turf be aerated?
Even if you follow the care instructions meticulously, a frequently used lawn can become compacted over time. In order to give the grass roots more air, aeration can also be considered on turf. How to handle the measure correctly:
- Punch holes in the finished lawn with a mechanical or manual aerator
- Dispose of the soil cones removed through the hollow soil nails
- Sand the aerated turf with fine-grained, washed sand and water it
Tips & Tricks
A properly maintained turf has what it takes to become the proverbial 'English lawn'. The desired precise cutting pattern is primarily achieved by a cylinder mower. This works according to the scissor principle and does not cut off the tips of the grass like the motorized rotary mower. The only drawback: an affordable cylinder mower is powered by muscle power. Motorized devices cost 4,500 euros.
