Top 10 Avoidable Lawn Care Mistakes

Mistakes to avoid for your new turf

Proper lawn installation and care are essential for a healthy, long-lasting Turfworld lawn. Avoid common mistakes such as poor soil preparation, leaving turf unlaid for too long, and neglecting watering, especially in dry conditions. Ensure the ground is well-prepared, avoid over-compaction, and carefully position each roll of turf without stretching. Regular maintenance, including correct mowing and seasonal feeding, will keep your turf lush and thriving. Follow these key tips to achieve a strong, beautiful lawn from the start.

Top 10 mistakes to avoid:

1. Ensure the area to be laid with turf is completely prepared and ready for when your new lawn arrives. Read here how to lay your turf correctly.

2. Never leave the newly delivered turf for more than 12 hours without laying it.

3. Never install your new lawn if you do not have access to water. Your new lawn will need watering depending on the weather conditions, i.e. if it’s a dry day.

4. Never install your new lawn and leave it unattended (e.g. if you are going on holiday) after installation without someone being on hand to water it.

5. If for any reason your new lawn has arrived and you are not able to install it straight away then roll out the rolls of turf and water them daily.

6. Never compact the surface too much onto which the turf is to be laid. The new lawn should have a nice 1 inch tilth of soil on which to be laid. Too much compaction will make it more difficult for the roots of your new lawn to penetrate the soil and will not allow water to drain away freely.

7. When installing your new lawn, take care not to stretch the turf. Push the grass into position rather than pull it, as eventually it is likely to shrink back and create gaps between each piece of turf which will take time to fill in.

8. Do not install your new lawn onto a bumpy surface. Good preparation is often the key to good results. Take time and care to prepare the surface to avoid problems such as scalping the raised areas when mowing.

9. Do not cut your grass short on the first time of mowing: raise the mower cutting height to avoid scalping your new lawn. If you do not know how to do this then consult the operation manual, seek the help of a local professional or that of the manufacturer.

10. Never forget that your new lawn is a living thing; it needs water and food. A lawn will get most of its required food and water from the ground and the rainfall but at times when it cannot you will need to be there to help it. The best lawns will need feeding at different times of the year. This is dealt with in our feeding guide.