A freshly laid lawn makes a big difference to a new garden. And, just like the rest of your new home, it needs a little time to settle in. During those first few weeks, your turf is busy establishing roots in the soil beneath it. How you look after it now will make a real difference to how well it establishes and, ultimately, how your lawn looks in the months and years ahead.
The good news? It doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Start with plenty of water
Water is the most important thing your new turf needs, particularly during the first few weeks. Newly laid turf can dry out quickly, especially during warmer, dry or windy weather. Until the roots have established themselves in the soil below, your lawn relies on regular watering to keep it healthy. Give the lawn a good, even watering, making sure you’re reaching the whole area rather than just the most accessible patches.
How often you’ll need to do this depends on the weather. During warm or dry spells, your turf may need watering every day. If we’ve had plenty of rain, nature may have already done some of the work for you. The easiest way to check is to carefully lift a corner of the turf. The soil underneath should feel damp, rather than dry and dusty or completely saturated.
2. Try not to walk on it – just yet
We know. A brand-new lawn is crying out for the garden furniture, football goals and first barbecue. Give it a little time first.
Walking over newly laid turf can disturb the roots before they’ve had a chance to establish. For the first few weeks, keep foot traffic to a minimum and avoid placing heavy furniture, paddling pools or other equipment on the lawn. Once the turf has rooted into the soil below, it’ll be much better prepared for normal family life. You can check by gently trying to lift a corner. If there’s resistance and the turf no longer lifts easily, that’s a good sign that the roots are starting to establish.
3. When should you mow new turf?
There’s no set date for the lawn mower’s first outing. Let the grass tell you when it’s ready. Before mowing, make sure the turf has rooted and can’t easily be lifted from the soil. The grass should also be growing well.
For the first cut, set your mower blades fairly high. You’re only looking to take a little off the top. Avoid cutting more than around a third of the grass height in one go. Cutting a new lawn too short can put unnecessary stress on grass that’s still getting established. After that, mow regularly as it grows, gradually bringing it down to your preferred height.
And one important point not to skip over: don’t mow wet or waterlogged grass. Wait for a dry day and let the lawn dry out fully first.
4. A few gaps aren’t necessarily a problem
When turf is first laid, you may be able to see some of the joins between individual rolls. As the grass establishes and starts to grow, these should become much less noticeable. If the edges begin to look particularly dry, give them some extra attention when you’re watering. The edges and corners of turf can lose moisture more quickly than the middle, so they’re often the first places to show signs of drying out. Resist the temptation to start filling every visible join straight away – make sure to give the lawn a chance to properly establish first.
5. Don’t worry if it isn’t perfectly green everywhere
New turf has been lifted, transported and relaid before arriving in your garden. Understandably, it can take a little while to settle. You might notice some differences in colour or areas that look slightly less green than others during the first few weeks. Keep up with the watering and give the turf time to establish. As the roots take hold and the grass begins actively growing, its appearance should start to even out. Weather makes a difference too. A lawn laid during a hot, dry spell will behave differently from one laid during cooler, wetter weather.
6. What about feeding your new lawn?
There’s no need to reach for the lawn feed immediately. Your new turf needs time to establish before you start adding treatments. Once it’s properly rooted and actively growing, you can introduce a suitable lawn feed as part of your regular garden maintenance. Always check the instructions on anything you’re planning to use and make sure it’s suitable for a young lawn. The same applies to weed treatments. A few weeds appearing doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your turf, and treating a very young lawn too aggressively can do more harm than good.
7. Your garden will change as it establishes
One of the things to remember with any new garden is that what you see on moving day isn’t the finished picture. Grass needs to root. Plants need to establish. Seasons change. Your garden will naturally develop as you live in your home, and your lawn will become more resilient once it’s had time to establish properly.For now, the best things you can give it are fairly simple: enough water, a little patience and a gentle first cut when it’s ready – then you can get on with making the most out of your garden.
A quick new lawn checklist
During the first few weeks:
- Water regularly and don’t allow the turf to dry out
- Check that water is reaching the soil underneath
- Pay particular attention to edges and corners
- Keep walking on the lawn to a minimum
- Avoid putting heavy garden furniture or equipment on it
- Wait until the turf has rooted before mowing
- Keep the mower blades high for the first cut
- Never remove more than around a third of the grass height at once
- Avoid mowing when the lawn is wet or waterlogged
- Give your lawn time to establish before using lawn feeds or specialist treatments
A little extra care at the beginning goes a long way towards a beautiful lawn you can enjoy all year round. Once your turf has established, you can gradually move into a normal lawn-care routine and start making the most of your new garden.
