by Paul Wallis

Created on: August 26, 2008

Preparing the ground for turf (sods) or seeds

Most important in growing any lawn is soil preparation. It doesn't have to be hard labor, or even difficult.

When planning your lawn, first identify the area the lawn is to cover.

Choose your preferred type of grass.

Whether it's turf or seed, the grass needs a certain level of reliable topsoil for its roots.

Check the depth of topsoil needed for your grass.

Check drainage.

If the intended lawn area gets a lot of rain, and water sits on the ground and doesn't soak in, it's advisable to ensure proper runoff through side guttering. If not, there's probably no problem with drainage. Lawns will also normally soak up a lot of water with ease.

The other occasional exception is on sandy soil, where water drains too fast. Most of the problem can be dealt with using new topsoil, and just making sure the grass sits on the new soil, not the sandy soil.

These are the basic elements of soil preparation for lawns, and having done these, you can proceed with your preliminary work.

Remove all other plants from the area. They can create inconsistencies in the growing medium, breaking up the lawn's growth, and making weak points in the lawn.

If necessary, the clearing of space for the lawn can be done mechanically, using a digger. It does save time, and in larger lawns it can save a lot of unnecessary manual work. Create a good consistent surface, and remove debris like stones or anything else which can prevent your grass from growing.

This is where the topsoil needs to be added, in most cases. Unless you've got a very good trustworthy humus, it's advisable to add a healthy new supply of topsoil, building what is basically a bed for the lawn. Calculate how much topsoil you'll need to cover the lawn area, and make sure you have a bit extra of the same material for topdressing or building up any areas that need it.

Add your topsoil evenly and consistently, and water it in well. The soil height will reduce. Add more if required, until you're sure you've got the required depth of soil for your lawn. The average depth required for most grasses is about 60mm, or slightly less than three inches.
Some grasses do require more or less, but it's a reliable working figure.

The topsoil really does have to be consistently laid to create a good growing medium. So rake it over, even it all out, and keep an eye out for any bumpy patches or areas that look dodgy or wrong.

Usually all that needs doing is some extra topsoil or a bit more raking. You can spot potential

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