Turf Establishment and Maintenance

Learner outcomes List the main uses of grass in amenity horticulture Describe the most appropriate site and soil conditions in which to establish grass from seed and turf State the main merits and limitations of establishing grass from turf and seed List the main equipment required when sowing grass seed and laying turf Describe the preparation and establishment of a sward from seed or turf

Introduction Grass will grow in a range of habitats and conditions, depending on the species. Some fine – leaved, others course, some form clumps, others ‘tiller’, and a few become weed species. Grass establishes best when the ground is well drained, the soil is a slightly acid sandy – loam, in full light, and free from weeds.

Uses of grass in amenity horticulture As a foil for plants In the pursuit of non – sporting leisure activities Sitting on, and a range of other alfresco activities Picnics Play areas

Uses of grass in amenity horticulture .............Continued Play areas Football Cricket Rugby Golf Bowls

Turf establishment A grassed area may be established from either turf or seed, the following is an outline of the merits and limitations of establishment from both.

Seed Advantages / Merits Relatively cheap to establish There are a range of seed mixes available for different situations Seeds can be sown when the weather is dry Grass seed can be stored for months in a dry cool place Light in weight and easy to handle

Disadvantages / Limitations Seed may not germinate Seed may be eaten by the birds Takes longer to establish The ground must be more thoroughly prepared and level Susceptible to bad weather conditions, drought or very wet More likely to have competition from weeds during establishment

Turf Advantages / Merits Instant effect Quicker to establish Its usability is quicker Turf can be laid at any time of the year provided the weather conditions are suitable Ground preparation does not need to be so accurate in terms of fineness of tilth, but must be level and properly consolidated

Turf Advantages / Merits ..............continued Less likely to have competition during establishment from weeds Easy to create neat edges

Disadvantages / Limitations More expensive than seed to establish Some turf may be of poor quality, containing weeds More difficult to lay, and skill required when laying Ground needs to be moist at time of laying Maintenance commences shortly after laying Turf cannot be stored for long periods Heavy to work with

Ground preparation The basic ground preparation for establishing grass from either seed of turf is more or less the same except that the tilth does not need to be quite so fine when laying turf.

Equipment and Materials Fork Spade Half-moon edging iron

Equipment and Material ......continued Rotary Cultivator

Equipment and Material ......continued Wheelbarrow Landscape rake

Equipment and Material ......continued Iron rake Tru-lute

Equipment and Material ......continued Brush Wooden planks or boards to stand on Garden line Seed distributor

Equipment and Material ......continued Scales Fertilizer Top-dressing

Ground Preparation Ensure the ground is thoroughly drained Cultivate the ground to a suitable depth, usually about 20 – 25cm for top quality lawns established from seed, but less than this when from turf: add top-soil where necessary, but it is expensive. Ground preparation may be done using hand-tools for small areas, however a rotary cultivator is often the preferred choice when large areas need to be prepared, and tractor-mounted equipment for sports-turf areas. Remove all rubble, and perennial weeds

Ground Preparation .......continued Consolidate the ground by foot ‘treading’ the ground systematically, in both directions if necessary, and NOT when the ground is too wet, usually in April or September Prepare a level surface by raking, using a landscape rake, the tilth does not need to be so fine when establishing turf Add fertiliser and rake in , the rate will depend on the fertility of the ground, however an average application would be 50-gm2

Establishment from seed Sow the seed at the recommended rate which is determined by the sward that is to be establish, for fine turf about 20-30gm2, for coarser swards 30-50gm2 The seed should be scattered evenly over the surface and raked in lightly with a landscape rake Some protection from birds is usually erected or placed over small areas If a prolonged period of drought is forecast it may be necessary to water the area periodically until the sward is established

Establishment from seed ....continued It may be necessary to lightly roll the grass when about 2.5cm tall, has the effect of consolidating the ground end preventing the seedlings being torn out when mowing The first cut should be when the grass has reached 5-10cm tall and not cut too low , leaving 2.5cm of grass, gradually lowering the blades until the grass is well established, using a rotary mower

Establishment from turf Arrange for the turf to arrive on site, and be placed either rolled or stacked grass to grass, soil to soil, near where it is to be used Ensure that the site is level Work from the longest area to be laid if possible Place at one end of the site a garden line, and string out a straight edge Place the first row of turves along the line and tap down lightly with the back of the iron or landscape rake

Establishment from turf ......continued When the first row is complete, place a board on the laid turf and working from the board, adjoin the net row of turf to the row laid, in a stretcher bond pattern, butt up tightly and tap down, cut a straight edge if necessary as work progresses: using rolls of turf reduces the number of joints on completion

Establishment from turf ......continued Work in top dressing into the cracks from the planks using a tru-lute of brush, this helps to conserve moisture, and level out minor undulations in the turf surface Continue until the whole area is complete Cut the turves, as required using a half moon edging iron Water if the weather is dry until the turf has established, turves have a tendency to shrink when dry, and find it more difficult to knit together Avoid walking on the area until the turf is settled and established

conclusion Establishment of a sward by either seed or turf requires some physical effort, since thorough ground preparation is essential. The site must be level, even when on a slope, and must be properly consolidated; this avoids undulations appearing later, at the surface, as the ground begins to settle. The ground should also be warm and slightly moist to aid either germination of the seed, or extension and penetration of the new roots from the turf into the soil, this is why either April or September is generally recommended for sowing or turfing. However, operations should be determined by the prevailing weather conditions, and can be carried out, outside these times.