Install grass mats yourself

If you want a perfectly green lawn and don’t feel like waiting months, then turf is the way to go. They are not expensive, are installed quickly and they allow you to walk around the garden a lot faster. Installing grass mats is not difficult either. You can find information on self-placement here.

When to do it?

In principle, you can lay turf all year round, but it is best to do this in a period when it is not freezing. It should not be too hot either, so do not lay turf in the burning sun. Spring or autumn are good periods. Choose a day when rain is expected (or the day after) so that the turf will be well watered immediately after laying. It is preferable not to lay turf in a soaking wet muddy subsoil, because then there is the risk of the roots rotting immediately and that’s something you want to keep in mind.

Preparation

Old turf can be removed in two ways: with a spade or with a mechanical turf cutter. If only a small area is involved, you can remove the old turf with a sharp spade. Do not use the machine on a very dry surface, because that makes cutting very difficult. A moist soil is also preferable here. Dig up the old soil to a depth of 25 centimetres.  After that, mix poor soil with a soil improver. This prevents later lawn weeds, contains fertilisers and bacteria that are essential for the new grass seeds and also improves the structure of the soil. Then press the soil with the help of a roller. This step is important because otherwise there is a chance that the turf will sink after laying. Keep in mind that the grass should be two centimetres lower than the surrounding paving. Levelling the subsoil with a hay rake or an ordinary rake is also important.

Final steps

Then you can lay down all the mats, working from the front to the back. When all the mats have been laid, you should make sure they make good contact with the ground. You can do this by systematically walking across the lawn, but it is better to use a roller. Do not make tight turns when rolling, because the grass will curl up or shift! After ‘tamping’, it is important that you start watering immediately. Do this three times a day for the first few days (morning, afternoon and evening).