Introduction
Before turfing or seeding an area it is essential that the ground has been prepared correctly, otherwise establishment will most likely be poor and a waste of time, money and effort.
Site Preparation
The level of preparation needed depends upon the condition of the site : It may not be necessary to undertake each of the tasks detailed below. Work on the soil should only be carried out when it is in a relatively dry to moist state, not when it is wet and prone to forming into thick clods.
- Site clearance : This may be through physical (e.g. scythe, grubber, saw, burning) or chemical (e.g. non-selective weedkiller, brushwood destroyer) means.
- Site cultivation : If the site is small, then hand digging and forking may be suitable. Rotovators can be hired relatively cheaply and can cultivate a reasonable area in a short time. Larger areas would use tractor mounted rotovators, ploughs and sub-soiling implements.
- Fallowing : This keeps the site bare, usually during the summer period, allowing the cultivated soil to settle and for weed seed germination and subsequent control. This is usually only carried out on large areas, as there is not much need to do this for amenity lawns, as weeds can readily be controlled through mowing and other maintenance practices.
- Soil improvement : Once an initial cultivation has taken place, now is the time to consider whether any soil improvement should be carried out, with organic matter, lime or sand being considered for incorporation.
Seed Bed Preparation
- Depending upon the level of cultivation already carried out, the final surface preparation now needs to be undertaken.
- Levels pegs may need to be set out if a particular gradient is to be achieved, otherwise levelling by eye might suffice.
- Work may consist of rotovating (possibly again) and then light rolling to firm the surface, especially on large areas.
- For smaller areas, light forking, raking and treading (or healing) would be the final stage of site preparation to prepare the area for seeding or turfing.
- Raking and treading will need to be carried out on a number of, usually at least 3, occasions to ensure the soil is not only even but also firm with no air pockets being present, which would sink soon after seeding or turfing resulting in hollows forming and scalping of the turf during mowing. It is particularly important not to tread the soil when it is wet, otherwise it will become compacted and produce a poorly drained area. Even after firming, the soil may settle a small amount over the first year of establishment leaving small hollows. These can readily be addressed by applying a light top-dressing over the year.
- After firming, thoroughly rake the surface to produce a fine tilth. The soil surface should be level without humps or hollows and have a fine crumb structure.
- A base fertiliser dressing is normally applied following the final seed bed preparation and is then lightly raked in. A typical fertiliser is a 6:9:6 applied at 50 g/m² , although there are quite a few available, but typically they will have a nutrient ratio of 1:1½ :1.
- If sowing seed, remove any stones larger than about 12mm diameter during raking. If turfing it is only necessary to remove stones over some 20-25mm diameter.