We had the Garden leveled last month, new steps, new flower beds and turf laid. They put top soil first and then turf went down.
We were on holiday when this was happening. Builder came back to water daily but this is what I'm left with. Its been down around 4 weeks now.
Since coming back 10 days ago I've bought a sprinkler and made sure its damp. Its clearly dehydrated and struggled in the August heatwave.
Will it recover? I've been reading on here and online about it. Was thinking of buying soil and seeds to fill in the gaps in the turf. Shall I rake the yellow/brown and feed and seed it? Any recommendations for brands/products to get?
There's also loads of bindweed coming up and dandelions…have been put trying to pull up.
I'm gutted, this was a big job and I'm left with this. In hindsight the turf should have gone down when we were back but I left it in the hands of the builders. Am thankful I've held off the flower beds until September
by Olivia_Mollys_World
13 Comments
Damp? It needed to be kept wet for at least 2 weeks then once it’s growing and rooting you can start to reduce the frequency of watering but each watering should deliver the same quantity as before, get it very wet now, and keep it wetfor a few days then add topsoil and seeds to the gaps, keep it wet for another couple of weeks and it might recover, grass is incredibly resilient.
“Builders” – as in guys who build houses? Or landscape contractors, who build gardens and are experienced with plants? I don’t want to sound harsh but builders aren’t qualified to build gardens and no half-decent landscape contractor would be laying turf in August, especially given the summer we’ve just had.
I would be looking to push back on them – it was a silly thing to do and even if watered hourly with the heat would struggle to take in August. What kind of contract do you have with them? Turf isn’t expensive and if I was you I would seek to get it replaced in another few months (just to be sure this crap weather is staying)
Sorry for the lack of helpful advice, but this was absolutely not the time to put down a lawn, it needs to be soaked twice a day for at least a couple of weeks.
It will probably recover over winter.
Also I highly doubt the builder coming back once a day has given it an adequate amount of water… I bet they just hosed the whole space once and fucked off, if that.
Grass is tough stuff you might get away with it keep it wet it might need some extra grass seed in a few weeks. Those huge gaps are stressing me out everyone knows you tightly butt them together.
Keep it wet, if it’s not raining where you are, and maybe a light autumn weed n feed. Dig the bindweed out if you can. I’d get some soil in the gaps too. Grass is resilient. You’ll probably need to weed n feed with a spring version next year. Don’t cut it until March or April.
It’s not been watered. Never in a million years would i install turf for someone who is on holiday. Also builders known literally shit all about turf and gardens.
Sorry this has happened but so easily avoidable.
Hate to be that guy, but I’d be ripping out everything right of the manhole cover and laying down new turf. Obviously that will cost money that you don’t want to spend, but getting that back with take ages and be a massive faf. IMO the person you paid to put it down should replace it free of charge, but something tells me that will be like getting water out of a stone.
This doesn’t look like your builder came back and watered it at all, like you think they did. If they did, they barely watered it.
Or there is a massive amount of concrete just under the soil preventing it from rooting in.
Either way, it needs to be redone. I’d recommend seed instead of turf, and watering it yourself so you know it’s done properly.
Keep it wet not damp
builder came back looked at it and went home.
Personally I’d wait until spring and chuck down seed mixed with some compost. Our grass looks like crap this time every year thanks to a combination of dog and kids but a little bit of attention every year and it comes back to life no problem.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you also needed a bag or two of topsoil to fill in the gaps but that won’t be a problem either.
I would just replace that and try recoup from builder
Not helpful but should have waited until you were home to lay the turf.
Needs lots of water!
I’d be very happy that you can probably roll the dead bits up and chuck it in a skip, because that didn’t get nearly enough water in a very hot, and bone dry August.
Remove the dead bits, attack the bindweed underneath (if you find a way to eliminate it forever from your lawn please let me know) and replace, ideally at the cost of the professionals who did this.