Weed-Busting Tips for Pre-Turf Ground Preparation

Posted on: 10 August 2018

Laying pre-bought turf is by far the quickest way to get a beautiful lawn, as you don't have to go through the ordeal of planting seed, waiting for it to grow and then sorting out any gaps and patchy areas. With that said, just because actually putting down turf is fairly fast, you do need to spend some time preparing beforehand.

Although there are a number of things to do if you want to give your new turf a good start, one of the most important is dealing with any weeds on the ground. By doing this, you'll avoid a lot of problems and keep your lawn looking great for longer once it's laid, so follow these weeding tips in preparation for your turf.

Start by hand

Before you do anything else to the ground, begin by removing as many weeds as possible by hand. If you're having difficulty, a small garden fork can help you get the roots up. You might be able to get rid of all the weeds by hand, which is the best way to do it. If not, it at least minimises the amount of weedkiller you need to apply.

Be careful of tough weeds

Some unwelcome plants, such as bindweed, are difficult to get rid of by hand. They leave small pieces of root behind, which are difficult to see in the soil but grow into a new plant if they're not removed. If you have any weeds like this, or if you're at all unsure, it's best to use a weedkiller rather than trying to get them out by hand.

Apply the right kind of weedkiller

Some weedkillers leave a residue in the soil long after the weeds have died, and that's obviously bad news for your turf once it's laid. Look for a product that's intended to be sprayed directly onto plants, and use it carefully to avoid it getting into the ground. If it doesn't say that it's not residual somewhere on the packaging, don't use it.

Keep on top of the weeds

The process of preparing the ground for new turf is a long one, and that means there's ample chance for more weeds to grow.

Once you've undertaken your initial weed removal, you'll need to finish preparing, fertilising and smoothing the ground. Continue getting rid of any new weeds while the ground settles, and you'll have the perfect bed for your brand-new turf.

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