Transforming your garden green instantly: What to consider when buying turf online

For rapid garden transformations, few options deliver swift lush impact like fresh turf installation. As online suppliers simplify procurement, have instant turf delivered and enjoy verdant results within hours. Yet with many options and variables to weigh up, careful decisions ensure successful outcomes. Consider key considerations when buying turf online for flourishing garden spaces whatever the season.

Choosing Turf Types Suited to Purpose
With frequent foot traffic, pets and children at play, opt for hardy grasses able to withstand activity. Perennial Ryegrass blends offer durability, able to repair themselves when damaged through vigorous growth and deep roots. Shade tolerance should guide choices too – Fine Fescues fare better under trees where sunlight streams sporadically. Use moisture conditions as deciding factor also – Fescues suit drier spots whilst Bentgrass thrives with reliable irrigation.

Understanding Density Ratings
Density numbers indicate shoots per square metre. Low density suits ornamental lawns, whilst higher concentrations create luxurious cover better resisting weeds when activity is high. Consider final use before deciding depth too. Premier turf with soil base suits areas lacking topsoil but incurs added costs over parings alone which may suit some budgets better.

Assessing Soil Suitability
Even quality turf struggles where underlying soil is compacted or depleted. Test drainage by digging small holes and monitoring water retention over days. Top up thin layers or improve fertility adding organic matter like compost or manure before laying. Disrupt compacted clay or coax nutrients into sandy sites using specific additives tailored to challenge. Where pH levels are extreme, amend suitability with lime or sulphur prior.

Order Volumes to Suit Schedules
Turf is perishable so only order volumes capable of swift installation, planning expandability later. Assuming good soils and prepping in place, estimate experienced gardeners can lay around 100m2 daily. Check supplier lead times and avoid peak seasons if possible. Spring and autumn suit temperate climates best, avoiding frost or summer heat stress. Some suppliers offer discounted collection rates saving delivery fees, balancing convenience against cost.

Installation Day Prep Crucials
With turf arriving, ensure bases offer fine grading and consolidation to prevent later subsidence and trip hazards. Finish edging borders, allowing slight height advantages preventing future invasion from adjoining lawns or beds. Check ordered volumes against estimates allowing extra wastage margins at 5-10%. Have barrows, spades and rakes ready to receive loads, clearing space systematically to maintain course progress rhythm which prevents overtiredness or haphazard planning.

Methodical Laying and Seamless Joins
Work methodically in rows, leaving no gaps with staggered joins to deliver level flawless swards, adding topsoil below where undulations still persist. Avoid over zealous raking stretching turves too far. Lightly firm using own bodyweight rather than excessive stomping before seamlessly aligning next sections. Roll finally with illuminated night watching for joint rising. Keep off tender lawns for two weeks beyond initial watering regime to prevent damage while rooting strengthens.

Aftercare Essentials
Mist frequently, up to 3-4 times daily in hot spots preventing drying out whilst roots establish anchorage typically over 2-4 weeks. Apply balanced fertiliser mixes after 4-6 weeks boosting establishment without forcing sappy growth too quickly. Mow shallowly when growth dictates, never removing more than one third of leaf height in one sitting. Overseed bare patches and control fungal outbreaks promptly as required. Avoid heavy use for first season, permitting uninterrupted maturity.

When to Buy Turf Online
Ordering well in advance ensures desired turf types are available avoiding compromise on arrival day variables. Most suppliers operate spring through autumn schedules aligning supply and viability for planting times. Peak summer introduces added stresses on newly laid turves making spring or autumn installations optimal for lush results. For year round gardening zones or winter over-seeding, some expanded offerings now exist subject to location and delivery fees.

How Online Turf Purchases Can Save Time and Money
Ordering turf online often proves cheaper than small independent outlets lacking bulk buying advantages. Have loads delivered directly where needed, saving transport trips with heavy awkward loads. Bulk order areas completed in one rather than multiple weekend sprees, optimising time investments too. Forget wandering shops assessing variants – peruse photos and descriptions conveniently pre-purchase instead. Go online for better value installations.