How to Prepare Your Garden for a New Lawn: A Step by Step Guide
A healthy lawn starts long before the first seed hits the ground or the first roll of turf is laid. Most lawns that end up patchy, waterlogged or full of weeds didn't fail because of the grass. They failed because of what was underneath it. If you take the time to prepare your garden for a new lawn properly, the grass will root deeper, cope better with dry spells and need far less work in the years that follow. This guide walks through the whole process in the order you should do it, whether you plan to sow seed or lay turf. When Is the Best Time to Prepare the Ground? Early autumn is the ideal time for a new lawn in most temperate climates. The soil is still warm from summer, rainfall is more reliable and weeds are slowing down. Spring is the next best option, once the soil has dried out enough to work and started to warm up. Try to start the preparation three to four weeks before you plan to sow or lay turf. That gives you time to clear the area, let the soil settle and dea...