Your Choice of Lawns

Before we even get into the options available for you to start a new lawn, you first have to decide whether you want to go with a natural lawn or an artificial grass alternative, both options are perfectly valid and you might have to do a cost comparison of the two first.

However, if you want to go for the traditional natural grass, read on.

There are two different ways of forming a lawn – by laying down turfs and by sowing seed. Which of these two methods is better depends entirely on the requirements. If a lawn is wanted quickly, it can be got by using turfs; but if a good lawn is required at small expense, and there is sufficient patience to wait for it then by all means let seed be sown.

The disadvantage in laying down turf is that the defects of an old lawn are thus implanted, and gain renewed vigour on a new. With seed sowing we have, so to speak, a carte blanche to work upon.

The first thing to consider is whether the ground is drained. If not, then that work should at once be performed. In heavy soils the drains will need to be nearer the surface and nearer to each other than in a light soil. In no case should they be less than eighteen inches from the surface.

Next you need to dig and trench the ground to the depth of eighteen inches if possible, and in any case not less than one foot. In this work an eye should be kept to making the soil level by freeing the surface from lumps and hollows.

It is a good plan to work among the soil some well-decayed manure and some leaf soil and, if heavy, some lime. With a heavy soil should be incorporated some good loam, free from weeds; and an opportunity here presents itself of disposing of a good quantity of sifted coal ashes. The digging must be of a uniform depth, whatever that may be.