what type of new turf and what's the difference

[sacbina]

ready to order some new turf, but what sort ?

got 2 pre schoolers, based in London, clayish soil, east facing garden, half always in sun, some always in shade

[Ferguson]

Improve the soil with organic material or commercial compost (but NOT sand I read the other day).

Google all the turf companies. You will want hard wearing, tolerant stuff; not 'bowling green' stuff.

Read small print, and get a guarantee.

[sacbina]

it's been improved as much as possible, top soil is on ready and waiting

is rowlawn medallion a good option? seems to get good reviews

[Ferguson]

Yes, looks fine to me. I didn't know them before, but just looked at web site and certainly sounds OK. I guess it's not the cheapest, but then it is better to pay a bit more for a reliable product.

Are you laying the turf yourself, or having it professionally laid? I don't see any mention of a guarantee on their site, but there probably is one mentioned somewhere. It might depend of professional laying though.

[shovetheholly]

Hmmm, the part of your garden that's always in shade worries me. I have a very shaded lawn, and went for specialist shade turf. It still struggles, to the point that I am considering pretending it was deliberate and calling it a Japanese moss garden. But I am in the northern wastes, so light and sun will be lower than in London.

How much punishment is your lawn going to get? If the kids are going to want to play football and run around on it on a regular basis, if you have a dog, if you're not too worried about a pristine green finish (i.e. you don't mind it having some annual meadow grasses in it), or if money is an object, you could get a cheaper, tougher turf which will mow up to a finer quality. Alternatively, if you have a really nice surface already (and it sounds like you do with the topsoil), you could seed.

Also, I seriously recommend having a look to see what kind of grass is in the turf (it's often a mixture). It's a splurge of money so it's worth doing a bit of research and speaking to some turf experts (ring the companies!) to make sure you get it right. The trouble is that the grasses that can take the most punishment are generally not those that like shade!

Finally, don't underestimate how fragile a new lawn is for some time after you've laid it. Unfortunately, you may have to keep the kiddies inside, staring wistfully at it, for a few weeks!

[funnyperson]

I have found that in practice there isn't vey much different between those 'tough' lawns or lawns for shady areas, and the finer grasses as how well your lawn survives depends a lot on how you look after it.

Raking and aerating it and brushing in compost twice a year and not walking on in when it is muddy and wet (which compacts the soil) are important to help your lawn survive and lots of peoplel I know say those greener lawn companies that come and do your lawn twice a year are worth the money.

So I think the medallion will be fine. Turf is better than seed for large areas. It easy enough to lay yourself but always handy if someone else does.

[sacbina]

well it's arrived this morning, laying over the weekend so will see how it goes. better than looking at a large expanse of earth!!

[ChilliAndMint]

Buy from a local turf supplier,it will be fresher and cheaper.
Meadow turf is fine.
.