This document provides information on establishing and maintaining lawns from either seed or turf. It discusses grass species mixtures for luxury or utility lawns, benefits and limitations of seed vs turf, and procedures for establishing a lawn from each. Key steps for seed include thorough soil preparation, even seed distribution, and constant moisture. For turf, the document outlines laying turf in a butt joint pattern, watering thoroughly, and allowing it to root before use.

1. RHS Level 2 Certificate Year 2 Week 29 – Introduction to Lawns and Creating a new Lawn

2. Quiz 11 questions – 20 minutes Test conditions please Write your names on the top of the page and hand in for marking.

3. Learning Objectives 6. Understand the establishment and maintenance of lawns. 6.1 State appropriate grass mixtures for the establishment of a high quality ornamental lawn and for a hard-wearing utility lawn. 6.2 State the benefits and limitations of establishing lawns from seed. 6.3 Describe the procedure for establishing a lawn from seed. 6.4 State the benefits and limitations of establishing a lawn from turf. 6.5 Describe the procedure for establishing a lawn from turf.

4. Grass - structure

5. Lawn Grass – physiology and structure Meristem at the base not tip or sides of shoots. Damage to leaves encourages growth Vegetative reproduction by tillers, stolons and rhizomes (depending on species) Shallow roots – make best use of traces of moisture Survive drought by becoming dormant Narrow leaves Seed needs light to germinate.

6. Lawn Grass - uses Luxury – fine, close cut, tufted appearance. Not suitable for heavy use; requires frequent mowing. Utility – longer, coarser appearance. Less tolerant of close mowing (no stripes!) but much more tolerant of heavy use.

7. Species and combinations The combinations of species give the characteristics of the final product. Luxury mix – Agrostis tenuis (20%) and Festuca rubra commutata (80%). Close cut fine appearance, drought resistant but not hard wearing or shade tolerant. Utility mix - Agrostis tenuis (10%), Festuca rubra rubra (20%), Poa pratensis (30%) and Lolium perenne (40%). Longer cut, hard wearing, more shade tolerant.

8. Seed or turf? Seed - advantages: cheap and quick to sow. Better variety of mixes available. Seed – disadvantages: needs better ground preparation and much more aftercare. Can only sow April or September Turf – advantages: instant effect; longer season for laying turf; less care needed with soil preparation. Can lay between September and March. Turf – disadvantages: much more expensive (factor of 10); more expertise needed to lay.

9. Soil preferences Good drainage pH 5.5 – 7 – fine leaved grasses such as Agrostis tenuis and Festuca sp. do better at the acid end of this range. Fine tilth allows good root penetration. Needs a reasonable depth of top soil 15 to 20cm ideally. Prefers loam.

10. Soil preparation –both seed and turf Kill and strip off old turf Good initial cultivation is vital – double dig or rotavate. Rake to a fine level tilth; no lumps and bumps. Incorporate high phosphate fertilizer at recommended dosage Tread to firm and then rake out footprints ‘ Stale seed bed’ Spray off weeds that have germinated

11. Sowing lawn seed Key factors – good contact with soil; even seed distribution; constant moisture. Good contact – provided by fine tilth and firm seed bed. Firm in after gently raking in. Even seed distribution –calculate the area, weigh the seed and sow either with a calibrated broadcast sower or in measured meter squares by hand. Moisture – water with a hose with a fine spray every day for first two weeks, then reducing frequency. Will need watering for first 6 months if dry.

12. Laying turf Turf should be moist and green – yellow dry turf is dead and will not recover. Lay turf offset – like a brick wall and butted very close, no visible joins. Work from a plank. Trim roughly round curves etc. finish with a half moon once the turf is rooted. Water thoroughly once laid and then every other day in dry weather until well rooted. Useable once the turf has rooted.

13. Lawn Advice Answers 1. Luxury lawn seed – Agrostis tenuis (20%) and Festuca rubra commutata (80%). Turf Full sun, good drainage, pH 5.5 – 7 Good root development Good contact between seed and soil; even seed distribution; constant moisture Even seed distribution

14. Learning outcomes 6. Understand the establishment and maintenance of lawns. 6.1 State appropriate grass mixtures for the establishment of a high quality ornamental lawn and for a hard-wearing utility lawn. 6.2 State the benefits and limitations of establishing lawns from seed. 6.3 Describe the procedure for establishing a lawn from seed. 6.4 State the benefits and limitations of establishing a lawn from turf. 6.5 Describe the procedure for establishing a lawn from turf.