How do I get a nice lawn?

Step 1 - Preparation

This is the option to choose if you are killing your lawn off completely and starting from scratch.

Do not cut the lawn - the longer the grass is left, the more of the leaf is available to soak-up the weed killer.

Our weed killer recommendation:

Gallup Home and Garden

Step 2 - Remove the dead

Grass & Weeds

After 7 days, the grass and weeds will wilt and start to die.  The easiest way to remove any left over grass is to rotavate the area.  You could alternatively heavily rake, or scrape the dead grass using a rake.

Step 3 - Add the Top Soil

Good quality screened top soil is a must - don't cut corners using the soil in DIY stores - it's normally full of stones and sticks.

Instead, call a local supplier and check the quality before buying.

Step 4 - Level, Level, Level

Take your time here, you want it to be flat, so rushing will only mean an uneven lawn in the future.  We recommend using a lawn lute or a long level of timber as a screed.

Step 5 - Sow the Seed + add Wetting Agent

Using a seed spreader on larger areas is easier, but for small areas applying by hand is fine.  As with the Top Soil, don't scrimp on the quality of grass seed.  Quality grass seed varieties appear higher in the STRI ranking table meaning far superior results.

Bristol Lawn Lover recommends 100% Ryegrass Johnsons Premier Pitch

Next, spray the seeds with Infiltrate Wetting Agent to soften them ready for germination.

Step 6 - Cover the Seed with soil

Cover the seed using a thin layer of Top Soil or Compost to form good contact with the soil.  This can simply be applied by hand.  Do not rake or compact this soil once added.

Step 7 - Keep it damp

The next 7 days will require a lot of frequent watering.  It's not a soaking, just a gentle sprinkle to keep the soil damp.  You may find you need to do this 3-5 times per day.  Remember, if the water starts making puddles, you are over watering it!

Step 8 - Wait for the green tips

After 7-10 days, if the above watering has been followed correctly, the lawn will start to look red in colour which is the crown of the grass plant showing.  The green tips will start to appear on the new grass shortly after this.  The soil will likely start to dry as the water has not been getting very deep due to the shallow watering to get the seed to germinate.

It's now time to apply a mixture of Expand Bio Boost to give the grass the proteins to make it grow well and Infiltrate Wetting Agent to help the water penetrate the soil surface. A value pack containing a bottle of each is available by clicking here.

Continue to water the area, but reduce the frequency to make the roots search for water.

Step 9 - Time to cut

The trick to getting a nice lawn is to cut it at the height that you want to maintain it at.  Johnsons Premier Pitch is great between 18mm-22mm.

As soon as the lawn reaches just over your desired height, it's time to cut it to help the plant get to 'second leaf stage'.  This means the 'node' or stem of the grass plant will start to create more leaves or blades.

Step 10 - Water, Cut and Feed

After 4-5 weeks, the lawn will thicken if you continue to cut and feed.

We recommend using a combination of Expand Bio Boost and Infiltrate Wetting Agent, but start to incorporate a fortnightly application of 'The 30 Percenter Seaweed' to help the roots establish.