new lawn - what type of turf?

new lawn - what type of turf?

Author
Discussion

sleep envy

Original Poster:

62,260 posts

256 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
quotequote all
I'm after the really short, thick type turf you find on golf course greens - anyone know what it's called?

Sukh13

791 posts

192 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
quotequote all
Be warned it will take a monumental amount of upkeep, our greens are mowed a lot!

Simpo Two

87,040 posts

272 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
quotequote all
'Grass' is usually a mix of different grass species blended for different purposes.

At the rough end is Poa annua (annual meadow grass) which is is coarse but tough and easy to look after.

At the fine turf end are fescues and bents - fine but wear easily, need regular maintenance and are generally more delicate. If you fail to put the hours in, the rough species will get in and take over.

Think what demands you'll have on your turf, eg:

Will children be playing on it?
Is it in shade? (some grasses are more shade tolerant than others)
Will you be bothered to look after it properly?


IMHO a golf green is a job for the professional and not practical for gardens.

LMC

918 posts

220 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2009
quotequote all
It'll drive you to despair, don't do it !

Regardless of what you lay initially, you'll get all sorts of "infestation" growing among it. It'll take enormous upkeep because all the different grasses grow at different rates and in different temperatures.

sleep envy

Original Poster:

62,260 posts

256 months

Thursday 24th September 2009
quotequote all
it's a small patch of lawn, maybe 8m2 at the most

no children and I've got all the time in the world at the moment so am happy to spend time looking after it

sleep envy

Original Poster:

62,260 posts

256 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
bump

Yoda.

2,260 posts

255 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
Who's going to lay it? If it's golf/bowling green quality it would need a 'proper' job done of it. I actually see no reason why you couldn't use that type of turf...however it will always need maintenance - feeding & scarifying.
Don't even think about going near it with a fly-mo or rotary mower either! hehe

I used to use a 10 (or possibly 12...I can't recall) blade Ransome's cylinder mower when I worked on bowling greens many years ago...they were about £1200 new in the early 80's. I think they're over double that now, though I'm sure there are plenty of 2nd hand ones around.

I feel you may be making a rod for your own back here...not necessarily now...but some years down the line wink

Simpo Two

87,040 posts

272 months

Saturday 26th September 2009
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
it's a small patch of lawn, maybe 8m2 at the most

no children and I've got all the time in the world at the moment so am happy to spend time looking after it
OK, well if it's going to be a labour of love, give it a go! You could see what this lot do and/or ask them for advice: www.sovereignturf.co.uk - looks like you want 'New Century' turf. (I only know them because I made a video for them years ago)

Oh, and also www.cwtls.co.uk/products/turf/greensturf.php - I used to do stuff for them too.

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 26th September 17:11

parakitaMol.

11,876 posts

258 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
Yoda. said:
feeding & scarifying.
He has to feed it and then look at it a lot?