How to prepare ground for a new lawn

Read our top lawn care tips.

Opt for seed if you're happy to wait a few weeks for it to grow, if you've got a 'trouble spot' such as shade or poor soil or if you're after a bowling green-perfect sward.

Laying turf is a good choice if speed matters more to you than cost; quality turf can cost 10 times as much as the equivalent amount of seed. Turf works well if you're on a slope, and if you want a lawn that's very tough and durable.

Whichever method you decide on, prepare the ground in dry weather, but when the soil is moist. Here's how to do it.

You Will Need

• Spade
• Garden fork
• Rake

Total time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Dig the area thoroughly to the depth of a spade to invert and bury weeds. Remove the roots of perennial weeds.

Step 2

Break down large lumps of soil, then use a fork to roughly level the area. On heavy clay, add 1-2cm of coarse sand.

Step 3

Shuffle back and forth across the surface, using your heels to firm the soil. Use a rake to break it down to a finer tilth. Check it's level.

Step 4

Repeat step 3, shuffling at right angles to the original firming. Rake again, holding the rake low to the ground to make it easier to create a level surface.