When can I Walk on my New Lawn?

You can walk on your new lawn gently, with smooth soled shoes at any time though you should try to minimise how often and not use the same track. You may need to do so for watering or topping up a few patches with seed. You will not harm seed, seedlings or newly laid turf. However, you should not twist, jump or run as this may dislodge turf or disturb seed.

When can I USE my New Lawn?

This is the more important question and the reason you’ve laid a lawn in the first place. The best way to decide is not by time but by the condition of the grass. Grass seed or turf laid in perfect conditions in April in Cornwall will establish twice as quickly as that sown in Aberdeen.

What’s the time difference for seed vs turf?

Not a lot, perhaps 4-6 weeks quicker for turf over a seeded lawn. Unfortunately, that’s where many of the benefits end. For more information read Seed vs Turf

New Lawns from Seed

One of the best selling points for seed is that you can double the recommended sowing rate. This increases density and brings the lawn into use a little sooner.

What you can do on the lawn and when

You should be doing the first cut slowly when the seedlings are 5-8cm tall. Perhaps 2-3 warm weeks or 4 cool weeks from seeding. Use the highest mower setting for the first 2-3 months.

The 2nd cut should be done so that you’re not removing more than a fifth or 20% of the grass blade.

At the 3rd cut you should now have a very recognisable lawn with few bare patches. This will have taken 4 to possibly 8 weeks. Keeping the mower on a high setting reduces stress on the young grass and promotes deeper roots.

 4th cut onwards. You can reduce the mowing height a little but try and keep the grass on the long side for the first 6 months, so aim around 5-6cm.  You can also now start using the lawn in a gentle fashion as the roots will be consolidating the soil quite well.

If you feel any softness, perhaps due to a lot of rain, reduce activity until it firms slightly. Though children and dogs may want to be let loose it is best to control heavy play for the first 4-6 months.

New Lawns from Turf

Keep off where possible until the turf has started knitting. Knitting is the term used to describe the roots knitting into the soil surface. You can test this by trying to gently lift a corner of turf. If it lifts stay off and retest in 4-7 days. If it doesn’t lift, then you can progress to mowing.

What you can do on the lawn and when

You should be doing the first cut slowly when the grass is 5-8cm tall. Perhaps 2 warm weeks or 3-4 cool weeks from turfing. Use the highest mower setting for the first 2-3 months.

The 2nd cut should be done so that you’re not removing more than a fifth or 20% of the grass blade.

3rd cut onwards. You can reduce the mowing height a little but try and keep the grass on the long side for the first 4-6 months, so aim around 5-6cm.  You can also now start using the lawn in a gentle fashion as the roots will be consolidating the soil well.

If you feel any softness, perhaps due to a lot of rain, reduce activity until it firms slightly. Though children and dogs may want to be let loose it is best to control heavy play for the first 4-6 months.