Perhaps you are considering a partial or complete redesign of your garden. We offer garden design services and can incorporate lawned areas into landscaping schemes.
No two gardens are the same and so we will consider and address all relevant factors when planning a garden that is to feature a lawn. It is often possible to lay a lawn even if your outside space presents the following challenges:
- Slopes – steep slopes are difficult to mow and may dry very quickly. The lower portion of sloped lawns can become waterlogged. We will address drainage issues and create edges that make mowing easier should you wish to retain your slope. Alternatively, we can terrace your land to create level lawned areas.
- Drainage – your land may suffer from poor drainage, or you may wish to include features such as patios and drives that will drain onto your lawn. We can install a free draining base layer for your lawn and soak-aways adjacent to your paved areas to prevent waterlogging.
- Troublesome edges – lawn edges that are adjacent to hard surfaces can present challenges. We will ensure that lawns boast appropriate soil depth, and we can install thermal barriers between grassed and paved areas to prevent paving that has been heated by the sun from prematurely drying grass roots.
There are additional factors to consider when designing lawned areas. While freeform shapes and divided lawns create interest and can bring balance to your garden, they can make lawn maintenance more difficult.
Lawns with straight edges or gentle curves are the easiest to mow. Obstructions such as central beds, bird baths, trees and ponds give you additional edges to deal with and ensure that it is both slower and harder to mow your lawn. We will consider the level of maintenance you can cope with when designing your new lawns.
Narrow entry points to lawns including steps and pathways will concentrate foot traffic in those areas and cause uneven wear. It’s best to keep access points as wide and numerous as possible.
Preparing for new lawns
Before taking delivery of any turf, we will properly prepare your land. Good soil preparation is vital to establishing a successful lawn. Our process includes the following steps:
- Soil testing
- Removal of perennial weeds or installation of a suitable membrane
- Rotovating the soil
- Adding compost or suitable organic matter to the soil as this will promote growth and hold moisture.
- Leaving the ground to settle
- Removal of any new weeds
- Firming and levelling of the surface
- Raking in of fertiliser
- Laying turf
Successful lawns with Kennedy Landscapes
The laying of lawns can be comparatively straightforward. But only if you benefit from plenty of spare time together with level, fertile, and well drained ground with no weed issues, no obstructions and only limited paved areas. For everyone else, there’s Kennedy Landscapes!
