How to Overcome Salt Problems When You Lay a New Lawn
If you live by the coast or in an area with a high salt content in your soil, then you might have problems cultivating a really lush lawn. The salt in your soil affects both its own quality and any variety of grass you try to grow in it.
It pays to put some thought and extra effort into laying new turf in these scenarios. What can you do to make it easier for your grass to grow after you put down a new lawn?
Prepare the Ground
If your soil has a high salt content, say from constant exposure to salt spray from water, then grass will find it harder to establish itself and flourish. You can mitigate this problem by preparing the ground before you lay new turf.
For example, you could wait a while between taking up your existing lawn and putting down new turf. During this period, you can water the ground regularly and even excessively. This helps wash salt out of the soil.
You will need to wait a while to put down new turf if you do this. Laying turf on sodden soil isn't a good idea, as the grass could get too waterlogged.
However, once you've done this, you should see an improvement in the quality of your soil. You've put it in a better position to take new turf. The turf will have less salt to contend with when you put it down. This should help it bed in and establish itself.
Choose the Right Turf
While washing salt out of your ground restores a more natural balance, this isn't a long-term fix. The salt will come back. So, it's also a good idea to choose a turf that has some salt resistance — some grasses cope better with salty conditions than others.
If you pick a turf that has problems growing in salty conditions, then your lawn will never really flourish. However, if you pick a turf that can deal with salt better, like a buffalo grass, then you're more likely to get a good end result.
A salt-resistant turf will get a boost from your initial watering. It is also more likely to thrive in your normal environmental conditions.
For more advice on how to prepare your ground and choose the right lawn for your local soil conditions, ask turf suppliers for advice. They can tell you which grass thrives best in your area.
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