Saturday, 04 February 2012

0845 604 6060

Monday-Friday 08.30-17.00
(excluding Bank Holidays)

Your Questions Answered

As Europe's largest producer of cultivated turf and Britain's leading supplier of high quality soil, we are often asked for advice on all aspects of laying, seeding and maintaining a beautiful lawn. The most frequently asked questions are detailed below. You can subscribe to this information through our RSS feed. Click here to learn more about this service, or contact us to ask any questions we haven't covered.

Use the drop down to jump to a specific answer ...

18. My lawn is covered in worm casts. Is there anything I can do?

Worms are beneficial in the garden as their burrowing activities improve the aeration and drainage of the soil and improve the nutrient content by digesting leaves and other organic matter and passing this into the soil. However in spring and autumn when the soil is warm and moist worm activity can ruin the appearance of a lawn by depositing muddy worm casts across the lawns surface.

To limit the damage caused by worm casts avoid smearing them into the lawns surface by avoiding mowing or walking on the lawn when wet. Wait for the casts to dry out and then brush them away using a stiff brush.

Another option is to deter worms by reducing the amount of food available for them. Remove grass clippings and leaf litter and scarify regularly (NB New turf should not be scarified in the first 12 months.). Earthworms also appear to dislike soils which have a high sand content, probably due to the lower moisture content and abrasiveness of the sand particle. Applying top dressing with a high sand content is one option. Earthworms also appear to dislike soil with a low pH and so the use of acidifying materials in fertilisers and iron sulphate can reduce worm casts.

Click here to read more about earthworms in turf.

Common lawn care questions

  1. When is the best time of year to lay turf?
  2. How long after delivery can I leave my turf rolled up before laying?
  3. How much soil do I need to lay my turf onto?
  4. Is Rolawn turf suitable for shady areas?
  5. How do I grow a lawn from seed and when is the best time to do this?
  6. How do I overseed my lawn?
  7. How do I calculate the amount of turf required for a circular lawn?
  8. How do I remove my old lawn before laying new turf or seeding?
  9. What depth of play grade bark do you recommend?
  10. How soon after laying turf can I walk on my lawn?
  11. How soon after laying turf should I mow my lawn?
  12. How soon after laying turf can I apply Rolawn GroRight Autumn Lawn Food?
  13. Will my turf contain Annual Meadow Grass?
  14. How should I remove toadstools from my turf?
  15. Is Rolawn topsoil free of Japanese Knotweed?
  16. During the winter my lawn has become sparse and died back, resulting in bare patches. What should I do?
  17. My lawn needs feeding and overseeding. Which should I do first?
  18. My lawn is covered in worm casts. Is there anything I can do?
  19. My dog is urinating on my lawn and it is discolouring the grass, what can I do to stop this and how can I repair the damage?
  20. My lawn has developed patches of white cotton-wool or cobweb-like mould?
  21. How do I improve the soil in my garden?
  22. I will be laying turf next to a path or mowing strip and need to bring the soil up to the correct level. What is the thickness of a roll of Rolawn turf?
  23. My new lawn is very spongy. Should I use a roller on it?
  24. Can Rolawn biological pest control products be used on a vegetable patch?