Best turf for stripy look in a lawn

Hello everyone,
I am laying a sizeable new lawn, two tiers, approx 400sqm and 300 sqm, approx 2 inches of topsoil with some fine stones in it, we will use the garden for summer parties and children to play around. I would also love to keep a stripy look when mowed.
What would be the best option as I don't have much experience, Rolawn?

 

£5.00 a square metre?

 

Unless the ground is already perfectly prepared and ready to go, I'd say now is the perfect time to start the project. Unless @Funkar has access to all the best tools and resources to get it ready, it's going to take a few weeks to get it perfectly level, compacted just enough so it's not going to sink but not so much that roots can't penetrate, top dress with sharp sand etc. By the time that's done we'll be well into September, which is the second grass seed sowing window of the year when it's a bit cooler, typically wetter, and the garden is likely to see less use. The grass then has a good few months to establish before next spring.

 

What is the attraction of stripes? Why not a chequer board for lawn chess or draughts or even hopscotch?

 

Depending on where you are if you want the striped look you see on TV use a ryegrass.

 

We are in NW of London.
Isn't Rye grass too thick and a bit spikey?

 

@Funkar With Thames Water about to restrict water usage I'd put everything on hold until the rains come.

 

Could be a good time to prepare and treat as a stale seedbed. Any weeds will germinate at the first amount of rain, enabling their elimination before the addition of grass, whether seed or turf.
As to grass type, ryegrass mix for 'play' areas, dog zone etc, finer grasses possibly in more formal areas. Groundsmen often use Kentucky blue grass. Choose a grass which can establish its roots as deeply as possible, to ensure hydration in all seasons. A grass, left un cropped will have as much root below as grass above soil level.The longer you leave it, the more resiliant it will be.
This may help :
https://www.bspb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/BSPB-Turfgrass-Booklet-2022.pdf

 

That could solve the stripey lawn problem. If you turf with alternating rows of different grass you will get a stripey pattern built in and then a cheap and cheerful hover will trim the lot in a short time.

 

But we all know that grass doesn't respect boundaries. The more vigorous grass will invade the stripes of its less vigorous neighbours.

 

Tartan turf, its the next big thing

 

If I had a flat area on my hillside and I wanted stripes I would alternate grass strips with strips of green paving slabs.

 

I read the other day that lawns are fast becoming one of the most un ecologically sustainable things to have in a garden, not sure I agree though. I have good old fashioned meadow turf that was grazed by sheep prior to lifting. It's full of wild flowers, some I leave and dodge round with the mower, the garden is full of insects and butterflies, my grandkids enjoy it, they play football on the park, there's more room there.