to walk or not to walk?

I have recently (2nd June) laid a new lawn, it looks wonderful and has rooted quickly and looks very green (not so fun having to water it with buckets due to the hosepipe ban!). But what is the recommended time to leave a new lawn before you can walk on it and cut it with a lawnmower? Also would you feed it with any lawn feed or just keep it to water?

 

Assuming you have turfed it I would leave it until the grass is about 3" high, but less than 4". In my experience above that height makes the damage caused by mowing and fungal disease greater than the gain in rooting depth. There's no hard and fast rule, and if you mow early just go gently. You can attempt to lift the turfs up at the corners to see if they have rooted through into the soil. If they don't give, you're safe to mow.

I wouldn't feed it until the growth has slowed down. Usually new turf is so heavily fertilized it grows like mad (hence the fungus) for a while, then kind of gives up the ghost, exhausted. Try to fertilize before it reaches that point!

 

Thanks, the grass is probably aready at the 3" mark so I may try and cut it next weekend. I had noticed a few fungi in the lawn so that now makes sense! Would you still use the wooden boards to stand on when you cut it or is it ok to walk on the lawn now do you think?

 

I'd say it should be ok, try tugging at a corner!

 

Thanks, the lawn is now cut and looking lush and healthy!!!

 

Now slowly drop the height with each successive cut till its at the right height for you. It'll need feeding in a few weeks time (if you can water it afterwards)