Grass

The fact that weeds appeared after using a tarpaulin suggests two things: either dormant seeds in the soil were triggered as soon as they got light/water, or wind-blown seeds landed on top of your previous attempts. ​Here is how to ensure your new turf stays weed-free: ​1. The Problem with "Gravel to Turf" ​If you remove the gravel, you are likely to find a layer of old membrane or very compacted, poor-quality soil. ​Root Systems: Perennial weeds (like dandelions or thistles) have long taproots. If you don't remove or kill these before laying turf, they will simply grow through the gaps in the turf or push through the grass itself. ​The "Seed Bank": Soil contains thousands of dormant seeds. Digging or raking the area to prepare for turf often "wakes them up" by bringing them to the surface. ​2. Professional Preparation Steps ​To stop the weeds from winning this time, follow this sequence: ​Phase A: The Clean Slate ​Clear the Gravel: Remove every bit of stone. If there is an old membrane underneath, pull it up—it will prevent the turf from rooting properly. ​The "Stale Seedbed" Technique: Once the soil is bare, wait 2 weeks. Let any remaining weed seeds germinate. Once they appear, hit them with a systemic weedkiller (like Glyphosate) or a flame gun. This clears the "bank" of seeds waiting to ruin your lawn. ​Phase B: Soil Quality ​Topsoil: Turf needs at least 100mm to 150mm of good quality topsoil to thrive. If your soil is exhausted from being under gravel/tarpaulin, the grass will be weak. Weak grass leaves gaps; gaps are where weeds grow. ​Levelling: Ensure the ground is firm but not compacted. Use a roller or the "pigeon step" (shuffling your feet) to get a level surface. ​3. Turf vs. Seed: The Weed Factor ​Turf has a massive advantage over seed in your situation: ​Competition: Turf is an established root system. It acts as a physical barrier. If the turf is healthy and thick, weed seeds landing from the wind struggle to reach the soil to germinate. ​Immediate Cover: Unlike seed, which leaves bare patches of soil exposed for weeks, turf covers the ground instantly. ​ Even the best turf will eventually succumb to weeds if: ​It is mown too short: This stresses the grass and allows light to reach the soil surface. ​It isn't fed: You must use a seasonal fertilizer to keep the grass "thick." A thick lawn is the best weed defense. ​Edges aren't maintained: Weeds often creep in from the borders.

Having a new lawn installed doesn’t stop weeds growing. A lawn needs up keep throughout the year. I would recommend using a lawn care company to maintain a healthy lawn year round, if your budget stretch’s that far. If not, you could speak with a lawn care professional for advise and try lawn aftercare yourself

Hi When you lay turf even on turf base, the turf will always go back to the ground conditions no matter how it starts off. Seeding takes a lot of work and can often be more expensive than turf. To provie a perfect lawn takes a lot of work and feeding, so to improve your lawn you need to improve the ground it grows on. Hope that helps. Kind Regards Gordon

Weeds can still come through even after tarpaulin and gravel because weed seeds blow in from surrounding areas, birds drop seeds, and dormant seeds can stay in soil for years. Laying turf usually gives a much better result than seed because the grass establishes densely and shades weeds out faster — but you still need proper preparation underneath or weeds will return. What usually works best is: Remove the gravel completely Dig out as many weeds/roots as possible Add fresh screened topsoil if the existing ground is poor or full of rubble Level and compact lightly Lay quality turf tightly together Water heavily for the first few weeks Before turfing, many people: Use a weed killer first and wait 1–2 weeks Or remove the top layer of contaminated soil if weeds are extreme To keep weeds down afterwards: Mow regularly once established Don’t let weeds seed Feed the lawn a few times a year Spot treat weeds early If the area previously had gravel for a long time, the soil underneath is often compacted and nutrient-poor, so fresh topsoil makes a huge difference. The key point is: Turf itself is not weed-proof, but a healthy dense lawn dramatically reduces weeds compared with trying to grow grass seed on poor ground

Laying turf will definitely give you a better starting point than seeding, but if the weeds keep coming back there's usually an underlying issue that needs addressing first. I'd remove the gravel, dig out as many roots and weeds as possible and bring in a decent layer of quality topsoil before laying any turf. If you lay turf onto poor ground, the weeds will eventually find their way through. The good news is that once a lawn establishes properly, it becomes much harder for weeds to take over. You'll always get the odd one, but a healthy lawn should outcompete most of them

It depends how carefully you maintain it. I would recommend lawn weed and feed treatments regularly. You have to remember that weeds don’t just come from dormant seeds but they’re blown in on the wind, dandelions being a case in point and bird droppings will bring in lots of different weeds too.