Why Gaps Appear
You've laid your new turf, stood back to admire it, and noticed gaps between the rolls. It's one of the most common problems with new lawns, and usually one of the easiest to fix.
Gaps between turf rolls happen for a few reasons:
Turf Shrinkage
This is the most common cause. Turf is a living product and it loses moisture from the moment it's harvested. As it dries, it shrinks — and rolls that were butted tightly together during laying can pull apart within hours if they aren't watered quickly enough.
Summer laying is the worst for this. On a hot day, turf can start visibly shrinking within a couple of hours of being laid. This is why watering new turf immediately after laying is so important.
Poor Laying Technique
If rolls weren't pushed tightly together during laying, gaps are inevitable. It's easy to think they're touching when there's actually a few millimetres of space, especially over a large area. This adds up.
Uneven Ground
If the soil surface has bumps or dips, turf rolls bridge over the low spots instead of making full contact. This leaves gaps at the edges where rolls don't sit flush with each other. Proper ground preparation — levelling and firming — prevents this.
Soil Settlement
Sometimes the ground settles unevenly after laying, particularly if it wasn't firmed thoroughly during preparation. As soil compacts beneath the turf, rolls can shift slightly and gaps open up.
Assessing the Damage
Before you do anything, work out how wide the gaps actually are. This determines your approach.
Gaps Under 10mm
Leave them. Turf grows sideways as well as upwards, and gaps this small will close on their own within a few weeks as the grass fills in. Keep the turf well watered and fed, and the gaps will disappear.
Gaps of 10–25mm
These are worth filling but aren't a major concern. They'll close eventually on their own, but filling them speeds things up and prevents weeds establishing in the bare soil.
Gaps Over 25mm
These need attention. Gaps this wide won't close on their own quickly enough, and they'll become weed traps and dry out the edges of adjacent rolls. Fill them as described below.
How to Fill Gaps
What You Need
- Fine topsoil or a sandy loam mix
- Grass seed (a ryegrass mix matching your turf type)
- A small hand brush or broom
- A watering can or hose with a fine spray
Step by Step
1. Prepare a filling mix. Combine fine topsoil with grass seed. A rough ratio of about four parts topsoil to one part seed works well. The topsoil fills the gap physically while the seed grows in to match the surrounding turf.
2. Work the mix into the gaps. Use your fingers or a small brush to push the mix down into each gap. Fill to just below the level of the surrounding turf — not above it, as this creates bumps when the grass grows through.
3. Brush off any excess. Use a soft broom to sweep any mix off the surface of the turf rolls. You want the fill only in the gaps, not sitting on top of the grass.
4. Water gently. Give the filled gaps a thorough but gentle watering. Use a fine spray — a heavy jet will wash the topsoil and seed straight out. Keep the areas moist for the next couple of weeks while the seed germinates.
5. Stay off it. Avoid walking on or near the filled gaps for at least 2–3 weeks. Foot traffic will compact the fill and disturb germinating seed.
Can You Push the Rolls Together?
It's tempting to try shoving the rolls sideways to close the gap. Don't do this unless the turf was literally only laid in the last hour or two and hasn't started rooting at all.
Once turf has been down for more than a few hours, moving it creates more problems than it solves. You'll create overlaps or ridges elsewhere, damage the fragile new roots, and end up with a worse result than just filling the gaps.
If the turf is very newly laid (same day, still completely loose), you can sometimes ease rolls together by lifting the edges slightly and sliding them. But only attempt this if the turf genuinely hasn't begun to root.
Preventing Gaps in the First Place
If you haven't laid your turf yet — or you're planning another area — here's how to avoid gaps:
Butt Rolls Tightly
During laying, push each roll firmly against its neighbour. Don't leave even a hairline gap. Slight compression is better than any gap at all — the turf will settle.
Water Immediately
Start watering each section as soon as it's laid. Don't wait until the entire lawn is finished. If you're laying a large area, water the completed sections while you continue laying. This prevents the first rolls from drying out and shrinking before you've finished.
See our full watering new turf guide for schedules and quantities.
Lay on a Firm, Level Surface
Thorough ground preparation prevents the uneven contact and settlement that causes gaps. A well-firmed, level surface means every roll sits flat and flush with its neighbours.
Lay Turf Quickly After Delivery
Turf starts deteriorating from the moment it's cut. Lay it within 24 hours of delivery — on the same day if possible, especially in summer. Rolls left stacked on a pallet shrink and heat up, making gaps almost guaranteed.
Use our turf calculator to order the right amount so you're not left with excess rolls sitting around. If you're in a major area like Birmingham or Bristol, most suppliers offer next-day delivery so you can time your order to match your preparation.