Chamomile Turf

Chamomile turf, made of low-growing aromatic herbs, creates a wonderful feature in a garden. The finely divided leaves create a feathery appearance, and every...See more » Chamomile turf, made of low-growing aromatic herbs, creates a wonderful feature in a garden. The finely divided leaves create a feathery appearance, and every time you walk across it, the lawn will release its soothing fragrance into the air. In smaller gardens a chamomile lawn makes a great grass substitute as long as it’s not subjected to heavy wear and tear. For larger gardens a chamomile path looks and smells fantastic. There are many chamomiles available, but only one is suitable for lawns: Anthemis nobilis, Treneague. This is a very compact type that spreads to form a dense mat. Laying Chamomile turf When you’re planning your chamomile lawn, remember that it likes free-draining soil in full sunlight. So if you have heavy soil it is well worth incorporating some horticultural grit. Some people create a raised bed to improve drainage. Chamomile does not like sitting in waterlogged soil! Prepare the bed as if you were going to lay normal turf. Dig the ground over, removing any stones and perennial weeds. Rake the surface level, and walk over the ground on your heels to firm the soil. Rake again to get the final level. Chamomile Turf comes in strips measuring 250mm by 500mm. There are eight strips to a square metre. Lay the turf in a brick-like fashion, working off a board if the soil is soft. How to look after a Chamomile lawn The great thing about chamomile is that it doesn’t need much watering or maintenance! It only grows to a height of 6cms (2.5”). The occasional clipping keeps any long shoots in control and helps sideways spread. Chamomile doesn’t need much fertiliser, but it’s worth giving it a light dressing of a general fertiliser every two years, especially if you have sandy soil. It’s a good idea to sprinkle a mixture of sieved soil and horticultural sand over the lawn each spring, and tread or roll in. This encourages the growth of adventitious roots from the crushed shoots, promoting a healthier, denser cushion. Chamomile is not very competitive, so try to remove any grass weeds and other weeds as they appear. How to order Chamomile Turf The turf can only be ordered in multiples of a square metre, with one square metre being the minimum order. Chamomile Turf will be available in mid-May 2008.See less »