Preparation of the strip is important.
In my case I removed a hedge, ploughed the strip required width (6 metres) and spent a ton of time levelling and making it ready for sowing the grass-seed. Making it wider is not required as I have good run off, and it takes longer to cut the grass if it is wider
. I used a slow intense rye grass-seed to get a good matted finish and it is not fast growing. It took 6 mts before it was ready to use, also remember that your own strip does require maintenance in the form of cutting the grass (twice weekly in the summer) and don't try it with a ride on lawnmower. I have an oldish tractor and grass topper that takes me 15 mins to cut each time. I do not permit livestock, even sheep, near the place... the crap they leave behind is terrible. I let the field around my strip for hay or sillage and do not allow any machinery movements across the strip. The finish on it now is very good and I have regular visitors to the strip including a nice little PA16 clipper. I added the hangar, the wind sock and the clubhouse in 2008. Details of the strip are in Pooleys Irish flight guide, the strip is called "Ruskey" airfield.
My original link did not work, pictures of the strip are
HERE. If you want any further details of the work involved then drop me a PM.
Regards,
Jon