Complete all other landscaping and perfect your drainage.
Choose where your turf will go. If you are landscaping, building or renovating, turf installation is the last step to happen out in the yard, because when your turf is laid, you will need to water it and keep traffic off it while it establishes.
Measure the area to be turfed. Measure it again.
Many customers call us back when they realise they didn’t order enough. That’s another delivery fee you didn’t need to pay. Check out our blog “Measuring your Lawn” for guidance.
Decide which turf is right for you.
Do you have shade or full sun? Do you love tending to your lawn or are you looking for low maintenance? Do you like fine leaf or broad leaf grasses?
Timing is important…Start ordering!
Be mindful of delivery lead times. Christmas is an exceptionally busy time for landscapers and turf farms. It is always best to get your turf order in a week in advance. Sometimes, depending on demand, turf may become short in supply. It is a good idea to give us a call and see that stock is available and delivery is possible on your preferred day.
Prepare the site!
Clear the site of weeds, debris, rocks, sticks, etc. Work the existing ground to prepare 100mm of soil. If your soil is not turf-worthy, order in and spread underturf soil. We strongly advise turf is laid on the day it is delivered, so make sure the prep can be completed BEFORE the turf is delivered. Our turf varieties prefer loam or sandy loam soil. 50mm of soil coverage is a minimum, 100mm is optimum.
Once prepped, consider adding some turf starter fertiliser...
Use fertiliser with with water crystals (available from landscape yards, hardware chains or nurseries) on top of the underturf. This is not a necessary step but will give your new turf a boost. Follow the application rate!
Delivery day! Lay your turf as soon as possible when it is delivered.
Ideally, lay your turf as soon as it is delivered. Turf is harvested fresh for delivery and will deteriorate the longer it sits stacked. In extremely hot weather, turf can “cook” from the inside of the pallet out. We call this pallet burn. Turf will not recover from pallet burn.
Rain may affect a harvest.
We cannot harvest if the paddock is too wet, the harvesters will bog. If your order is rain delayed, we will get you on the next possible day that is convenient for you to take delivery. We don’t ever enjoy postponing an order, so if we do, it’s necessary.
Lay your turf:
- Prepare to lay the turf working off a straight edge in the direction you will mow it.
- Lay an edge strip around your area. This will allow for easy cutting in the final stages.
- Continue laying turf offset in a brickwork pattern from your header course.
- Use a spade or sharp knife to cut any pieces as necessary.
- Keep the slabs tight up against each other. Do not let the slabs overlap.
- Immediately water the lawn, even as you are laying it.
- For best results, roll in your new lawn immediately after laying it.
- Continue to water it to give it a very good soak.
Golden rule: water, water, water!
You will need to water your new lawn every morning and afternoon for the first two weeks. For the next two weeks you will need to water every morning, then every other day as needed. When you water your lawn give it a good soak, not just a flick with the hose. Once it has established, give your lawn a soak as needed to encourage deep root growth.
You will know your turf is established when you try to lift a slab and it has “taken”. Established turf that has started to grow can be mowed. Make sure your mower blades are sharp and mow it long for the first mow (take off no more than 1/3 of the leaf).
Have some questions? Call our team on 1300 871 366.