How to lay turf?
Installing instant turf can help to give your property an instant picture-perfect look. But to get a great result, you must prepare the area. Soil used under turf needs to be prepared properly so your new turf has a healthy bed to thrive and grow on. Daisy’s Garden Supplies offers quality turf, turf installation guides and maintenance advice to establish and maintain a healthy vibrant lawn.
Turf lay guide
Step 1 Soil Preparation
Proper soil preparation is essential when planning to lay instant turf on your property. Mark out the area you plan to turf, remove existing weeds and grass and cultivate the area to a depth of 100mm to 150mm. We recommend using a rotary hoe for large areas. From there, rake and level the soil, removing rocks, roots and large clods. A tool called a lawn leveller is a good alternative to a rake when levelling. If you need to add soil to build up low areas, we recommend you use Daisy’s lawn mix, a premium soil blend for growing lawns. From there, lightly roll the area to firm the soil surface and reveal low areas that need more soil. Watering the prepared area will settle the soil and provide a moist base for the turf.
Step 2: Measuring and Ordering
To ensure you order enough instant turf to create your new lawn, accurate measuring is required. To calculate your area if it is a square or rectangle, measure the length and width of the area and multiply together. If the shape is irregular or complex, call or come in to your local branch and one of the friendly sales team will help you work this bit out. Once the area is calculated and you’ve added a 10% extra ‘just in case!’, order the turf of your choice. Daisy’s supplies Anco ‘s quality instant turf. The popular ones are Sir Walter Buffalo, Tif Tuf Bermuda couch and Eureka Kikuyu
Step 3: Turf Installation & Watering
Install your lawn as soon as you can after delivery by rolling it out. Turf is a living plant that requires ground contact and moisture to survive. In hot weather, protect unlaid turf by placing stacks in the shade or lightly sprinkling with water. Avoid gaps or overlapping. Stagger the joints in each row in a brick-like fashion, and use a large knife to trim corners, etc. After installing the turf, roll the lawn with a lawn roller to improve the turf to soil contact and remove air pockets.
Within half an hour of laying, instant turf needs to be watered. Water daily or more often, keeping turf moist until it is firmly rooted (about two weeks). DO NOT ALLOW TURF TO DRY OUT. Ensure your new lawn has enough moisture to survive hot, dry, or windy periods. An important turf installation tip is to water areas near buildings more often where reflected heat dries the turf.
Step 4: Maintenance
- Mowing
Regular mowing is critical to keeping your lawn lookin great. New instant lawn can be mown approximately 14 days after installation. After that, continue to mow often, but do cut the lawn too short as it can damage the lawn and affect lawn health. - Fertilizing
Fertilizers should be applied regularly all year round.
We recommend you use these fertilizers to maintain your lawn.
