Spray Round Up or Glyphosate 7 days prior to starting any earthworks, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. This may need to be repeated if weather conditions are unfavourable.

Tip: Spray when existing lawn and weeds are healthy. This will achieve a more effective result.

Remove all vegetation by use of either a bobcat, hand rake, shovel or hire a turf cutter. Consider your drainage, level the area which falls to drainage points. If necessary install drainage pits which most often will tap into existing storm water pipes.

Tip: A bobcat can achieve a lot in a short time, thus saving your back.

You will need 35 – 75mm of good top soil for a quality lawn. Using a screed, levelling bar or rake start levelling, ensuring there are no humps, bumps and hollows. Compact ground to when you only leave a boot mark not a boot indent.

Tip: Allow 35-40mm below edging, driveway & patio for turf slabs and make sure all areas will drain freely.

measure the width and length of the area to be turfed, multiply these figures together, this will give you the amount of square meters required. Then add about 3-5% extra for cutting in.

Tip: Don’t use your feet to measure, always use a tape measure.

Add organics and sandy loam soil to heavy soils to improve quality. For sandy soil, add organics and garden mix to improve water hold capacity.

Tip: Purchase a soil pH kit to test levels.

Fertilise prior to laying, using Sir Walter fertiliser 3.0kg per 100m2. With all the essential nutrients vital for a new lawn.

Lay in a brick pattern, starting at a straight line – path or driveway edge or set a string line. Ensure turf is butted together well, don’t leave any gaps between the slabs. This will only set your lawn back, when it becomes time to mow.

Tip: Lay turf across slopes. Use a serrated knife or sharp shovel to cut turf.

Roll turf for a good finish. This will also enable the grass to bed firmly against the moist soil.

Tip: Always roll across the slope.

Once a section has been laid and rolled, water this section as soon as possible. When all the turf has been laid, give the whole lawn a good soak. Over the next two weeks give the lawn a water twice a day; this will stop the lawn from drying out.

Tip: Be aware of hot/windy weather, this can dry a new lawn out rapidly, increase watering to compensate.