How to Lay Turf: Creating a New Lawn

Are you thinking about putting a new lawn on your property? Follow these helpful tips before laying down turf to reduce the amount of water your lawn requires. This will save you valuable time and money every year.

It All Starts With Proper Planning

The key to establishing a strong and healthy foundation for your lawn is preparation. Before planting, always prepare and amend the soil to ensure a healthy foundation for growth and to keep it water efficient.

7 Steps to Turf Planting Success

Late autumn and early spring are the best times of year to lay the lawn. The ground temperature remains warm, but cooler nights add moisture to the air.

Follow these seven simple steps to get your lawn started right. If you need assistance selecting the right lawn, see our lawn recommendations further below.

1. Get Your Lawn Ready

The first step is to clear the area of weeds, grass, rocks, sticks, and tree roots. Level the area with the back of a rake or levelling board to create a smooth, consistent surface 30-50mm below the level of paths and driveways.

2. Recognise Your Soil

The soils in Western Australia can be very handy. Poor soil conditions beneath the roots are frequently the cause of lawn failure. Once the area has been cleared, there are three simple options for soil improvement depending on the type of sand present:

• Remove the top 100-150mm of grey sand and replace it with a quality 70% red or yellow sand and 30% organic blend.
• Simply incorporate organics (such as animal manures and bio waste products) through the top 100-150mm of the sand if you are already on yellow sands in new development areas.
• Cultivate the soil in an older area of the Swan Coastal plain by incorporating a loam soil mixture made up of organic matter, sand, silt, and clay. Work this into a depth of at least 100-150mm, but no more than 300mm.

3. Examine Your Soil

The pH of the soil influences how easily minerals and nutrients can be absorbed. Because these minerals and nutrients promote plant growth, a pH test is required before laying your lawn. The ideal soil pH for most grasses is between 6 and 7.5.

Dolomite, which contains magnesium, an essential mineral deficient in WA soils, can be used to correct the pH of acidic soils. If your soil is too alkaline, you can balance it out with plain elemental sulphur.

4. Select a High-Quality Irrigation System

To ensure efficiency, use the most appropriate irrigation design. Your watering efforts must reach the appropriate areas of your lawn. A water-wise irrigation specialist can offer expert advice and assist you in designing and installing a system.

5. Prepare Your Grass

Roll out your turf along the longest straight edge, such as a driveway, butting the edges together tightly without stretching or overlapping the turf. Stagger the joints like brickwork and cut the turf where necessary with a sharp knife.

When installing turf on a sloped surface, place it along the slope rather than down the slope, and peg or stake it where necessary to keep it in place.

After laying, use a roller to encourage soil-to-turf contact, then apply a slow-release fertiliser and thoroughly water. 14 days after installation, reapply a light organic fertiliser feed.

6. Watering

Your turf will develop shallow roots in about two weeks, so water it three times a day for the first week, then gradually reduce the amount of water applied over the next few weeks.

Watering restrictions are in place across WA to ensure that we use water wisely. To water your new lawn, you'll need an approved exemption.

7. Grass cutting

Once you're certain the roots have taken hold, lightly mow your new lawn. This is usually within 10-14 days of laying your grass in the summer. In the winter, it could take 14-21 days.

Lawn Alternatives

Look for warm-season grass when selecting a lawn to save time on watering and maintenance. Drought-tolerant lawn varieties suitable for WA's warm climate include:

• Buffalo
• Couch
• Kikuyu
• Blue Queensland
• Zoysia

Do you require additional assistance?

Visit the Turf Perth of Premium Allsands website for assistance in establishing your new lawn.