Preparing to install new instant turf? It pays to take time to prepare your soil to achieve a flourishing, healthy lawn. Below are some essential tips from the lawn installation experts at StrathAyr to help you succeed even with poor quality soil or a weed infestation.
Removing Weeds
Getting rid of weeds is a fundamental part of surface preparation, ensuring your new grass turf is laid on a healthy foundation. Start by removing weeds by hand or with a glyphosate herbicide spray like Roundup. Aim to do this around 7 to 10 days until the weeds die and respray residual weeds as necessary.
Cultivate the Surface
Use a rotary hoe or garden fork to thoroughly cultivate your soil to an approximate 150mm depth. This also helps to remove any debris such as small rocks or twigs as you dig. After this, it’s a good time to test soil pH and add Dolomite Lime as necessary to correct the soil balance.
Improving Soil Quality
Soil conditioners are a great tool for helping improve soil structure by increasing aeration, water holding capacity, and nutrients. Soil conditioners can help break up compacted clay soils and cycle nutrients that are otherwise bound up in the soil. Soil conditioners can consist of animal manure, worm castings, peat moss, compost from yard waste or food waste, biosolids, sawdust, sand, and more.
Add Quality Top Soil
Ensure you have good quality top soil to help your instant grass establish. Start by adding a sandy loam underlay soil. Spread it to a depth of 100 to 150mm, depending on the soil. As a general rule, you should add 1m³ of top soil for every 10m² of grass turf. Level off your soil with a rake and then compact it by watering the surface.
Lawn Starter
Evenly apply a lawn fertiliser at the recommended rate prior to installing your turf. StrathAyr provides lawn starter for free with all grass turf orders over 10m² in Victoria. Lightly rake this into the topsoil prior to laying your turf. Applying lawn starter provides sufficient nutrients for the first 4-6 weeks.
Premium Instant Turf in Victoria and Tasmania
Once your soil is in perfect condition, it’s time to lay your lawn! Freshly harvested at our turf farm and delivered to you, StrathAyr provides instant grass in perfect, ready-to-install condition. Explore our full range of lawn varieties or get in touch with our team if you’re ready to buy your new turf, today.
