A beautiful and well-maintained lawn is truly enviable. Many homeowners dream of having a lush green paradise in their yard all year round. Fortunately, this easy and complete guide can give you a rich turf in no time.

Season to lay turf

In Australia, different kind of grass varieties like Sapphire Buffalo, Couch and Kikuyu are chosen because of their year-round durability and general drought resistance. Although, even these tough ones prefer a particular time of the year than others.

• Spring. The best time of the year to lay the turf. The weather is not too hot and rain is expected to grow your grass.
• Summer. The weather can get scorching during the peak of the summer season. It’s a good thing that Buffalo grass can is tough enough to withstand the heat, but it requires watering every day. Remember to keep the roots moist.
• Autumn. Like spring, fall is a good time to lay turf. See to it that establish the grass before the cold really hits.
• Winter. It is best not to lay down grass turf in the coldest of season, 13 degrees Celsius and below. In areas where winter is milder, you can lay down turf as long as the ground is perfectly prepared.

Preparing your lawn.

1. Measure your lawn. Do it twice to be sure. There is nothing more frustrating than finding yourself a few rolls short. When ordering give a five to ten percent extra for trimming.
2. Pull out weeds or remove the existing lawn. You may use a weed killer to treat and let go of the unwanted grass. This should be left around 14 days. Instead of a weed killer, some prefer a healthier approach. They use a turf cutter, and then the green waste can be used as compost or placed in a waste recycling centre specific for turf.
3. Cultivation is required. If you can, the soil you should have is sandy loam, a mixture of sand, silt and clay. This type allows for good drainage and nutrition.
4. Level the surface by raking. The surface should be smooth and firm but not too compact. If its too loose then gently pack it by walking on top of laying boards.
5. Testing the soil pH. It should be between 6.0 to 7. If the soil is too acidic (low pH) add some ground limestone. If the soil is too alkaline (high pH) add some garden sulphur or acidic mulch.
6. 6. Pre-fertilize the soil. This will help in the long-term success of your turf. Sprinkle it evenly on the ground.

Turf laying process.

• Order the best variety of turf you can. Better quality products are easier to work with and give better results.
• Lay the turf immediately. It should be within 24 hours when the product arrives. If you can’t lay it quickly, put the rolled turf in the shed and remove any covering.
• Start by unrolling a whole strip around the edges of your lawn. Avoid using small patches since they dry down faster. Lay the strip similar to brickwork. Avoid stretching the turf. Pack down the grass once it is laid out. Don’t step on the newly planted lawn for 2 to 3 weeks.

Watering

Watering is encouraged as soon as you finished laying the turf. It might need more water during the summer season.

Fertilize

Applying fertilizer should be done every four to six weeks. Equal levels of Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphate should be excellent. As a rule of thumb, little but often application is better.

Mowing

When it’s time to mow the lawn, make sure to use a sharp blade to prevent uprooting the grass. Cut 1/3 of the leaves; this should be enough when doing the first time. You’ll know when to mow if the grass when pulled will not be lifted together with the turf. Alternate the direction of mowing. Clippings can be left behind if minimal, to bring back more nutrients to the soil.

A healthy lawn requires balance. Air, food, water and sunlight should be maintained appropriately.