Handy Hints

So you've ordered your new turf, now what? Below are handy hints on preparing your soil, laying your new lawn and even mowing for the best results!

	Preparing Your Soil Start by spraying area to kill off weeds and existing grass. Use either roundup or something similar. Follow instructions according to the label. Leave about 7-14 days to effectively kill vegetation. Clean area by removing dead grass, sticks and stones. Then fertilise with gypsum, lime and organic fertiliser. Afterwards, you will need to either rotary hoe or mix into the soil. Level and rake soil to get a nice and even surface. The soil should level approximately 15-20mm below path edges - this allows for turf to sit neatly in place.
	How Much Turf Do You Need? Multiply the length and width of the area. This will give you how much you need in square metres. If there are more than one areas, add them together.   For example:     Front yard 8m long x 10m wide = 80m2   Back yard 10m long x 6m wide = 60m2   Side 10m long x 2m wide = 20m2     Total Area = 160m2
	Laying Your New Lawn Start with a straight edge e.g. a driveway or fence. Roll turf out along the edges. Make sure no gaps are left between turf rolls. Use a large knife or garden scissors to trim around trees, garden edges and overlaps. REMEMBER: Take Care!
	Watering Your Lawn The first watering is most important. Make sure the water has seeped through the newly laid turf and has moistened the soil. For the following 10-14 days, water on a daily basis. Either early morning or late afternoon is best. After the first two weeks, you can start to reduce your watering schedule to 2-3 days a week. By around the 4th-6th week, watering can be done once a week. Make sure that you water deeply to encourage deep root formation.
	When to Mow Turf? You can start to mow when it has begun to establish its root system and cannot be lifted from the soil. This will vary according to season and turf variety. Only mow a third off the height of the lawn at any single mowing. Do not mow the lawn too short, this will put the turf under stress.

Enjoy your luscious green lawn!