Get a great looking lawn with our expert advice and tips on laying turf, including our step-by-step guide below to show you how.
Whilst laying out the turf itself is an easy job, you’ll get best results if you spend some time measuring your lawn area correctly, preparing the area and following our tips to get your lawn well established afterwards.
Step 1. Planning
When it comes down to landscaping your backyard, always be sure to leave turf until last. This way, you won’t have to work over your fresh new turf whilst tending to other jobs.
Step 2. Choosing a variety
Now it’s time to choose your turf type. It is critical you do your research as different varieties of turf perform very differently from one another.
Make sure you seek professional advice on which grass variety suits your situation. Be sure to factor in future shade, wear and tear and access to water. Below are the 3 most common turf varieties. Visit one of our branches to see the below, and more on display.
Sir Grange
The black tie of lawns
Sir Grange’s soft, luxurious feel and fine leaf makes it the choice for elite lawns across the world.
But Sir Grange is no softy when it comes to survival. Originally created for the golf industry, Sir Grange has very high drought resistance and wear tolerance. It’s the top selling turf in the USA and has been tried and tested for the Australian climate. Its resistance to wear makes it a fantastic home lawn for anyone looking for a softer grass and a smoother, more European look than buffalo gives.
As well as its high drought resistance, wear tolerance and shade tolerance, Sir Grange needs only four hours of direct sunlight a day. With a fine, dark green leaf, it is a low maintenance turf with low nitrogen requirements and needs 50% less mowing than other common turf varieties.
Sir Walter
The great all rounder
Australia’s number one turf! Sir Walter Buffalo DNA Certified Turf has proved time and time again it will grow anywhere; in full sun or shade, in extreme heat, frost or drought. Since 1997 over 50 million metres of Sir Walter have sold Australia wide - the equivalent to 450,000 homes!
Born right here in Australia, Sir Walter is a premium soft-leaf buffalo that is bred to be tough, but also soft and good looking! Sir Walter’s roots grow deep into the subsoil, gathering moisture all year round. It is less invasive into gardens than Kikuyu or Couch and requires less mowing than Kikuyu (approx. 50% in summer). Our Sir Walter is DNA certified with a warranty certificate and a 10-year guarantee from Lawn Solutions Australia!
All turf is brought in fresh to order, to ensure you get the best result from your lawn. Place your order before midday today and we will deliver your turf tomorrow! (Saturday and Sunday orders will be freshly cut on Monday and delivered on Tuesday). Please note, we do sometimes have excess turf, so if you need your turf that day, call us on 8543 3401. Rolls of Sir Walter measure approximately 1.7x0.6m.
TifTuf
Perfect for kids & pets
TifTuf’s outstanding water-saving efficiency has made it the first, and currently the only, Australian turf to be awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark. The Smart Approved WaterMark program has been created by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) to help consumers identify products, services and organisations that use water efficiently. Qualifying for the WaterMark is a strict process—it took TifTuf four years to complete it! You can find out more about the criteria at the Smart WaterMark website.
TifTuf is a Bermuda turf that was researched and developed over 25 years to have excellent drought tolerance, shade tolerance and wear tolerance. It’s dense enough to handle high wear situations like backyards and sports fields, while its very fine dark green blade keeps it soft underfoot.
TifTuf is suitable for full sun areas, but is also very tolerant of shade, needing only four hours of direct sunlight a day. It’s also weed and insect resistant. And TifTuf maintains a strong winter colour and greens up fast in spring.
Step 3.
Measuring and ordering your turf
Measure the length and width of regular areas in metres and multiply to calculate the amount of turf required in square metres. For irregular shaped areas, sketch onto paper to make it easier to calculate areas. Allow an extra 15% for shaping, cutting and joining turf rolls.
Use below grid to work out square meters required. Once you have square meters, give BC Sands a call on (02) 9525 0888 or order online.
Timing
You can lay turf all year round. We always have turf for sale, other than when there has been extremely heavy rain, because then rolls cannot be cut.
It is best to have your turf delivered on the day you intend to lay it, so be sure to have all your preparation done beforehand. Ring BC Sands a few days before to place your order. Once cut from the farm, the turf is under stress and will easily dry out, so the sooner it is laid and watered the better.
HOT TIP - Order as far in advance (a few days at least) as possible to ensure you receive your order when you need it!
Step 4. Preparing the area
To ensure the best out of your lawn, the laying area must be well prepared. So when preparing your site for laying new lawn one main rule should be obeyed. Turf requires a loose surface on which to be laid. There are many ways to achieve this result.
The steps are as follows:
- For best results it is always advisable to kill any existing weeds or grass by spraying a herbicide such as Zero or Roundup. Spray directly onto the weeds and unwanted grass. For maximum effectiveness wait at least a week after spraying before you lay your new turf.
- Dig into the existing ground as deep as you can. If you have a large area, using a rotary hoe will make the job a lot easier. Rake and level the area, removing sticks, stones & other debris as you go.
- If the soil is a clay type it is a good idea to mix 1kg of Gypsum per 1m2 into the ground (if the clay is heavy the rate should be doubled).
- Spread a minimum of 50mm of BC Sands Premium Turf Gro over the areas on which the turf is to be laid.
- This will provide turf with a good base for roots to take and provides nutrient and improved drainage.
- Fertilisers, such as LSA Lawn Launcher can also be raked into the ground as this will add extra nutrients as the lawn starts to take.
- After fertilising it is a good idea to give the soil a good soaking, as this is a more efficient way of keeping your new turf watered as the soil is already damp (fertilise just before rain).
Step 5. Laying the turf
- Start at a straight line such as a fence or path.
- It is best to lay one roll alongside all pathways, edges, gardens, etc. and then fill in the remainder of the area, laying the turf in one direction. Have the ends staggered, like the way bricks are laid, as this will help to establish the roots.
- Make sure all the joins of the turf are snugly together without overlapping or spaces between the strips. If you have a sloping site, laying turf across the slope will help to prevent erosion.
- Cut around obstacles (trees etc.) with a sharp knife or a shovel. Make sure the sod is in contact with the ground. Rolling is optional (to smooth out bumps).
