Step 1: Spray Round Up or Glyphosate 7 days prior to starting any earthworks, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. This may need to be repeated if weather conditions are unfavourable.

Tip: Spray when existing lawn and weeds are healthy. This will achieve a more effective result.

Step 2: Remove all vegetation by use of a bobcat, hand rake, shovel or hire a turf cutter. Consider your drainage, level the area with falls to drainage points. If necessary install drainage pits which most times will tap into existing storm water pipes.

Tip: A bobcat can achieve a lot in a short time thus saving your back.

Step 3: You will need 100 – 150mm of good top soil for a quality lawn. Using a screed, leveling bar or rake start leveling, ensuring there are no humps, bumps and hollows. Compact ground to when you only leave a boot mark not a boot indent.

Tip: Allow 35-40mm below edging, driveway & patio for turf slabs and make sure all areas will drain freely.

Step 4: Measure the width and length of the area to be turfed, multiply these figures together this will give you the square meter amount. Then add about 3-5% extra for cutting in.

Tip: Don’t use your feet to measure, always use a tape measure.

Step 5: Use gypsum in heavy or clay areas to break up the soil. Rate: 25kg – 100m2 raked into soil. Use dolomite / lime to increase the PH level. Rate: 25kg – 100m2 raked into soil.

Tip: Purchase a soil PH kit to test levels.

Step 6: Fertilize prior to laying using Sir Turf Launcher, 3.0kg per 100 m2 With all the essential nutrients vital for a new lawn and the added bonus of water storage crystals exactly where the lawn needs it. Lightly rake through your turf underlay to a depth of 30mm.

Step 7: Lay in a brick pattern, starting at a straight line – path or driveway edge or set a string line. Ensure turf is butted together well, don’t leave gaps between slabs. This will only set your lawn back when it comes time to mow

Tip: Lay turf across slopes. Use a serrated knife or sharp shovel to cut turf.

Step 8: Roll turf for a good finish. This will also enable the grass to bed firmly against the moist soil.

Tip: Always roll across the slope.

Step 9: Once a section has been laid and rolled, water this section as soon as possible. When all the turf has been laid, give the whole lawn a good soak. Over the next two weeks give the lawn a water twice a day; this will stop the lawn from drying out.

Tip: Be aware of hot/windy weather, this can dry a new lawn out rapidly, increase watering to compensate.