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How to turf

Photography: Phil Aysnley

Although pretty straightforward – basically you just roll it out over a soil bed – when laying turf you need to make sure the soil bed is well prepared and level. And it’s best to organise this before the turf arrives because it should always be laid within 24 hours of delivery to your home. When ordering turf, measure the area you need to cover, then add about five per cent to the order to allow for extra needs, such as cutting around existing garden features.

Gather your supplies


  • Rolls of turf

  • Turf underlay soil

  • Rake

  • Timber screed

  • Spade or roller

STEP 1
Remove all weeds and old grass and rough up surface of soil. Next, spread a 5-10cm layer of turf underlay (this is a mix of about 80% washed river sand and 20% soil). If you’re turfing a large area, you can buy the underlay in bulk from a landscape supplier.

STEP 2
Spread underlay with a rake first, then use a screed to create a perfectly smooth surface. This ensures there will be no lumps or depressions to spoil the finished effect of your new lawn.

STEP 3
Carefully unroll turf over prepared soil bed, fitting each roll snugly against the next. It’s a good idea to lay the first rolls around the perimeter, to ensure you don’t end up with scraggy edges along pathways and so on. Once the job is completed, fill any cracks with a little turf underlay soil, then firm down turf using the flat back of a spade or, for larger areas, consider hiring a roller.

Photography: Phil Aynsley
Magazine issue: November 2010

Stockists
Sir Walter buffalo grass, $8.50/roll; turf underlay soil; screed, Bunnings Warehouse, (03) 8831 9777 or www.bunnings.com.au

See also: The essential guide to lawn care