Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 481Nov 14, 2010 8:20 pm Due to weather and other delays, it looks like we will not be laying turf to atleast December, possibly even as late as January. Is this getting too late to lay grass in Melbourne? Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 483Nov 15, 2010 7:30 pm Hey all, Quick question I've done one hit of my back yard with gypsum. But I'm going to give it another one but with powerfeed some spongolite and hopefully some O's green bio, and some more gypsum. Then also add a mix of hopefully 60/40 sand and organic soil Now how long would I have to wait for, before I could lay down the turf. *Read it is very clayey ground, well most of it is of it is. 1 week 2 weeks 3 or more ? cheers J. Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 484Nov 15, 2010 10:18 pm Before we answer that, where are we at? As in where do you live? Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 485Nov 16, 2010 11:31 am Hey Fu, thanks for dropping that gear off yesterday appreciate it. I am going to be putting in the lawn on Saturday (apparently it is going to be 37) but hopefully I can do it quick enought that the lawn should be fine. In terms of watering I will apply to the water corp so I can water new lawn on a more regular basis but I don't want the lawn to become dependent on huge amounts of water. I know it is important for the first few weeks to give her plently but when should I start weaning her off watering everyday. I think we get 35 - 45 days of being able to water everyday. Will she be fine after that to go to once a week after that even though it will be mid summer? The soil prep has been followed very closely to all your recommendations. Thanks Spook Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 486Nov 16, 2010 12:09 pm Yeah goes without saying almost that such a thin layer of turf will need some extra water. You will be best to handwater it and you can search for my thread on handwatering. Smash that turf down in the morning and keep an eye on it in the late arvo. Don't be alarmed if it goes a bit dry here and there, it will come back. There will be plenty of moisture in the soil from the prep work I saw you have done and great work by the way I'd be keeping the water up on hot and especially windy days. Windy days are going to put the greatest stress on the lawn, not the heat. So if we get a particularly strong seabreeze around 25 to 35 knots, you'll need some extra water. After a month you can start to ween it off the water. After two months you should be right with one day and some extra handwatering here and there. This time next year you will get by with one day a week applying 10mm of water. Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 488Nov 16, 2010 9:16 pm I've laid my EZ turf for about 3+ weeks now. It's still green, so that must be a good sign. I think it is growing quite slowly (as expected). Some questions: 1. A few rolls were a bit dry and after I laid it has dried out brown (half of the roll), but I see a few green shoots within. Panic, or do I wait and eventually new shoots will pop up and take over the brown patches? 2. I think there are some small gaps between the rolls. Do I need to top-dress these gaps to fill it up? There was a weed growing right in the gap. Would dropping sand in these gaps help stop the weeds (I'm guessing not)? 3. Neighbour's Kikuyu has crept under my fence and popped up right in the middle of my new EZ, which is about 0.5m away. What should I do? I was thinking maybe: (a) let the EZ compete with the Kikuyu because the EZ will win the end? or (b) apply some sort of Kikuyu weed killer on it or (c) insert some root barrier near the fence? cheers z Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 489Nov 16, 2010 11:46 pm 1. Just wait. 2.Leave it, it will be fine. 3.Kike will win. Kill the Kike and you kill the EZ. I'd be spraying with round up along the fence line (Yes you will kill the EZ too) and also pulling out the Kike. Not often I'd suggest it, if ever and I shudder to do so, but once a year path weeder might be the go around the boundary. Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 491Nov 17, 2010 3:04 pm Ok, just to get it straight as to what the correct sequence of steps are before the actual laying of the turf - 1. Kill/remove any living weeds (done) 2. Rotary hoe the ground (with the zeo and spong -olites to mix it through, or should these only be added to the top portion of the soil underneath with say a rake?) 3. Compact lightly with a small compacting plate. Lay turf (border then insides in brick style). Compact with small compacting plate. Now bits I'm unsure of... At what stage should I be watering with Seasol and Powerfeed - my guess would either be just prior to (after it's compacted and/or just after laying the turf? Should the Seamungus and Olsens be mixed in with the rotary hoe too? What is the best thing to top dress the turf with once laid? How much per sq m? How often after laying the turf should I be watering with Seasol and Powerfeed to help establishment? Finally, what have I forgotten? Second Time 'Round Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 492Nov 17, 2010 10:51 pm 2. They need to be present right through the prepared soil. So mixed through when you mix in the compost and some sand. Get some Seamungus down under the turf. Full of humic acids, great for the soil and Olsens or Bactivate, Chuck that down just before you roll the turf out Use the seasol, powerfeed, molasses, you name it after the turf has been laid and finished. That's the good bit Watering it in after the job is just about done It's not finished till you have done it Top dress the turf? You guys over east get jipped. A good roll of turf should have good root structure and hold together well. No need for top dresses unless your prep work wasn't very level. If you get a crappy roll that is falling apart on you as you lay it, then yes further expense is needed. As has been mentioned many times, seasol etc once a week. Molasses especially. Then after a month, do it fortnightly after a further 2 months then monthly after that. For West Aussies, get some "Shades of green" on from then on and use molasses as well It's going to be good when the East coast can start getting this Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 493Nov 18, 2010 12:56 pm Thanks Fu! Second Time 'Round Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 495Nov 21, 2010 10:40 pm Finally done!!! It has been about a year getting the front ready for this lawn. I managed to get a great day to put on the lawn, it was hot but overcast and I even got a bit of rain. The prep was 8 cubes or organic soil, 4 bags of spongolite and zeolite, 2 olsens bio, saturaid, 2 bags of bentonite and a bag of Seamungus. All tilled to at least 200 mm. Compacted and screeded before and then compacted after. molasses, powerfeed and season today. The lawn is empress zoysia and it looks great. Thanks for all the advice Fu.
Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 496Nov 21, 2010 10:45 pm Mate the best is yet to come. Some pics would be great but ok if you'd rather not Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 497Nov 21, 2010 11:46 pm Here are the pics.
http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i35 ... Before.jpg http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i35 ... ure043.jpg http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i35 ... /after.jpg Before and after, hope the links work. Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 498Nov 22, 2010 12:10 am Hi guys. I am a little overwhelmed with all the information on here. I have just moved into my new house and am about to embark on doing my landscaping. To say I am no good at this stuff is an understatement, this time I want to make a go of it. There seem to be a few different schools of thought on which lawn to go with, and reading this information has confused me more. Any recommendations? Main feature has to be easy maintenance! I like the photo of your lawn Spook it looks really good!!!! Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 499Nov 22, 2010 12:23 am Thanks mate, I think you will find most people will recommend the empire zoysia. It grows slow so maintanence factor is a lot less. Fu, how long should I give it before the first mow and should I keep it nice and high? I have a reel mower. TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf :) 500Nov 22, 2010 3:06 pm Yeah there's heaps here. I wish I had the ability to set it all out better for you guys This needs a sub forum on it's own. Just jot down notes and you will see some common themes. As for turf choice all you read is mostly commercial info so of course you'll get confused. My aim here is to give independent advice. I love ez for the care side but I also love buffaloes. Stuff which is better. Worry about that and you'll go mad With the right soil prep, or let's say better soil prep than is commonly advised elsewhere, your turf is going to come up great regardless of choice. Turf now days needs to do more with less so my advise is often different to what you might normally read but is well researched and Its cutting edge stuff so i just pass that on to you. Less water little fertilizer. Turf can do what many say it can't. I hate hearing someone has used plastic grass because people get so confused about turf they give up. Learn here and teach others, your lawn will be sustainable and viable with stuff all water. Have some black tiles in our bathroom on one feature wall laid on top of the waterproofing. What I think is efflorescence or white chalky looking grout has turned the… 0 2604 I'm about to put down some Merbau. Is it necessary to oil underneath the boards before laying? 0 2709 Hey There. No problems re jumping in. My original question was "should I have waterproofed" the concrete slab before putting batons down. We have been told we should… 7 4930 |