Hi Guys,

I have read over the thread on 'Turf Laying' from start to end and decided to collate all the wonderful information for myself so that i didn't miss anything. Now that im almost done, i have decided to share it all with you so that you all can benefit and so that Fu Manchu's great advice and knowledge is not wasted!

So please bear with me as i populate this thread in the next few day(s) and hopefully Fu Manchu can help me fix anything.

I intend this to be a guide for everyone, not just for WA Soils.

Cheers

http://www.sustainableoutdoors.com.au/bentonite-clay/


1.0 SOIL ADDITIVES


1.1 Zeolite - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]
Granular Form

[ img ]
Powder Form


1.2 Spongolite - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]
Can come in Poweder or Granular form, doesn't matter.


1.3 Gypsum - Click Here for a definition (Only effective in some clays, taking years to do it. Has better alternatives)

[ img ]


1.4 Bentonite - Click Here for a definition
(*Only to be used in Sandy soils*)

[ img ]
Bentonite Clay - Clay Cat litter $4 for 3-5kg

[ img ]
Sodium Bentonite from Rural supply shops. 20kgs costs $20-30


1.5 Mollasses - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]


1.6 Seasol - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]


1.7 Powerfeed - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]


1.8 Bioasis Bactivate - Click Here for a definition
- Video... click here
[ img ]


1.9 Shades of Green Lawn Fertiliser Blend - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]


1.10 Certified Organic Soil - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]


1.11 Sand Remedy - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]


1.12 Seamngus - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]



1.13 PiggyPost - Click Here for a definition

[ img ]
http://www.dsatco.com/Portals/2/bulk%20bag%20web.jpg

2.0 EQUIPMENT

• Small Plate Compactor

• Soil Spreader

• Shovel

• Wheel Barrow

• Small Soil Tiller or Rotary Hoe*

• Wide Plastic Lawn Rake

• Nail Rake

• Bread Knife for cutting turf

• Flags to mark out reticulation

[ img ]
Common Tools

[ img ]
Plate Compactor

[ img ]
Rotary Hoe


* Try to hire a kanga/bobcat with a ripper on the back to make job easier

3.0 PROCEDURE

Note: The following guide will ensure that your soil is well prepared for the turf that is to be laid. By following this guide, you are setting yourself up for easy-care lawn that will look greener, needs less water, springs less weeds and better for the environment.

It should be noted that although steps 3-6 can be missed in parts, it is highly recommended to follow the guide if you want the the best lawn that requires the least care and has the least impact on the environment. A compromise on the prep work means a compromise on results.

Step 1 - Get rid of weeds

Apply 'Round-Up' to Kill any weeds.

Round-Up will need quite a few days on the weeds and the weeds need to be exposed to light to absorb it and get it through the system. It is best sprayed in the morning, make sure it doesn't rain and it has a whole day to be soaked up by the unsuspecting weed. Fu Manchu suggests a few drops of dishwashing liquid and a cap full of 'Seasol' in the sprayer to "trick" the weed into absorbing the roundup rapidly an more effectively.

Leave for 10 days. Rotary hoe the weeds into the soil and they wont be back.

Step 2 - Till the Soil

Run the 'Rotary Hoe' over the entile soil area to till it.

Step 3 - Get Certified

Spread delivered 'Certified Organic Compost' onto existing soil.

Application Quantity: Soil to have mixture of 10-20% Sand, 80-90% Organic Compost i.e. for 1m square of soil, apply 0.2m cubed of Organic Compost.

Note: May use Piggypost instead, not as much required (100mm). (is that right Fu?)

Step 4 - Gypsum (Skip this step for Sandy soils)

Add Gypsum to the soil

Application Quantity: ?

I personally wouldn't worry about using this. In many applications Gypsum is not effective because it does work on all clay soils. It also takes a great many years to have effect at all. Dolomite of lime is better in heavy clay soils but nothing beats what organic composts and their organic acids do Humic, Fulvic and Amino Acids from composts will do a wonderful job of breaking that clay soil up.

Step 5 - Powerfeed & Bactivate

Add 'Powerfeed' and 'Bioassis Bactivate' to the soil

Application Quantity: As per instructions on product

Step 6 - Bentonite, Spongolite & Zeolite (can use Perlite instead of Spongolite)

Add 'Bentonite' Clay, Perlite, Spongolite and Zeolite to the soil (perlite, especially in clay soils, is also a good alternative if finding spongolite is hard)

Application Quantity: Zeolite = 750g/m2, Spongolite = 1kg/m2, Bentonite Clay = 0.5 - 2kg/m2

Can add Sand Remedy instead of Bentonite

If you MUST only use either Sponogolite or Zeolite (due to costs etc), It is better to use Zeolite over Spongolite. Zeolite is more beneficial.

Step 7 - Cultivate

Using the rotary hoe, dig the soil through to around 300mm-400mm, deeper if possible. As some machines can not cultivate this deep, keep running the rotary hoe over areas to cultivate to required depth.

Step 8 - Level

Roughly level the area using a nail rake. Using the soil spreader, level the soil further so that it is as flat as possible.

Step 9 - Rake

Rake over the soil with a wide plastic Rake

Step 10 - Compact

Wet the area and then do a quick lap with a Plate Compactor. May need to spend a while on sandy soils. Rake over again to make sure it is all level and fairly firm.

Step 11 - Scrape

This step may be missed if you are happy with the level of the soil, however, scraping will give you a very good finish.

Step 12 - Lay Turf

Lay the Turf around the edges first like you would when you paint a wall.

Then lay the turf as shown below, staggered, as with brickwork.

[ img ]

Note: Changing direction of turf will give the MCG effect. Turf can be laid in one direction if this is not desired.

Step 13 - Firm it up

Run the compactor over the freshly laid out turf to firm it up.

Step 14 - Give it some Juice

Apply Molasses & Seasol to the turf

Guide to using Molasses:

http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=15058

Step 15 - Watering

Read the following thread on instructions for watering new turf, also listed in section 6.0

http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=26859&p=364021&hilit=sub+surface#p364021

Step 165 - Other Additions

Myco Defence

Fu also recommends MycoApply® Defence as being a very important addition to the garden/turf install.

http://www.maiaustralia.com.au/index.ph ... Itemid=106

5.0 SUPPLIERS



5.1 Empire Zoysia Turf

Fu Manchu suggests Empire Zoysia due to:

• Uses less water

• Stays greener in winter

• Slow Groth

W.A

• Love Grove - http://www.lovegroveturf.com

• TrueBlue Turf In Capel/Busselton - for SouthWest region

5.2 Molasses

Refer here for a discussion of Molasses Suppliers around the country.

Can be bought from any horse feed or produce shop.

W.A

• Mirco Bros (can take BYO container)

• Elders

• Landmark

• Some City Farmers outlets

• Gardeners Direct

QLD

• Tamborine Hardware and Produce

NSW

• Brandon Mollasses - http://www.brandonmolasses.com.au/

• Elders Rural Supplies

VIC

• PETstock

5.3 Zeolite

Some discussion on Zeolite suppliers and pricing found here.

Globe Australia have suppliers in every state
http://www.globeaustralia.com.au

W.A

• Woodwale Fish & Lilly Farm - http://www.woodvalefishandlilyfarm.com.au/index.html - $16 for 10kg bag

• Little Loads - http://www.littleloads.com.au

• The Green Lift Soil Co. - http://www.greenlifesoil.com.au/

NSW

• AliBaba - http://www.alibaba.com/product/au101413 ... nules.html

VIC

• Bulleen Art and Garden - http://www.baag.com.au

5.4 Spongolite

W.A

• Woodwale Fish & Lilly Farm - http://www.woodvalefishandlilyfarm.com.au/index.html - $16 for 10kg bag

• Little Loads - http://www.littleloads.com.au

• The Green Lift Soil Co. - http://www.greenlifesoil.com.au/

5.5 Bentonite

W.A

• The Green Lift Soil Co. - http://www.greenlifesoil.com.au/

• Absolutely Organic

• Westfeeds

• Milne Feeds

• http://www.sustainableoutdoors.com.au

5.6 Seasol & Powerfeed

Available from Bunning but may be cheaper from following places

VIC

• All Green Nursery - http://www.allgreen.com.au/

• Bulleen Art and Garden - http://www.baag.com.au

5.7 Certified Organic Soil

Make sure it is NAASA approved.

WA

• Gardeners Direct - http://www.gardenersdirect.com.au/

• The Green Lift Soil Co. - http://www.greenlifesoil.com.au/

• Bio Organics - Oakford - http://www.bioorganics.com.au/

5.8 Piggypost

WA

• DSATCO - http://www.dsatco.com/

Mate you have read my mind... Really looking forward to a confirmed how to guide about quantities (I know Fu says more is better but if we can get a range ie minimum of x per sqm to a maximum of x)
and also the consise guide for what to put on for WA conditions as well...

Look forward to it!

May have to check your photos of zeolite and spongolite, doesn't look like any I have seen before. Zeolite is usually orangeish brown, spongolite off white irregular shaped granules.
Good coalation though.

Thanks, if anyone can direct me in the direction of photos i would appreciate it. many like me, have never seen the stuff :p

Making a sticky! Great work

Alrighty, for some reaons my permissions are playing up so Im still trying to sticky :/

wrexter, 10+ !!!!!!!!

You have done my job for me

Like many others, I'm sure, I was going to weed through all the different threads and bits and pieces, but just the thought of doing that ...

Love the pics, love the format and the chapters! Love how you left the posts reserved for more info later on, so the flow is not broken by useless comments like this one

Done!

What a great summary! Oh I'd add though that all those extra's for the soil don't need to go in but it's better with.

Also regular powerfeed on the soil will work quicker at breaking down the clay than gypsum - oh and that gypsum is only if you have clay original soil

Great thread - Very useful!

One question I have that Fu or someone else may have seen the answer to... Fu describes mixing the Seasol/ Molasses into a 9l watering can... does anyone know over what area?

for my 99 m2 it takes me 3 x doses of molasses and whatever else I'm putting in. But I refill the watering can several times with water before I've used all the molasses as I don't completely dissolve it.

I found my Mirco Bros receipt today. It cost $1.60 per kilo for the molasses. BYO container if you want ( some sort of bucket with lid would be the right sort of container unless you bring a huge funnel as well)

Woodvale fish and lily farm can supply zeolite and spongolite


TrueBlue Turf In Capel/Busso supply EZ lawn for the southwest.

Thanks for the feedback guys, have incorporated your comments.

amazing stuff wrexter.. i'm sure this will a lot of people..