Laying new turf queries

jarunit · Oct 06, 2016 1:19 pm

Hi Guys,

I have seen the great write up by Fu on here about laying turf properly. We are about to embark on that mission soon on about 40m2 in south west Sydney.

What I am wondering is, in order to get rid of the weeds, is there an alternative to using glyphosate? I have read that it is not the safest thing to use when there are kids and dogs around?

We have a very dry clayey soil, I am planning to remove the top 100mm and lay new 100mm of organic soil. Is 100mm sufficient?

6banga · Oct 06, 2016 4:24 pm

Generally 100m is sufficient. If you can I would till the clay soil and break it up this way the roots will be able to achieve getting in deep when the grass matures.

LynneB · Oct 09, 2016 3:46 pm

If your removing the soil there would be no need to apply a herbicide.

I asked my agronomist husband and glyphosate has many different brands and labels, but most of them have zero withholding period. If you wanted to play it safe stay off it for 24 hours, but that's due to efficacy on the weeds.

To put it in perspective the LD50 for glyphosate (4900) is higher than caffeine (192) & table salt (3000).

Disclaimer: Always read the pesticide label prior to use.

LynneB

jarunit · Oct 13, 2016 9:22 am

LynneB

If your removing the soil there would be no need to apply a herbicide.
LynneB

Lynne, thank you for your reply and checking with your husband, that seems like it would be the ideal alternative, if we can simply dig out and get rid of the old top 100mm - do we definitely not need to apply herbicide? I thought I read somewhere that you need to anyway? If not, would make the process alot more simple, remove top 100mm, add new 100mm then turf?