Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 322Sep 04, 2010 12:13 pm Harrisdale backyard finally done! Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 326Sep 06, 2010 9:05 pm I went outside once. The graphics were alright, but the gameplay sucked! Settlement:22nd June Slab:27th August Frame:16th Sept Bricked:21st Oct Roof:24th Nov Linings HANDOVER23rd March! Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 327Sep 07, 2010 10:12 am Hey everyone, what a great thread. I'm currently prepping the soil for turf at the moment based on Master Fu's recommendation. I'm in Melb West. I've gone through countless threads trying to choose turf for my 100m2 backyard but still can't decide on what to go for. Its also mainly budget as well. I'm still tossing if I should just use Munns 'Emerald Kikuyu'. I don't mind mowing the lawn as I like the smell of freshly cut grass and it'll also provide me materials for composting. I won't be having any garden beds just some shrubs covered with mulch for the borders around the turf. We've got heavy clay here and so far due to the rain, I've only manage to rotary hoe, add in zeolite, gypsum, sand. The entire area was covered in mulch before and most of it has broken down. Been putting in powerfeed/seasol the last 3 months as well. Going to do another pass with the rotary hoe again this weekend. Would I still need organic soil? There was 5m3 of mulch before now dug into the clay. So Empire vs Buffalos vs Emerald Kikuyu - Also got a small pooch that loves to nip at grass when he's feeling vegetarian. Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 328Sep 07, 2010 12:32 pm Empire will be wobbly in the first few years in winter but will bounce back time after time with stuff all mowing. Buffalos are pretty much similar for my money though reps from Sir Walter and from Ozbreed will tell you otherwise Fair call though. I would select first on price of those varieties. Then look at what their customer service is like as well Those 3 are the best for nice finish and being more waterwise in staying green in summer along with minimal nutrient and garden maintenance. That is a pretty general statement of course and some of the industry types reading it may disagree. But I guess it's not a question to be answered where it has been discussed over the last 17 pages or what ever and in numerous threads on the subject. I am saying this in relation to many years of seeing how domestic gardeners and home owners use and maintain domestic turf rather than how professional turf managers and greenkeepers do it in commercial applications. There are many other varieties that do well in commercial applications that I have not mentioned here. Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 329Sep 08, 2010 7:42 am Hi. I need some advice on site-prep and am new to turf laying. 1. Just moved in to a new house in Melbourne and intend to lay turf myself but getting a landscaper to do some prep work. I've got someone to level with a bobcat and spread around 100mm+ of soil on top of existing soil and lots of clay in an area of 100sqm. The rains came and now it feels like quick-sand with my boots sinking in all the way in the soil (around 100mm)! Is that normal? I suspect that I need to do some compression using a plate compressor or roller to firm it up? Do I do this after it has completely dried up or when it is still mushy? When is the best time to lay the turf -- after a few days of solid sun to dry up the soil or when its still a bit mushy? 2. I intend to set aside some area for decking and a shed 12 months down the track. Should I temporarily put in grass or just drop some mulch over it, so that it can be walked upon in the meantime? I reckon it would be much harder to remove the grass 1 year down the road as opposed to mulch? Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 330Sep 08, 2010 11:27 am Hi Zuckoids - I suggest you start reading at page 1 of this thread - your first question has been asked and answered many times. Soil on top is the worst thing you can do - Fu Manchu has described the best methodology on page 1. As for #2 - I say mulch. After 4 years - we're in! Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 331Sep 08, 2010 9:44 pm Thanks. Yes, saw that. I'll attempt to follow the technique as closely as possible. Unforunately I didn't get organic soil. My landscaper put lawn mix I believe. Hope its still relevant. I assume that this needs to be done on fairly dry soil. Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 332Sep 09, 2010 8:17 am If you just got lawn mix - then it's mostly crappy soil. I strongly suggest mixing in some organic matter - mushroom compost, zeolite, spongolite. I found that the soil is easier to work when a little damp rather than very dry (it's terribly dusty and the clay is hard like a rock when it's baked dry) After 4 years - we're in! Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 333Sep 11, 2010 7:22 pm The lawn mix can't be too bad...... Our dog has taken to eating it! Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 334Sep 11, 2010 9:28 pm it's probably got chicken poop in it. dogs like eating that. Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 335Sep 11, 2010 10:29 pm Thanks..... She is not licking me again Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 336Sep 12, 2010 12:21 am Zuikoids, soils should never really be applied dry. This dramatically increases the risk of getting some messed up diseases. A good soil should always be delivered moist and friable. New turf or any plant should always go onto or in moist healthy organic rich soil. Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 337Sep 13, 2010 2:14 pm Does it really matter if you have 2 different types of grass? I don't want to spend the money and turf the nature strip out the front. Will mowing the lawn transfer seeds from the verge to my lawn? Can't be bothered cleaning the mower half way through the job!! Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 338Sep 13, 2010 3:24 pm I think like most people that read through all of this for the first time, all I can say is wow! Time to start doing some planning and set aside a few weekends. For our property, we were lucky enough to have the guys who did the driveway clear away about 200mm of the existing soil. We're looking at Empire Zoysia turf, and from what I can find it's about 30mm thick - if I want the final turf to be level with the slab, driveway, etc, do I get 170mm of organic soil? Should I be getting some more given that we're going to compact it as per the excellent directions in this thread? Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 339Sep 13, 2010 3:37 pm Hey Grasstree are you still there? I had Sapphire Buffalo layed during the end of June and it had a fair bit of frost damage. I've been applying seasol and molasses every now and then and also soil wetting agent. The molasses is working really well. The lawn is greening up and recovering. I have some parts of the lawn that have turned light green with new grass, some parts that have shoots of green grass growing through the yellow patches and some patches that are nice and dark green. I am sure that this is caused by the way the lawn was layed. I still have a fair bit of frost damage grass throughout the lawn. I have just began applying powerfeed and I will be putting on cert organic top soil as soon as the grass grows abit more. My question is, when should I do what? Will I have to aerate the lawn later down the track due to the previous frost damage that may cause thatching? When, in Sydney, will the lawn really start to taking off? Re: TURF LAYING SUMMARY and what has become many things turf 340Sep 13, 2010 6:27 pm Spring into Spring:10% discount on all Sir Walter lawn care products from http://tinyurl.com/25ro5d2 - just enter code TWNR92010 at checkout Posted with my permission I'm about to put down some Merbau. Is it necessary to oil underneath the boards before laying? 0 1938 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 4329 Depends what you're current inclusions are, but we're not including wardrobes and will just use second hand ones until we can save later on to get them built. Also have a… 3 11647 |