How do I Lay or Install Lawn in Melbourne?
Are you planning on laying a Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, Tif Tuf, Sir Grange, or Eureka Premium VG lawn soon? It may seem like a big job, but it can be quite easy and straightforward if you know what to do. To achieve optimum results, you need to be careful and attentive while installing your lawn. The more time and care you take in preparation and installation, the better the long-term result.
You certainly don't need to be a landscaping expert to have a beautiful lawn – just follow our simple step-by-step guide.
Step 1 – Measure the area.
Measure the area to determine how much lawn turf you will need. Our orders are taken in square metres.
For rectangle or square areas, measure the length and width of the area and multiply them together. For example, if length = 5 m and width = 5 m, the area is 5 m x 5 m = 25 m2.
For a circular area, measure the radius (half of the diameter), multiply the radius by itself, then multiply by 3.14. For example, if radius = 7 m, the area is 7 m x 7 m x 3.14 = 153.86 m2.
For an oval area, measure length and width, multiply them together, then multiply by 0.80. For example, if length = 10 m and width = 15 m, the area is 10 m x 15 m x 0.80 = 120 m2.
Step 2 – Prepare the area.
Remove existing grass, weeds, rocks, and stones. Rake the area, then spread out topsoil to a depth of about 50–100 mm. We recommend a 3-in-1 soil mix, often referred to as turf mix, which you can find at your local garden supplier. If you’re not sure what topsoil to use, ask your local garden supplier what’s best for your area.
Once you have prepared the area, simply give us a call and order your lawn. We deliver 6 days a week to most Melbourne metro suburbs.
Step 3 – Lay the turf.
Before you start laying your QWELTS, you’ll need to fertilise the area. When you order from Lilydale Instant Lawn, complimentary starter fertiliser is included. Simply spread the fertiliser evenly across the entire area, starting in one corner and working your way back. Wet the area to create a moist surface for your instant turf.
Now you are ready to install your lawn! This is often the most satisfying part of the process, as you begin to see your yard transforming.
Start laying turf along a straight edge, such as the path or fence furthest from the pallet of QWELTS. Lay the rows of QWELTS in a brickwork pattern, tucking them in neatly against each other to avoid air pockets, which can have a drying effect. You can cut the QWELTS to fit curved edges using a serrated pruning knife or old steak knife.
If you're laying turf on a slope, lay the turf across the slope rather than down. If the slope is very steep, hold your turf in place with stakes until there is sufficient root growth to hold it in place, this could take 3 – 6 weeks.
Step 4 – Water the turf.
Now you have finished laying your turf, stand back, admire your work… then give the lawn a good water!
Generally, we recommend that you use an irrigation system or sprinklers when watering any lawn, as this encourages a more even spread of water across the area. Hand watering with a hose doesn’t distribute water as evenly, and is very time consuming.
Keep watering until the water has soaked through to the soil beneath the lawn. For the next 4–6 weeks, water your lawn at least once a day. From there, you should decrease the frequency of watering to once every couple of day, depending on rainfall in order to encourage deep rooting. You may need to water your lawn more often during the warmer months.
For more information on watering your lawn, read our watering blog.
Step 5 – Fertilise.
Fertilising regularly is key to keeping your lawn healthy. As a rule, you should choose a balanced fertiliser with approximately equal levels of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. During the growing stages, apply fertiliser every 4–6 weeks. We recommend the Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser, as it complements our lawn varieties perfectly.
Turf installation in Melbourne
If you're looking for the best lawn for your front or back yard, Lilydale Instant Lawn has you covered. We offer services to help you through every stage of setting up your lawn, from buying instant turf through to installing it and maintaining it. We also have a range of resources you can browse through for more information. And we’re always here to answer any questions you may have.
Get in touch with our friendly team by giving us a call on (03) 9730 1128 or email contact@lilydaleinstantlawn.com.au