Preparation

There are several ways of preparation and if you have a landscaper doing the job for you, they will do it their way. However, this is the way that I would prepare a job.

• To get rid of any weeds, spray it with Round-Up Bi-Active 3 weeks prior to laying the turf. Then again, 1 week before to get anything you may have missed the first time.
• Also identify and list the hazards before you start. Look out for tripping points, slippery surfaces, overhead power lines and protruding branches or other objects at head, and even groin, height.
• Before you do any digging, knowing the location of services such as power, gas, water, telephone, stormwater and sewer pipes is essential.

You are now ready to start your preparation by rotary hoeing, bobcat or by hand. Loosen the subsoil and rake out the rubbish. If your ground is heavy clay, add some gypsum that has to be mixed into the clay as it will not penetrate by itself.

If you have any wet areas, try to install a suitable drainage system. If you feel your soil is good enough, that’s okay. In the event that you need turf underlay, use a sandy loam, 60% sand, 40% soil. And rake out for a smooth level finish or use a short piece of timber (1 metre) then down on your knees screen soil level as if you were screening concrete. Allow about 25-30mm down from top of pathways, etc for the thickness of turf.

Remember the better the preparation, the better the finished job will be.