Australians love their lawns, and while most of us can only aspire to the lushness of a putting green, there are ways to make your grass soft and leafy all year round. It all comes down to preparation. And water.

When preparing for a new lawn, you’ll need to decide between laying turf and raising seed. The main difference is time and money.  Turf will give you a lawn in a day. Seed will take much longer, but at a fraction of the price.  If you have kids or pets, and are not prepared to fence off your garden for weeks while you wait for the grass to grow, it’s a better option to lay turf.

If you’re looking to transform you garden with a new lawn you can hire a landscaping expert (you can find one, here), or get your hands dirty. Here’s what you need to do if your choose the DIY option.

Step 1: Clear the site

First, the site for the new lawn must be cleared. Rocks, debris, weeds and old grass must be removed. If using a weed killer, use it at least 14 days before laying the new turf. You might need to remove the rubble – find a skip to hire, here.

Step 2: Till the soil

The soil needs to be tilled to a depth of at least 5 cms. This will allow grass roots to penetrate deep into the soil, as well as water and air.  If you’ve got a large site with compacted soil or heavy clay you’ll need to bring in the big guns. A rotary hoe will save you hours of back breaking labour. Hire one from your local hire shop. You’ll thank us.

Step 3: Add nutrients

While turning over the soil you’ll be able to have a good look at what soil type you have. If you’re not sure, take a sample to your local garden centre for their opinion.

If you’ve got heavy clay, you’ll need to mix in lots of gypsum – at least 1 kg per square metre. This helps to make the clay more friable and porous in the long term. But whatever your soil type, it’s a good idea to add lots of compost and other organic materials at this point, and make sure they are really well dug in. You can get these materials delivered from yourlocal landscape supply store.

Step 4: Grade the soil

After working the soil, you’ll need to grade it to allow for drainage. Using a heavy rake, shape and smooth the soil, making sure there is an adequate slope for water run-off. Reduce or eliminate any severe slopes, and infill any low lying areas to avoid drainage issues in the future. Remember to slope the grade away from any building foundations.

Step 5: Add topsoil

The next step is to add top soil to a depth of 10-15 centimetres.  Ask if your garden supply shop can recommend a topsoil that is designed for laying turf. It’s a good idea to get lots of humus added to the topsoil mix, so include that in your order. The supply store will mix the two together for you. Mushroom mulch or compost will give the new turf a power boost.

Step 6: Grade the topsoil

Time to use your rake again – this time to grade the topsoil. A hand-held level frame will get rid of any lumps and bumps to get a your contours nice and smooth. Make sure the grade slopes away from any building foundations, and again, ensure there are no low-lying areas where water can pool.

Finally, use a lawn roller to firm and settle the ground. All these tools are available to hire from your local hire shop.

Step 7: Roll out your turf

You’ll need to order your turf in advance, so arrange for it to be delivered on the same day you plan to lay it. It’s important to lay your turf on the day it’s delivered to avoid the roots drying out.

When rolling out turf, make sure the sides and ends of the roll butt up against each other to avoid bare partches. If laying turf down a slope, you need to lay the rolls across the slope, not straight down, to avoid water run off eroding top soil from underneath the grass.  

Step 8: Water it in

The key to success with any new lawn is water. You’ll need to keep the turf moist until the roots take hold. This may take two to three weeks depending on the time of the year. After it’s first established, you’ll need to deeply water your grass three times a week in the summer months, and twice a week in winter. After its well established, you can drop the watering down to one deep watering a week. Check with your local water board if you need an exemption from water restrictions while you establish your lawn.

Step 9: The first mow

Wait until the second or third week before you mow the lawn for the first time. Mow on a high setting, and only to tidy it up. Also, keep foot traffic at a minimum until the lawn is established.

If you’re looking to lay a turf lawn, you’ll need to choose a type of grass that works well in your region. There are loads of varieties, so consider your climate and the type of grass you want – hard wearing or golf-course soft – before chatting to a turf expert. You can find out more about the different types of turf available here.

Happy gardening!