How to Lay Turf: A Step by Step Guide for Aussie Lawns

A fresh roll of turf is the fastest way to go from bare dirt to a lush, green lawn, almost overnight. The catch is that a new lawn lives or dies in its first couple of weeks, and most of that comes down to how it goes in. Knowing how to lay turf properly, from the soil underneath to the first watering, is the difference between a lawn that knits in fast and one that dries out at the seams. Here is exactly how to lay turf for a lawn that takes off.

Timing matters before you even think about laying turf. Warm season lawns like buffalo, couch, kikuyu and zoysia establish best while the soil is warm and growing, which in most of Australia runs from Spring through to early Autumn. When it comes down to it, Spring is the sweet spot, giving you warmth, reliable rain and months for the lawn to root down before the heat of Summer. Timing really is the first rule.

You can lay turf almost year round in warmer parts of the country. The one situation where laying turf gets tricky is the depth of a cold, frosty winter, when growth stalls and new roots struggle. Whenever you tackle it, aim to get it down and watered the same day it is delivered, because good timing sets up everything else.

Good soil prep is ninety percent of how to lay turf well. Turf laid on loose, weed free, level soil roots in fast, while turf dropped on hard, lumpy ground struggles from day one. Get this stage right and the rest of how to lay turf is easy. Work through these steps before a single roll arrives.

• Clear the area. Remove or spray out old grass and weeds and take away rocks, roots and rubble. A clean start stops weeds pushing up through your new lawn.

• Cultivate the base. Loosen the top 100mm of soil with a rotary hoe or fork so new roots can drive down easily. On heavy clay, work in some gypsum to open it up.

• Add quality soil. Spread a good sandy loam underlay if your soil is poor, aiming for at least 100mm of workable soil for the roots.

• Level and firm. Rake the surface smooth, then roll it lightly to firm it and reveal any low spots. Fill and re-level as needed.

• Set your levels. Keep the finished soil about 20 to 25mm below paths and edges, so the turf finishes flush once it is down.

TIP: Give the prepared bed a light water the day before your turf arrives. Laying fresh turf onto slightly moist soil, rather than dust dry ground, helps the roots make contact and start growing straight away.

Once the bed is ready, the laying itself is quick. This is the part most people picture when they think about laying turf, and a few simple habits are all it takes to master how to lay turf. Get these right and how to lay turf becomes almost foolproof.

Start along a straight edge like a path or driveway and lay your first row tight against it. Butt each roll firmly end to end with no gaps and no overlaps, since gaps dry out and overlaps create bumps. Staggering the joins from row to row like brickwork is the part of laying turf that hides the seams and makes it look professionally done. Use a sharp knife to trim around garden beds, curves and sprinkler heads. 

Watering is where knowing how to lay turf really pays off, because fresh turf dries out fast. In fact, watering is the step that people most often get wrong, and this early care is very important. Get the first soak on within about thirty minutes of laying, and water it deeply so the moisture reaches the soil below the roots, not just the leaf.

For the first two weeks keep the turf constantly moist, watering every day and twice a day in hot or windy weather. After it has knitted down you can gradually cut back to deeper, less frequent watering that trains the roots down. Stay off the new lawn as much as possible for the first two to three weeks, and hold off mowing until the turf resists a gentle tug, which tells you the roots have taken hold.

The last piece of laying successfully is helping those new roots establish, because laying turf does not end the moment the last roll is down. Feeding is the quiet final stage. A seaweed tonic like Pure Seaweed+ is ideal in the early days, as it reduces transplant shock and drives strong root growth without pushing soft, hungry top growth.

Once the turf has knitted down, usually after a few weeks, the feeding side really begins. A balanced starter fertiliser like Proliferate gives it the nutrients to thicken up and fill in. Feed lightly at first and build up as the lawn establishes, and this steady feeding is the final part that turns a fresh lawn into a dense, healthy one that looks like it has been there for years. Get that last step right and laying turf is complete.

Laying a new lawn is one of the most satisfying jobs in the garden, and it is not hard once you know how to lay turf the right way. Laying turf comes down to a handful of steps: prepare the soil well, lay the rolls tight, water them in straight away and stay off the lawn while it roots down. Follow that simple guide and within a few weeks you will be walking on a thick, green lawn you laid yourself. Learn how to lay turf once and every lawn you tackle after that gets easier.