Real Turf Installation: Tips and Techniques for Tradies

Real Turf Installation: Tips and Techniques

As tradies, the quality of your workmanship directly impacts the satisfaction of your clients and the reputation of your business. When it comes to real turf installation, ensuring a high-quality outcome not only secures your client’s trust but also enhances the aesthetic and functional value of their outdoor spaces. 

At Australian Lawn Concepts, we understand the intricacies involved in laying real turf, and we’re here to share some essential tips and techniques that can help tradies install turf perfectly, efficiently, and to the client’s delight.

How To Install Real Grass Turf Perfectly Every Time

Understand the Project Requirements

Every turf installation project is unique, with it’s specific requirements based on the location, soil type, intended use, and client preferences. Begin by assessing the site thoroughly, considering factors such as sunlight exposure, drainage, and existing landscaping features. This initial assessment will guide you in choosing the right turf variety and preparing the site effectively.

Choose High-Quality Turf Suitable for the Project

The foundation of a successful turf installation is high-quality turf that’s well-suited to the project’s environmental conditions and intended use. Australian Lawn Concepts offers a range of premium grass varieties, including:

Zoysia Varieties

Augusta Zoysia stands out for its adaptability to shaded conditions, making it a top choice for gardens with varying light. Its low-maintenance nature, characterised by minimal mowing requirements, ensures it retains a manicured look with less effort. 

On the other hand, Empire Zoysia is celebrated for its resilience in the face of drought. Its ability to maintain a lush, green appearance even in dry conditions makes it an excellent choice for Australian climates prone to water scarcity. Both varieties boast a fine texture and a dense growth habit, contributing to a smooth, carpet-like lawn that enhances the aesthetic appeal of any landscape.

Bermuda Varieties

Bermuda grass is renowned for its durability and rapid recovery, making it ideal for high-traffic areas and sporting fields. While specific Bermuda varieties like the IronCutter Elite Hybrid Bermuda offer unparalleled toughness and a striking green hue, they all share common traits such as fast growth and excellent wear resistance. 

Bermuda varieties require more sun exposure, making them suitable for open, sunny landscapes where they can flourish and provide a consistently vibrant ground cover.

Couch Varieties

Couch turf, known for its fine leaf texture and vigorous growth, is a popular choice for Australian lawns due to its affordability and ease of care. Varieties like Wintergreen Couch are favoured for their excellent recovery capabilities and ability to withstand wear, making them suitable for both residential lawns and commercial spaces. 

Couch turf’s rapid growth rate ensures quick coverage and repair of any damaged areas, although this also means it may require more frequent mowing to maintain its neat appearance.

Buffalo Varieties

Buffalo turf varieties like Palmetto and Sir Walter are specially designed for the Australian lifestyle, offering a soft, lush lawn that’s both beautiful and functional. Palmetto Buffalo is known for its soft texture, making it pleasant underfoot and ideal for children’s play areas. It performs well in both sun and shade, ensuring versatility across different garden aspects. 

Sir Walter Buffalo, a tried and true variety, is celebrated for its robustness and ability to thrive in a range of Australian climates. It’s the go-to choice for homeowners looking for a hardy, low-allergenic turf that maintains its colour and density throughout the year, providing a consistently green backdrop for family backyards.

Selecting the right turf variety ensures not only the immediate appeal of the installed lawn but also its long-term health and sustainability.

Prepare the Site Thoroughly

Proper site preparation is crucial for the successful establishment of real turf. Remove all debris, weeds, and old turf, and ensure the area is level. Consider aerating compacted soil to improve oxygen, water, and nutrient flow. Applying a quality underlay soil or a turf starter fertiliser can provide an optimal growth environment for the new turf.

Lay the Turf with Precision

When laying turf, start along a straight edge, such as a driveway or garden path, to ensure straight lines. Stagger the joints in a brickwork pattern to avoid continuous seams, which can lead to drying out and weak spots. Make sure the edges of each turf roll or slab are tightly butted against each other without overlapping or leaving gaps.

Ensure Adequate Watering

Watering is critical in the initial stages post-installation. The first watering should thoroughly saturate the turf and the underlying soil to encourage deep root growth. Instruct your clients to maintain a regular watering schedule for the first few weeks until the turf is well established, adjusting for weather conditions to prevent overwatering or drying out.

Roll the Turf to Remove Air Pockets

After laying the turf, use a lawn roller to gently press the turf into the soil, ensuring good contact between the turf roots and the soil. This step helps eliminate air pockets that can hinder root establishment and lead to uneven turf surfaces.

Advise Clients on Proper Lawn Care

Educating your clients on how to care for their new lawn is part of delivering a high-quality service. Provide guidance on watering schedules, mowing techniques, and fertilisation to help them maintain the lawn’s health and appearance. A well-informed client is more likely to achieve long-term satisfaction with their turf investment.

Use Professional Tools and Equipment

Investing in professional-grade tools and equipment can significantly enhance the efficiency and quality of turf installation. Sharp cutters for trimming edges, a reliable lawn roller, and an effective irrigation system for watering are essential tools of the trade.

Partner with a Reputable Turf Supplier

The quality of the turf you install is directly influenced by the reliability of your turf supplier. Partnering with Australian Lawn Concepts ensures access to premium turf varieties, expert advice, and consistent supply. Our team is dedicated to supporting tradies with high-quality products and insights to achieve exceptional turf installation outcomes.

At Australian Lawn Concepts, we’re more than just a supplier; we’re a partner in your turf installation projects. Our extensive range of real grass turf rolls is cultivated to meet the highest standards, ensuring that you have access to the best products for any project. From selecting the right turf variety to providing expert installation advice, our team is here to support your success.

We understand the challenges and demands of turf installation work, and we’re committed to making the process as seamless and successful as possible for tradies across Australia. Whether you’re working on a residential backyard or a large commercial landscape, Australian Lawn Concepts has the expertise and products to support your project from start to finish.

For more information on our turf varieties, installation tips, to discuss your next project, or get a price for turf installation, contact us. Let’s work together to create beautiful, healthy, and sustainable lawns that stand the test of time and exceed your clients’ expectations.