How To Prepare The Ground
After removing all stones and other rubbish from the lawn area, you must prepare the ground. This, too, is very important. Although it means hard work and physical exercise, the basic fact of life is that the better you prepare the seedbed, the better your lawn will be. It is best to dig the area over as deep as you can; there really is no substitute for this. Good drainage is important and deep digging will help.
Whilst digging, this is the time to get your soil structure right. If the soil is heavy, or clay-like, then work in plenty of peat and sharp sand. Also, if you can get some good loamy topsoil this too will help to break up the heavy texture.
If, on the other hand, the soil is light or sandy, work in a good amount of peat to give body to the soil and prevent drying out and loss of nutrients.
Also, at this stage, any leveling or sloping should be done, although you should take care not to take too much topsoil from any one area. Sub-soil does not make for a good seedbed; it is low in nutrients and will give variations in growing habit and colour.
One point to remember is that it is essential to get a level surface. A lawn that has bumps and hollows does not look anything like one that is level. One idea is to get a plank about 2 metres long, put some weights on it -such as a few bricks- attach a rope to each end, then pull it behind you, round and round the area, until you are happy that it is level.
Lawn categories
Plant New Grass Or Sod
There are two ways to plant new grass to revive a dead lawn. The first is to lay down grass seed, spreading it evenly on the lawn you prepared. The use of a seed spreader is recommended if you have a larger yard. Once you have laid down the seed, youll need to cover it with soil but only a thin layer.
The second way is to use sod, which is grass already growing. Lay the sod down the prepared lawn by simply placing it over the soil. Remember to ensure that you set each roll or square of sod tightly to the next one. This is to make sure that your lawn doesnt have empty patches.
Choose The Correct Grass Seed
Choose a grass that is right for your lifestyle, budget, and location. Start by thinking about the type of lawn you want and the growing conditions in your area. Will the lawn get full sun or partial? Will it get a lot of foot traffic or be used by pets? If youre unsure what type of grass you should grow, check out our Grass Seed Identifier article, which will help you find a grass type that matches your growing conditions.
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Removing A Lawn With Solarisation
Solarisation is a process that uses heat from the sun to kill weed seeds and pathogens in the soil. Solarisation also kills the grass, cooking it until it dies. You’ll need lots of direct sunlight and high temperatures for success, so a hot summer is the best time for solarisation.
Mow the grass as closely as possible and water it thoroughly. Cover the grass with clear plastic sheeting and leave it covered for six to eight weeks. Clear plastic is more effective than opaque varieties, as it allows more sunlight to reach the grass and heat it more quickly. Thin plastic will work, but thicker plastic will last longer, resisting cuts and tears over the weeks you’ll have it down.
As an alternative, you can use black plastic to trap heat in the soil. Black plastic will also block sunlight, preventing photosynthesis. Once the grass is dead and you take up the plastic, you can remove the dead grass or let it act as compost.
Dead grass should be relatively easy to remove, but you’ll be getting rid of important organic matter. If you leave the grass in place, plant directly into it or till it into the soil to a depth of one or two inches. Don’t till too deeply. You can bring up soil that still has viable roots, weed seeds and pathogens.
Solarisation does not have the environmental impact of herbicide, but it will kill beneficial organisms along with those that are harmful. A lawn covered with plastic won’t be attractive and you’ll have to leave it in that condition for several weeks.
How To Plant Grass Seed In A New Lawn
Starting a new lawn from scratch may seem like a formidable task, especially if you’re new to home ownership or working on your first lawn. But planting a lawn from seed is easier than it seems at first glance. All you need is the willpower to make it happenand good information to guide your steps.Homeowners and lawn professionals have been trusting Pennington Seed for more than three generations. When Pennington says you can do this, you can. Just follow these 10 steps to plant a lawn from grass seed, and you can enjoy a thick, lush green lawn you’ll be proud of:
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Rake And Level Your Soil
Prepare your soil for the new lawn by raking it to a smooth level finish.
It is recommended you also apply some fertiliser, such as a good premium water-saving fertiliser with nutrient accelerator to enhance new growth.
Once you have your site properly prepared, give it a light watering to settle the soil and roll over it to smooth the base.
Faqs About Preparing Your Site
At what ground level do I need to have my soil prior to installation, if the area is going to be irrigated?
How do I remove existing lawn?
Remove the top 50-100mm of weed/grass mix and, depending on the soil going back in, you may need to replace it with clean, free-draining soil such as sandy loam. If you cannot find sandy loam, sand and loam can be purchased separately and applied at a ratio of 50/50. If lifting levels, old soil can be left but its recommended to free the old soil up with a garden fork or rotary hoe before covering. A further Gypsum application can be made when freeing the old soil up to help with drainage in the future.
Roughly re-level the area and install irrigation . Once you have done this, do a final re-level of the area.
Commission your irrigation system to make sure all the sprinklers are working properly and are at the right levels . The top of the sprinkler needs to be level or slightly below existing soil so the sprinkler can pop up through your lawn.
Do I need to get a soil test?
Enquire with our friendly team for a sharp price on your turf today
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How To Start A New Lawn From Grass Seed
With preparation, the right quality seeds, well-prepared soil, and a little patience, you can start a new lawn yourself.
You’ve probably heard lots of advice from your neighbors. They probably say that starting a new lawn is hard work best left to professionals. Or you should bite the bullet and pay for sod. The fact is, you can save money and be successful starting a new lawn from seed. You just need a little preparation, quality grass seed ideal for your growing conditions, well-prepared soil, and a little patience.
How To Prepare Soil For Grass Seed
CONTENTS
Its no secret that a beautiful grass lawn turns heads.
Before you plant grass seed, though, you need to prepare the soil. This preparation will help you avoid mistakes and get the best results.
What mistakes do people make when planting grass seed? There are a lot, ranging from planting the wrong type of seed to skipping important soil tests.
No soil will ever be perfect, but with some extra prep, your lawn and outdoor spaces will be green and growing in no time.
And in this guide, were going to show you everything you need to do to prepare your soil, setting your lawn up for future success.
Chapter 1 – Test Your Soil’s pH
Set the Right Foundation for Your Grass Lawn by Testing Your Soils pH
Soil is the foundation for any grass seed. Its how they receive nutrients. Knowing the pH of your soil helps determine how to improve your soil for your lawn grass seed.
A pH test will determine how acidic or alkaline the soil is. Its measured on a scale of 1 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Below 7 is considered acidic and above 7 is considered alkaline. The majority of plants prefer a neutral soil. Not only does a soil test determine its pH attributes, it also reveals what is missing from the soil.
Testing Soil pH with a Testing Meter
DIY Soil pH Testing
Important: Grass prefers a pH range of 6.5-7.0. If more acidic or more alkaline , youll want to adjust.
How to Raise the pH Levels in Acidic Soil
How to Lower the pH Levels in Alkaline Soil
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Tilling And Smoothing Your Soil
What Does Your Lawn Need To Survive The Winter
Once the leaves begin to fall and the temperature starts to drop, its time to get ready for winter. That means breaking out a new set of clothes and preparing to spend more time outside.
If you spent time this summer caring for your lawn, and have already invested in a lawn mowe r, sprinkler and even a lawn roller , you dont want all of your hard work to go to waste. If you want your lawn to still be healthy when the weather warms up again, you want to make sure you plan ahead and winterize your lawn.
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S For Reviving Your Lawn
First, you want to know if the grass is actually dead or just dormant. Some grasses can go dormant during midsummer when it is drought season, turning into brown grass. Before performing the steps below, check if the grasss crowns are indeed dried and discolored. If they are, then they really wont be green again.
How To Prepare Soil For A New Lawn
Dec 13, 2018 | How to Lay Turf Yourself
Creating the ideal foundation for your new lawn to thrive.
Preparing the soil is an important step in laying a new lawn, in order for the turf to take root, the area should be free of weeds and have well prepared soil.;
A successful lawn also needs drainage, for the best outcome, ensure the soil gradient slopes away from housing foundations or pathways.
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Its Time For Lawn Preparation
Lawns youre proud of are a labour of love. They take time, care, maintenance, and ongoing attention. If youre not happy with how your lawns look or feel, then why not take action? Spring and autumn conditions are ideal for new growth, and theres no better time to get that lawn you desire than now. Follow these three steps above, or consider hiring someone in lawn care to take care of them for you.
S To Plant A New Lawn Successfully
Planting a new lawn is a big job; it may be best to tackle the project in sections. You can begin this process by redoing the worst or most visible lawn areas, and then make plans to tackle the remaining;areas the following year.
Starting with smaller sections instead of the entire lawn keeps the job manageable and makes the critical step of watering feasible for homeowners who do not have in-ground sprinkler systems. However, whether you plant a new lawn in stages or all at once, you will need to take the following steps:
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How To Prepare The Ground For Turf Or Grass Seed Step
The video below from Rolawn shows how to prepare the ground, step-by-step.
Preparing the ground for grass seed or turf is fairly straight forward although it can be hard work. You should take your time and be as thorough as possible.
For best results, give yourself a couple of months to do it. You can do it quicker but the results wont be nearly as good.
The Best Product To Check Ph Levels
Formulated to work immediately to increase your soils low pH, this fast-acting lime will create a better soil and lawn environment that can survive the winter. This formulation is more concentrated than the regular version of dolomitic limestone, so you can use much less for a large square footage area.
Where to buy:
Get your steps in while aerating your lawn with these aerator shoes made from a sturdy plastic base and rust-proof spikes that dig deep into even the most rooted of soil. These shoes are easily adjustable to fit most sizes and come with shoes, 26 nails, 3 straps and a small hand shovel to clean your shoes.
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Get deep into your soil to loosen it so fertilizer, air, and water can seep down into the root system with this multi-spike lawn aerator. This will stimulate root growth by separating all of the roots to make your lawn ready for winter.
Where to buy:
Prepare your lawn for winter with a combination of seed, mulch and fertilizer made to grow grass in any weather or sun conditions. The high-performance grass seed will help to keep your seedlings protected from harmful diseases. The controlled release technology can jumpstart and promote the growth of seedlings by feeding them with nutrient-dense ingredients.
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Where to buy:
Where to buy:
Where to buy:
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The Best Time Of Year For Preparing Ground For Turf Or Grass Seed
In order to create the best looking lawn you can, you should allow yourself plenty of time to prepare the ground.
Generally, Autumn is the best time for laying turf or sowing grass seed.
The soil is warm from the Summers sun, there are very few weed seeds in the air and the rain comes to help water the area and encourage quick establishment and growth.
So, September and October are always good months.
I like to give myself a good 8 weeks to prepare the ground so if you plan on creating your new lawn in September, start preparing the ground in July.
Even if you dont create your new lawn until October, the hard work will have already been done.
When Should You Transplant Ornamental Grasses
If the ornamental grassroots are growing outside of its current pot or area, then you need to transplant it. However, be aware that this process is only necessary if theres enough space for growth in the new container/area. If not, dont bother with it!
Also, the best time of year to split and transplant ornamental grass is springtime while temperatures are warmer so plants can get used to their new environment fast and easily. This timing makes sure they wont die after being moved around because underground parts start dying at lower temperatures when compared to higher ones due to lack of sun exposure!
Of course, some people might have no choice but to transfer them over the winter months too since certain climates do not allow planting season all year long.
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Transplanting Tips And Tricks
- Water your ornamental grass a day before transplanting it.
- Prepare the new container/location beforehand.
- Dig around your current area using a shovel to expose its rootball and remove excess dirt from this area without breaking up roots!
- Place the plant in its new location while forming a hole with hands if needed. Dont move on until youve done that correctly since standing water could cause weed growth or plant death later on due to lack of oxygen intake once soil cover is placed over top again after digging out the old spot completely! Also, dont untie blades too soon if trying to avoid any potential complications regarding proper planting methods during the first few weeks afterward for the best results possible!
