Do It Yourself (DIY) – Turf preparation, laying and maintenance.

To Do It Yourself (DIY) or having our caring tradesmen do it all for you, preparing, laying and maintaining your premium quality turf, is the quickest and most satisfying way to improve the appearance and value of your property.

Here's how you can have the best lawn in your street - thanks to Windsor Turf.

WHICH TURF? Talk with Windsor Turf's experts about turf selection to decide which turf type is best for you. Such things as planned use, family and pets, amount of direct sun, maintenance time, frost, soil, drainage, traffic, type of turf adjoining your property, should all be considered.

PREPARATION - Rotary hoe or cover area with Turf Underlay (80% washed river sand, 20% soil), or just sand, to 100mm deep. If clay base, add gypsum first. If wet area, drainage system essential. Rake smooth, keeping about 20mm below paths. Apply our Starter Fertiliser - a must for success.

MEASURE, ORDER - Measure dimensions of the area to be covered to calculate how many square metres you require. Lay turf on the day your turf is delivered. It can be installed at any time of the year, Also order our specially formulated lawn fertiliser. Ask us for a price to supply and lay your lawn.

LAY IT YOURSELF - Start from straight line - boundary, path, driveway etc. From boundaries first, roll out your turf as you would a rug.

Butt together all joints, without overlaps. Stagger joints in each new row, like laying bricks. Use a large sharp knife or spade for shaping.

Roll, or hose and walk-down turf to smooth out bumps and air pockets, and make good soil contact. Completely soak the finsihed expance of new lawn, Do not over water, Put a cup under your sprinkler - when half-full you'll have watered enough.

Soft leaf Buffalo often needs light top dressing with washed river sand when first installed.

TRAFFIC -  Use your new lawn sparingly for the first two or three weeks, until roots are well-established. No heavy games, dog traffic or other rough use until then.

MOWING - When new lawn cannot be lifted - 10-14 days after laying in warm weather - mow along turf strips until fully established, then north/south, east/west for best results.

Never remove more than a third of the leaf blade in a single mowing. Set mower heights at: Kikuyu - 25 mm; Couch - 20 mm; Soft Leaf Buffalo - 30 mm; Fescue - 50 mm.

FEEDING, TOP DRESSING - In growing season, fertilise every 6-8 weeks, watering in well. Regular light applications will give you a year-round full-coloured, healthy carpet. Late autumn fertilising helps retain winter colour.

Ask a Windsor Turf expert for the fertiliser and program that is best for your lawn and areas.

MAINTENANCE - Mow lawn lower before applying springtime nitrogen-based fertiliser. If area is uneven, topdress with washed river sand and mow in the opposite directions to iron out bumps.

Your lawn will smother if too much sand is applied. Brush to expose leaf blades. Keep mower blades sharp, don't let grass grow too high and thatchy.