Shredded Turf Installation Guide

STEP 1 - Measuring and Ordering

With a tape, measure the area of your planned lawn. Include these measurements on a sketch of the lawn area, with the length, width, and any unusual features. Multiply the length by the width to determine the size of the area in square meters. If you’re having difficulty we will be happy to estimate the area size from your sketch. We harvest to order so after preparatory work is completed and you are ready to install phone through your order at least 3 days before delivery or pick up .

Prompt installation on the day of delivery is crucial to a strong beginning for your lawn.

STEP 2 - Soil Preparation

For best results, dig the area to a depth of 30 cm. (12 in) after fixing levels or cover area with good quality top soil. Eliminate drainage problems by having soil slope away from foundations, etc.

Rake and smooth the soil removing rocks, roots and any debris, but leaving the surface as light and fluffy as possible to allow for ploughing in the grass. Soil test your lawn area with the assistance of a qualified service in your area. Dig in organic material if available and then spread fertiliser over area as needed. A good starter fertiliser is a must to ensure all the trace elements are available in the soil. Dry chicken manure or Cresco Garden Fertiliser at a rate of 10kg/100sqm will feed the lawn essential nutrients while it becomes established.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE HILLS THE ROCK AND GRAVEL THAT EXISTS IN YOUR GARDEN IS THE WORST MEDIUM IN WHICH TO GROW HEALTHY TURF

These materials hold the summer heat and literally bake your grass to death.

• Before you install your new turf and to ensure healthy growth if you have gravel in your soil you must cover it with sandy topsoil 250mm deep

STEP 3 - Turf Installation

Spread one bag of grass out at a time (over 50m 2) teasing the grass out to cover it as evenly as possible. Only work on one bag at a time to avoid grass drying out.

Aim to get 95% of the grass under the soil, whatever is left on the surface will die.

Using the disc roller travel across the area in two different directions, using a side to side motion with your arms to plough the grass into the top 30mm of soil. Each bag should take about an hour to install fully.

Follow up immediately with lots of water to flood the grass in.

Mow the heads off after 6—8 weeks, or sooner, with a rotary mower. Gradually lower the mower for successive mows.

STEP 4 - Watering

Shredded lawn is very susceptible to dehydration and dying off in the first 5-6 weeks after planting. Therefore they must be kept moist continuously during this period. After installation and for the first month watering will be required three times per day ie 30 min morning, 20 mins around noon (see water restrictions below), then 30 mins in the evening. During the second month watering can be gradually reduced to twice a day. After 4-5 months when you have full coverage you should be watering two to three times per week for 25-30 mins per time to encourage deep rooting for a healthier lawn.

32 mm a week is the maximum water requirement for most established lawns.

Small amounts of water i.e. 10 mins per day are lost in evaporation within the first two hours after the sun comes up, leaving the grass roots exposed to the heat of the day.

Watering should be done only by sprinkler as hand watering can not be regulated, the stream of water may wash the soil away from the roots of the grass allowing air to get to them, thus killing the lawn.

Care should be taken not to water when the wind is actually blowing as it will severely reduce the precipitation rate i.e. the amount of water that actually hits the ground. If watering in the wind is unavoidable compensate by watering for longer

WATER RESTRICTIONS

Exemptions from these restrictions may be granted for limited periods under special circumstances e.g. to establish a new lawn.

Caring for your new lawn

The grass will take between three (3) and seven (7) weeks dependant upon watering, soil fertility and the weather conditions. Then development can commence. The aim is to produce a deep rooted lawn. To do this use fertiliser and a gradual weaning down of the watering.

• Three weeks after the stolons have been installed, miss a day or two of watering (provided the weather conditions are appropriate) and spread Urea fertiliser over a dry lawn, water in with double the usual watering and miss the following two or three days to ensure the lawn takes up all the fertiliser and it’s not leached out of the soil.
• Afterwards give your grass long early morning waterings, gradually reducing it to every second day until the grass is completely covered. Long waterings means the soil is moist down to 4 –6 in usually 20—30 min depending on your system will suffice.
• On coverage Cresco lawn fertiliser should be repeated at 4-6 weekly intervals for the first year.
• Once covered water no more than every second day—even stretching it out to twice a week. You will have to gauge this for yourself, according to weather and site conditions.

5. NOTE: If establishing is Spring and Winter allow for rainfall—be careful not to over water.

DURING THE AUTUMN AND WINTER MONTHS ONE WATERING IN THE MORNING IS SUFFICIENT AND ALLOWS THE GROUND TO WARM UP THROUGH THE DAY AND INTO THE EVENING .

Long Term Maintenance

Your new lawn will increases your property value significantly. With proper care, it will remain a great asset, providing beauty, a clean playing surface, and an improved environment. Mow your lawn approximately 4 weeks after installation. Mow often, generally removing no more than 1/3 of the grass height at a mowing. Keep your mower blades sharp. Fertilizer and chemical applications will depend on the climate, turf variety, soil, insects, weed and disease conditions.

FERTILISING

Grass should be fertilised four times a year, lightly with a balanced granulated fertiliser (Cresco Lawn Fertiliser: spread at a rate of 10 kg/100sqm) , watering in well or programmed to be spread at the end of a weather front to allow for a couple of days sunlight after spreading to encourage the grass to use up all the fertiliser in the ground.