Shredded Turf Installation Guide
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Shredded Lawn (Stolon) Installation Guide
Planning, Measuring & Ordering
- If you have the time, prior to installing your shredded lawn we encourage you to water and fertilise the area to be grassed to germinate any dormant weed seeds and grass stolons. Once these have germinated treat them with a herbicide or hand weed to remove them.
- Prior to installing any Lovegrove Turf lawn we strongly recommend testing your reticulation coverage for with catch cups. Assessing your reticulation with Catch cups is a vital part of good lawn establishment and maintenance and should be repeated through the year to check your reticulation. At the same time we also recommend checking your soil is “wetting up” and if not applying a good quality wetting agent like Eco Wet.
- If you have bulbous weeds like soursob, Guildford (onion) grass or onion weed these are difficult to hand weed as the whole bulb and all bulb-lets needs to be removed. The bulbs of these weeds can be very deep so we recommend replacing your soil to physically remove the problem prior to planting.
- With a tape, measure the area of your planned lawn simple areas like rectangles and squares can be calculated by multiplying length by width. If you have a multi-shaped area break it down into squares, rectangles, triangles and circles, calculate the area of each shape and add them together.
- We harvest to order so after preparatory work is completed and you are ready to install, it is best to phone through your order at least 2 -3 working days your grass is required. Sometimes we do have staff available to harvest at late notice but we can not guarantee availability.
- Make sure your measurements are correct as we aren’t able to take stolons back or give refunds if you over order.
Soil Preparation
- Rake the soil to remove any debris such as rocks, rubbish, plant material etc. Leave the surface as light and fluffy as possible to allow for ploughing in the grass. Dig in Dynamic Lifter @ 200g/m2 and spread Eco-Prime Red fertiliser over area @ 100g/m2. This will feed the lawn essential nutrients during the first weeks of establishment.
- To grow a healthy lawn you need at least 150mm of good quality top soil (250mm if you are on rocky/gravelly ground such as in the Hills) OR amend your existing sand to the same depth.
- To amend your sand EITHER incorporate 50mm of our Lovegrove Underlay in the top 100mm of sand, OR if your existing sand/soil is at the desired level incorporate a combination of Bentonite Clay @ 2kg/m2 and Humus soil conditioner @ 20 litre bag/50m2 to a minimum depth of 150mm. These products are available at our Wattle Grove Turf Sales Office.
- The finished soil should be 10mm below paths to allow for the thickness of the lawn once it has matured, and pop up sprinklers should be at about soil level so they will be below the established lawn. Eliminate drainage problems by having soil slope away from foundations etc.
Planting Your Shredded Lawn
- Spread one bag of grass out at a time over 75m2. Tease the grass out to cover the ground 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 dry out and die.
- Using the disc roller (available for hire) or with a spade work the grass into the top 30mm of soil. Large areas can be done with a Rotary Hoe (available for hire). Each bag should take about 1—2 hours to install fully.
- Follow up immediately with plenty of water that is.
Watering
Shredded lawn is very susceptible to dehydration and dying off in the first 8 weeks after planting. The soil must be kept moist during the first 4 weeks for this reason. The summer watering guide below is a useful guide but a new lawn particularly needs to be monitored and watered according to conditions. At cooler times of the year watering less often may be required the goal is to ensure your new shredded lawn does not dry out and yes this can happen in winter too.
Summer Watering Guide
Week 1: Just before dawn, 10am and 3pm
Week 2: Just before dawn and noon
Week 3: Just before dawn
Weeks 4 – 8: Every second day before dawn
Week 8 onwards: Two times a week before dawn
On well prepared soil we recommend 10mm watering per session, then 10mm-15mm from week 4. It is best to use catch cups to time how long your reticulation and water pressure dispenses this volume and set your timer accordingly.
When you have full coverage, you should be deep watering two to three times per week to encourage deep roots for a healthier lawn.
If you apply small amounts of water at each session you risk loss to evaporation within the first two hours after the sun comes up, leaving your turf exposed to the heat of the day. Also the roots remain shallow in the top layer of soil which dries out very quickly.
Watering with reticulation is preferred as it is difficult to dispense even quantities of water via hand watering
Care should be taken to minimise watering when the wind is blowing as the amount of water that
actually hits the ground will be reduced. If watering in the wind is unavoidable compensate by watering for longer.
Once your lawn has good coverage and its roots established by deep watering then ongoing maintenance will require 10 to 25mm of water depending upon – the season, your soil, exposure to the sun and daily temperature. By examining the soil moisture and state of your lawn leaf you should be able to determine if your lawn requires additional watering.
Establishment - Weeks 0 – 8 Weeks
The most important thing you can do to keep your shredded grass alive and thriving is to keep it wet in the early weeks. If shredded lawn is allowed to dry out the stolons can die and you may need to re plant some areas or even start again.
Shredded lawn should be fertilised with a good starter fertiliser like Eco-Prime Red @ 100g/m2 as a bare minimum at the time of planting. In the first three weeks you will not see much leaf growth as your shredded grass or stolons focus on growing roots. Eco Red is the ideal fertiliser to promote root growth.
After three weeks your shredded grass will start to increase leaf growth and it needs Nitrogen. Apply Eco-Prime Emerald @ 200g/m2
Establishment - Weeks 9 – 16 Weeks
By now your grass should be almost covered if you have planted Ki-couchi, Kikuyu or Wintergreen couch. Bison Buffalo will take a little longer and Empire Zoysia longer again.
Mow the tips off your lawn when it starts to look untidy, making sure your mower is set high. Regular mowing will encourage lateral growth of your lawn but a longer leaf will promote root growth and a more economical lawn. Generally not more than one third of the leaf should be removed. It is important to keep your mower blades sharp for best results. If you prefer a shorter lawn lower it slowly over time to reduce stress on your lawn.
At around week 9 commence fertilising with Eco-Prime Purple @ 30g/m2 every 6 – 8 weeks and the slightly heavier rate of 60g/m2 in mid-autumn to help prepare your lawn for winter.
Do not use any herbicides on your shredded lawn until it is atleast 6 months old.
Oxamax can be used on your lawn from 6 months. Oxamax is a combination fertiliser and pre emergent (preventative) herbicide that does not have the side effect of interfering with root growth.
Once your lawn is covered you may wish to topdress lightly to improve the finish of your lawn. We have a variety of soil mixes and sands and can advise you on the best choice for your new lawn.
Your young lawn should not require vertimowing (dethatching) or aerating (coring) for the first twelve months. If you are concerned about these potential issues with you young lawn please contacts.
Please refer to our maintenance guide for our on going care advice. We also recommend following our Facebook page for seasonal tips, special and advice and joining our Facebook group LOVERGROVE TURF TALK for customer support. If you have any concerns or questions about your lawn please call our friendly sales staff on 9453 6222 or for after hours support email lara@lovegroveturf.com.
Download LTS Shredded (Stolon) Prep, planting, establishment guide March 2021 PDF File
We are passionate about growing turf
We’re the only turf farm in Perth, WA that takes the care to refrigerate your order. Our refrigerated storage also allows us to store additional turf for customer convenience. This way the turf stays at a perfect temperature keeping it lush and green, ready to take root in its new home. All ordered turf is still cut fresh to order and delivered within 24 hours.
Why Choose Us
Why WA homes and businesses choose our products and services
Highly Experienced
With over 100 years of combined experience in the industry, we have the expertise to make sure you get the right turf variety that suits your needs. As comprehensive Lawn Contractors supplying turf services in all aspects of turf farming, maintenance and renovations throughout Western Australia, we don’t just grow it – we know it.
One Stop Shop
We provide everything you need to prepare, install and maintain your lawn. We also have soil and hire equipment available for domestic and commercial clients and we are located just 20 minutes from the CBD.
Our Weed Free Guarantee
Early Pick Available
We are customer-focused, and we’re delighted to serve our clients as early as 6.30 AM Perth time. For pre-paid orders, we are open for pick up from 6.30 AM.
We Genuinely Care
We offer before, during and after-sales support. If you have a problem with your lawn please let us know.
Family Owned
We are an Australian, family-owned and operated business, proudly providing quality service to the WA community for over 35 years.