Congratulations! Your turf has been ordered which means you are almost ready to install your new lawn.
What should you expect when your turf arrives? Turf is a green life product. This means the turf is not always going to have the exact same appearance. In most cases, this is completely normal. There is a range of factors that contribute to these possible variances.
Here’s what to expect and look out for when your new turf is delivered.
Thickness of turf
Knowing the thickness that your turf will be is important so that your finished lawn sits flush with other surfaces and is at the height you desire on completion.
When turf is cut, the thickness can vary due to a few factors. Factors such as location, the type of machinery used to cut the turf, the type of turf, and weather being experienced on the farm. As a rough guide, turf will usually be cut between 25mm to 45mm thick.
To know for certain what thickness your turf will be on arrival, it is best to ask your local turf supplier prior to delivery, before you have finished preparing your soil base.
Moisture content
When your turf is delivered, the amount of moisture that is in the turf can vary. Factors such as climate or location, and current weather conditions including rain, wind, and humidity levels can all effect moisture levels. This moisture level will not affect the turf quality and won’t hinder the turf during its establishment. Once the turf is laid, watering is to commence immediately. This will provide the moisture required to maintain health and for establishment to begin.
Muddy turf
When you receive your turf, you may notice that there may be a bit of mud sitting on the leaf blade. This can be common if you are receiving turf after the turf farm has received rainfall.
If your turf is delivered with a bit of mud on the leaf blade, simply wash it off the leaf back into the soil profile.
Soil base
The soil attached to your turf can vary depending on the seasonal conditions and the soil in your location. The more moisture there is in the soil, the ‘stickier’ it will tend to be. This will allow it to hold to the turf better. If it’s too wet however, some soil/mud can be displaced from the turf, too dry and it can crumble and fall away also. These changes will not affect the quality of the turf, it will still establish correctly once laid and perform as it should.
Sometimes turf can be supplied with a thick amount of soil. This creates its own micro growing conditions for the turf while it’s yet to establish its roots. In sports turf situations, the preference is to have no soil attached to the turf at all. Once harvested the turf is washed to remove all the soil before it is delivered to the site. This ensures there is no soil contamination and even quicker establishment, both of which are critical in that situation. In the home lawn, great results will be achieved for establishment whichever thickness or soil composition is supplied.
Considerations regarding temperature
Throughout different times of the year, the turf can dry out at different rates once harvested. Throughout summer when the temperatures are at their hottest, the turf can begin to dry and heat up. When temperatures are cooler throughout winter, the turf will still dry out but at a slower rate than it would in warmer months, while remaining at a lower temperature.
Turf typically has a shelf life once harvested of 24-48 hours in the warmer months.
While it may last longer during the cooler months or conditions, it is still best to lay your turf as soon as it is delivered, regardless of the time of year. After your turf has been laid, it is best to apply water straight away.
Dead or discoloured?
Warm season turf varieties like kikuyu, buffalo, or couch, may lose a bit of colour in winter. This is no different for turf that is harvested and delivered during this time. Turf farmers can help offset this colouring in the cooler months by using a lawn pigment product like ColourGuard Plus, which you can also use to keep your lawn green over winter.
If turf is less green in winter, it does not mean your grass is unhealthy, it is simply dormant. The colour will return once the temperatures warm back up again in spring. This is much like buying a deciduous tree during winter.
Joining lines in turf
After you have installed your new lawn, you may see some joining lines between the turf. These lines can be more apparent as the edge of the turf roll can be under more stress where the roll has been cut. This is quite normal and will disappear as your lawn establishes. When installing your turf, be sure to stagger the joints of the turf in a brickwork pattern. This will help the turf to establish quicker so that the joining lines disappear faster, and the turf has more stability.
If you have any concerns regarding your turf once it arrives, get in touch with your turf supplier straight away. They will be happy to address any of these concerns and can provide specific insight into the variances that may be experienced.
Lawn Solutions Australia turf suppliers are the best in the business. These growers are fully accredited and certified by the Australian Genetic Assurance Program for turf, AusGAP. This program has strict quality control measures and audits that are conducted on a regular basis, so you can be sure that your turf is produced to the highest of standards.
To find contact details for your local accredited turf suppliers click here.
