Thinking of replacing your lawn? Follow these 4 expert tips for best results

• Compaction, increased shade and wear are the biggest reasons to renew your lawn
• Lawn replacement is a cheaper option than other surfaces in most cases
• Choose the right type of lawn to get the best return on your investment

Many home lawns get to the stage where even the best maintenance and upkeep sees their lawn areas struggle to thrive and sometimes even survive. It’s a common scenario that the lawn type is either not right, the soil and ground preparation was poor in the beginning or shade and wear and even drainage issues become more problematic, the older the lawn gets. New housing estates are often rushed, with little attention to lawn areas and quite commonly are the dumping area for builders refuse whilst the building is going on and then it’s a quick clean-up and a trickle of topsoil – or whatever is laying around – and the turf down as quick as possible. Often there can be drainage issues, the soil and turf type were probably the cheapest available at the time and the inevitable increase of shade and wear with growing shrubs and children taking their toll on your lawn.

If it’s got to the point-of-no-return, then look at the following 4 options when you consider replacing your lawn:

1. Call in the experts:

Get in touch with a lawn replacement expert like one of the many Lawn Solutions Australia Turfgrowers around the country. They can often give you a quote to rip out your old lawn and install a new one and if they can’t do it will certainly have a network of reliable landscapers or installers that can do the job.

2. Cheaper is rarely better:

It’s a bit like if you were considering plastic surgery then searching around for the cheapest option . . . it may not always produce the most desired results. You’ve probably learnt it’s the same with most things in life so talk to your local Lawn Solutions Australia Turfgrower about the best options for the type of lawn for your replacement job and not just the cheapest. There’s a number of different types and turf types like TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, Sir Walter DNA Certified and Sir Grange Zoysia that are all great grasses, but have different qualities when it comes to shade, wear and drought tolerance and the like. Getting the lawn type right is probably one of the main considerations and can amount to only a few percent difference price-wise in the overall scheme of things.

Learn more about the different grasses available here.

3. Do the job right

Again, it helps to take on expert advice but in the majority of cases replacing your lawn is a great opportunity to get some basics right. Look at the levels and falls, any drainage issues and trees / shrubs you may wish to thin-out or replace. If you’re looking at getting machinery in then it’s a perfect time to remedy any of these issues. Garden beds, edging and of course replacing any poor soil is important when it comes to starting over.

4. Cover all the aspects:

There’s nothing like local knowledge but if you’re planning on tackling the job yourself then follow these steps: – Identify any services before you start and ‘dial before you dig’. Locate any phone, electrical, sewer, water, gas or irrigation lines and fittings that you could possibly disturb with your makeover. – Spray out old grass and vegetation. Even if you are removing a significant depth of soil it’s a good idea to use a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate (Roundup) with a couple of applications to kill as much of the existing grass as possible. – Start from scratch. Look at levels and drainage and getting subsoil right. Consider irrigation at this stage and then lightly break-up any clayey subsoil by cultivating and adding some lime and gypsum and then bring in a good amount of quality sandy-loam topsoil for your new turf bed. Get your topsoil levels right with garden beds and paths and lightly roll and leave enough depth for your turf to lay flush with these fixtures. Organise with your turfgrower for your turf delivery and installation and ensure that you’ve got adequate water for establishment – enough for a daily watering for four to six weeks. Once your new lawn is underway, check out Lawn Solutions Australia’s other hints and tips and the range of quality lawn products available for keeping your new lawn in peak condition.

Lawncare doesn’t need to be difficult and simple hints from Lawn Solutions Australia and their network of member turf growers and Lawn Solutions Centres Australia-wide can help with advice and products to keep your lawn in top condition.