The latest news and advice on Instant Turf -

From September this year, the Victorian Government will grant households a 28-day water exemption to allow establishment of drought tolerant turf such as Couch, Kikuyu and Buffalo.

This means we can now look at greening up our backyard dusty patch with lush, green turf! September is prime time to be looking at laying instant turf. Couch is coming out of it's winter dormancy period while Kikuyu and Buffalo will be starting strong growth.

Here are our top 10 tips for installing instant turf:

1. Ensure the area is free draining and remove all existing weeds and vegetation.

2.  Rotary hoe or dig the soil to a depth of 100-150mm. You may add topsoil, if not make sure your existing soil is friable. Level the soil and prepare a firm surface for laying.

3. Apply lawn starter. This will help establish the root system of your newly laid lawn. A wetting agent can also be applied to aid water retention.

4. Install an irrigation system to maintain your turf.

5. Lay the turf as soon as it's delivered.

6. For warm seasons grasses like Kikuyu, Couch and Buffalo, a light top dressing of washed sand can help retain moisture and smooth out any cracks or gaps.

7. Roll your new lawn to achieve contact with the soil underneath.

8. Water immediately to saturate the lawn and ensure the soil underneath is wet. Water daily, or more often, keeping the lawn moist until it is firmly rooted in about 4 weeks. Then water less frequently and for longer periods to encourage a stronger, deeper root system.

9. Mow when the lawn is dry and ensure your mower blades are sharp. Never cut more than 1/3 off the leaf when mowing.

10. A regular, scheduled lawn feeding regime will give you a rich green lawn surface throughout the year. Your first feed should be scheduled 6 weeks after being laid.

Of course you can have a professional take care of installation for you - phone Craig at Smart Turf & Irrigation for a quote on 0401 297 940.

Dry, crusty lawn - urgh!

The last week of high temperature and no rain has really taken it's toll on our lawn. No longer is it the lush green oasis that it was during the colder/wetter months. Our tanks just don't have the capacity to cope with the water demands - and unfortunately our garden plants have taken the water priority for survival.

Some very compelling reasons why I am considering the switch from natural grass to synthetic turf:
- synthetic turf looks and feels like natural grass without all the hassles that can come with high maintenance, high water usage grassed areas.
- it's versatility makes it suitable for lawns, pool surrounds, entertainment areas, patios and pergola areas.
- underfoot comfort - soft and lush
- low maintenance - doesn't need watering or mowing
- pest resistant - no need to use pesticides
- natural look, feel and color - also UV resistant
- drains quickly after rain

The synthetic turf being manufactured today is a world away from the original astroturf. The attention to quality in texture, variety of application, options for installation and ease of maintenance makes it the perfect surface for a time-poor, thirsty world.

It seems artificial turf is the smartest option...Until recent times the choice as to whether to use natural grass or artificial turf was a 50/50 proposition depending on how much water was available, maintenance needs, or amount of use it would get. The popularity of artificial turf continues to grow as it's development continues to improve.

Farewell dead grass...hello green!