Just a tip. Lay the grass along the longest length of yard if possible. Less ends to cut, saves time and offcuts.
Just a tip. Lay the grass along the longest length of yard if possible. Less ends to cut, saves time and offcuts.
Both turf jobs combines I had two slabs left at the end an approx 1.5 slabs ratty off cuts. or crappy bits not worthy of laying. My wastage was minimal. Love it when that works out and you have not paid for extra turf!
Life's a garden, dig it! Life's a garden, dig it!
Its all good mate, jobs done, your happy, customers happy! The tips above are just for future reference is all. They will save you time, money and generally make life easier be it in the laying and or the maintenance.
Just so you know Im not talking out my azz, I used to be a landscaper, worked up to leading hand at times in control of workers, machinery and entire job sites. Ive personally laid thousands of meters of turf on mansions, acreages, unit complex's etc etc. Even had the record in number of rolls (not slabs) on a barrow! Think it was 12! I was the Master! haaaaa
Very true.
In my experience, you may agree Mick? but in every case, there is a need to top dress after laying turf. as you say the rolls are never perfect, almost every roll has a small section where soil is missing, so this becomes a low spot. Also no matter how tight you press the rolls against each other, they have a tendancy to shrink if moisture levels are not kept perfect for weeks following, so these gaps need filling.
One question for you Mick, I eventually moved to using washed river sand for top dressing, in the past is this what you did, or do you think in some cases its better to have a dressing mix? Cheers
BTB good on you, looks great & im sure they will be looking fantastic come middle of spring with you maintaining them.. Keep the feed up to them and cut at the right height and there should never be a need for weed treatment. Apart from lack of sunlight, not much can be done in that case but sometimes it will just mean in the off season it will look misserable, however still look acceptable in peak times!
I always use the 80/20 sand and roll to fill the gaps this is essential when installing sir-walter and all buffulo turf varieties.
B2B laying the turf is a change from chasing the lawnmower,good result.
Some good tips and improvements to make. I am also a landscaper so turfing is a reasonably regular gig. Been picking up some good little jobs at the moment along with mulching before winter etc. The books are full!!!
Life's a garden, dig it! Life's a garden, dig it!
My job for the last two days, (well about a half day total)
My biggest rubbish removal job yet.... 5 trailer loads of mostly palm fronds, grass cuttings and leaf litter.
The owner very happy with outcome and I now have more work clearing over grown shrubs and trees and minor landscaping in the same spot to do for her over the next few weeks.
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The final outcome of this lot of work. Much better then when I started. I didn't snip around the trees on this run as it will be done next time. The Lomandra will be shortened, Fence lines cleaned up shrubs along fence lines right at the back in the first pic will be cut right back as they are out of control, and mulch added later on down the track.
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Im a fan of river sand! The new laid turf shouldnt need any more nutrients (fert when laid and good underlay) its just a matter of filling holes and low spots. Sir Walther (pretty much any Aussie grass really) should cover any filled spot very quickly, no matter what the medium. We've all seen SW and bermuda growing over concrete, up over gardens, shrubs etc. Its pretty tough stuff!
River sand has great drainage. Soil/sand can turn to mud and therefore rut with narrow pushy wheels.
When we sorted large areas back in the day, we just used clean white (like beach) sand as river sand was to expensive for the areas we had to cover. Same principle, clean sand, good drainage!
We would barrow and drop small piles all over the lawn, rake it out, use the lawn level then hose in well. Hosing in is the main thing as the sand will find all the low spots, fill gaps etc.
Top dressing with good soil has its place, and IMO, thats when the soil under the turf is thin, over heavy clay or whatever and turf need nutrients.
A vacant block cleanup done today... Doesn't look like it is a hard one, but took me by surprise the thickness. The pope 33c smashed through it but definately took longer than the normal long overgrown lawns that i do.
Used the Rover PC560 (cut was quite high due to unlevel land, soil, concrete, rocks, bricks, metal and timber being dumped), pope brushcutter and pope blower (nice combination imo for overgrown grass).
Took 1 1/2 hours in total.
before:
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vacantblockb2.jpg
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Simmo.
wow, simmo, nice job - how much clippings did you get off that?
Afters....
vacantblockA2.jpg
Now my other clients (neighbours of the block) are happy again
Simmo.
last attachments not valid mate . . .