Understanding Soil Preparation: The Key to a Thriving Lawn
If you want your lawn looking as lush as green shag-pile carpet, it’s time to get your hands dirty. Proper soil preparation is crucial for ensuring your turf establishes quickly and grows healthily.
Why Soil Preparation Matters
Your lawn’s like a teenager – it needs the right stuff to grow strong and healthy. Healthy soil gives your grass the essential nutrients, air, and water it craves. Skip the prep, and you’ll end up with weak roots, poor growth, and a lawn that’s about as appealing as a cold snag.
Follow these steps, and you’ll be the envy of the neighbourhood.
Soil Testing
First things first, grab a Soil pH Test Kit from Bunnings. You’re aiming for a pH between 6.2 and 7.0 – that’s the sweet spot. If your soil’s too acidic, chuck in some lime. Too alkaline? Sulfur’s your mate. Just follow the test kit’s instructions to get it just right.
Remove Existing Grass
Time to say goodbye to those weeds and old grass. Use a lawn cutter or give it a good spray with Round Up. Let it sit for a week, then remove or respray any stubborn bits. Next, scalp your lawn by mowing it down to the dirt – think of it as giving your lawn a fresh start.
Consider Drainage
Got a yard full of low spots or water pooling towards the house after a good downpour? You might want to think about proper drainage. It’ll save your lawn and possibly your house from turning into a swimming pool. Contact your local drainage guru to sort it out.
Consider Irrigation
If hosing the lawn feels like a chore when you’d rather be watching the footy, call in the irrigation experts. They’ll do a pressure test and recommend the best system for your patch. Easy peasy.
Aeration
Now it’s time to give your soil some breathing room. Aerate the ground to boost drainage and root penetration. If you’ve got a core aerator, you’re in luck – it’s the best tool for the job. No core aerator? No worries! Grab a pitchfork and start poking holes in the soil. Your lawn will thank you for the extra airflow. You can use a metal rake too to toil up the soil and loosen it up.
Improve Soil Structure
If you’ve done a pH test, you’ve probably already taken the first step to improve your soil structure. Next step – are you working with clay, sand, or loam? If you’ve got clay, give it a heavy dose of Gypsum first before adding turf underlay. Next step, spread about 75mm of premium turf underlay from your local landscape supply business. For all the nitty-gritty details, check out our Turf Underlay Guide.
Level the Ground
You want a smooth, even surface. Fill in the low spots and knock down the high spots to stop water pooling. Hot tip – tie a recycled palette to a rope and drag it around for a budget-friendly levelling tool. DIY brilliance!
Apply Starter Fertiliser
Before you lay your lawn, spread some high-phosphorus starter fertiliser. It’ll promote deep root growth and help your turf get settled. We reckon LawnPride’s underturf starter is tops, which you can add to your order and have it delivered with your turf.
Now you’re ready to lay your lawn. Proper soil preparation sets the foundation for a healthy, beautiful lawn. Follow these steps, and you’ll have the greenest, lushest lawn in the neighbourhood.
Not sure which turf suits you best? Check out our guide: Which Grass is Best?.
Cheers and happy gardening, mates!