How to lay turf

A good-looking lawn is 80% preparation and 20% laying. Get the ground right and the turf almost lays itself — and takes root fast. Here's the full process, start to finish.

Before you start: timing

In most of Australia, spring and autumn are the ideal times to lay turf — warm soil and mild weather help roots establish quickly. You can lay in summer if you keep the water up, and in warmer regions turf goes down year-round. Order your turf to arrive on the day you're ready to lay it, because fresh turf shouldn't sit on the pallet for more than a day or so.

Step 1: clear and prepare the ground

Remove the old lawn and any weeds — a turf cutter makes quick work of this, or spray, wait, and scrape. Dig or rotary-hoe the soil to loosen the top 100 mm or so. This lets new roots push down instead of sitting on a hard pan.

Step 2: add and level the soil

Spread a layer of quality underturf soil or lawn mix — around 100 mm is a good target on poor ground. Rake it level, breaking up clumps as you go, and aim for a smooth surface that sits slightly below any paths or edges so the finished turf sits flush. A light roll or a firm tread helps settle it. Fixing dips and bumps now is far easier than after the turf is down.

Don't skip the levelling. Every hollow and high spot you leave will show in the finished lawn and make mowing uneven. Time spent with the rake here is never wasted.

Step 3: lay the turf

Start along a straight edge — a path, driveway or fence line. Lay the first row tight against it, then work across in rows, staggering the joins like brickwork so the seams don't line up. Butt each slab firmly against its neighbours without stretching or overlapping. Use a sharp knife or spade to cut pieces to fit around beds, taps and corners. Try not to walk on freshly laid turf; kneel on a board if you need to reach.

Step 4: water in immediately

Water the new lawn thoroughly as soon as it's down — the same day, section by section if it's a big job. The soil beneath should be soaked, not just the surface. For the first couple of weeks, keep the turf consistently moist, watering once or twice a day in warm weather. This is the single most important thing you can do for a lawn that takes.

Step 5: the first few weeks

Stay off it: keep foot traffic to a minimum for 2–3 weeks while roots knit into the soil.
First mow: once the turf resists a gentle tug (usually 2–3 weeks), mow on a high setting. Never cut more than a third of the leaf at once.
Ease off watering: gradually reduce frequency to encourage deeper roots.
Feed: a starter fertiliser at laying, and a follow-up feed after establishment, gets colour and density going.

How much turf will you need?

Before any of this, get your quantity right. Measure up with the measuring guide and run the numbers through the turf calculator so your delivery matches the job — with a little spare for offcuts.