Technique That Helps Grass Take Root
Grass Turf Laying From Our Hawkesbury Growers
New turf is a living grass that needs to send roots down quickly into the soil below. How it’s laid has a big influence on how fast that happens. Firm contact with a moist, level underlay, tight joins and prompt watering all help roots take hold, while gaps and dry patches slow everything down.
Because we grow every variety we lay, we know how each one behaves. Buffalo, Kikuyu and couch each have their own growth habits, and our crews prepare and lay with those in mind. We then water the grass in thoroughly and explain how to care for it while it establishes.
In short: Arrow Turf is a family-owned turf farm offering grass turf laying for homes and businesses throughout Greater Sydney. Pricing depends on lawn area, variety, preparation and levelling, underlay and site access. We harvest the grass to suit your laying date, with turf usually ready within a day or two of your order.
Our Turf Varieties
Grass Varieties Our Crews Lay
With its finer and thinner stems and stolons and amazingly soft feel underfoot yet exceptional tolerance to wear and tear, this proudly Australian-bred turf is perfect for all types of lawns and landscapes.
With its luxuriously soft feel and vibrant beauty yet super low maintenance requirements, this buffalo grass works best for homes with families, children, and pets who want to play and relax on the lawn all year round.
With its hard-wearing and easy-to-care-for medium texture yet still soft enough for sitting, Kikuyu is perfect for schools, parks, playing fields, and running oval surrounds. This grass variety will also work for yards.
With its thick mat and fine blade yet soft feel underfoot, this couch grass is used in Australia and the world’s top sports stadiums and golf courses. This grass variety can also be used for residential and commercial lawns and landscapes.
With its soft feel and fine texture, this darker green, premium couch grass is perfect for golf and bowling greens as well as front and backyards. This grass variety is also great for commercial landscapes as well as sports fields.
Laying for Strong Roots
Grass Turf Laying That Sets Up Healthy Roots
Anyone investing in a new lawn wants the grass to take quickly and stay healthy. Problems usually start when turf is laid onto dry, compacted soil, rolls are stretched to cover gaps, or watering is delayed. The grass may look fine for a few days, then edges brown, seams open up and patches fail to root. It’s frustrating for homeowners and costly for businesses that need a presentable lawn, especially when the fix involves replacing sections of turf. Good laying technique prevents most of these issues before they start.
Our crews focus on the details that help grass root. We remove old lawn and weeds, level the soil, spread fresh underlay and lay each roll firmly with tight, staggered joints so there’s no exposed soil between pieces. The grass is watered in straight away and you’re given clear instructions. Because we grow the turf ourselves, it’s harvested to match your laying date. Book your job through our turf installation team in Sydney.
Grass Laying Inclusions
What Your Grass Turf Laying Service Can Include
- Site inspection and advice: we check sun, shade, slope and drainage and recommend the right variety.
- Old lawn and weed removal: existing grass and weeds are cleared so your new turf starts clean.
- Levelling and soil preparation: we level the area and fix low spots so water drains away.
- Quality turf underlay: a fresh layer of underlay gives new roots drainage and nutrients.
- Expert laying: turf from our farm is laid with tight, staggered joints for a seamless finish.
- Watering in and aftercare: we water the new lawn in and leave you with clear care instructions.
Why New Grass Fails
Dry Seams, Poor Contact and Patchy Rooting
When newly laid grass struggles, the cause is usually something that happened on laying day. Here are three issues good technique prevents.
Edges drying and shrinking. Turf pieces that don’t butt tightly together lose moisture at the seams and shrink back. Laying with tight, staggered joints keeps edges in contact so the grass knits together. Tight joins also stop weeds finding gaps to grow through.
Air pockets beneath the turf. If turf doesn’t sit firmly on the underlay, roots have nothing to grow into. Laying onto a smooth, moist base and pressing each roll into place gives good soil contact. Good contact helps the grass draw moisture from the soil straight away.
Delayed watering after laying. Grass left dry for hours after laying is stressed before it starts. We water in straight after laying, then you keep the soil moist with deep watering once or twice daily. Consistent moisture over the first three weeks matters more than anything else.
Grass Laying Prices
How Much Does Grass Turf Laying Cost?
Grass turf laying costs depend on the size of the lawn and the grass you choose, with Kikuyu more budget-friendly than soft leaf buffalo or premium couch. Preparation work such as old lawn removal, levelling and underlay, plus access to the area, round out the main price drivers.
| Price driver | How it affects your cost |
|---|---|
| Lawn area | Larger areas cost more overall but often less per square metre. |
| Turf variety | Kikuyu is the most budget-friendly; soft leaf buffalo and premium couch cost more per m². |
| Site preparation | Removing old lawn, levelling and adding turf underlay all affect the total. |
| Access and slope | Tight side access, steps or steep blocks can add time to the job. |
Let us know your lawn area and preferred grass, and we’ll send a free quote covering supply, preparation and laying.
Grass Grown by Us
Our Cornwallis Paddocks and the Areas We Lay
The grass our crews lay is grown on our family farm at 104 Cornwallis Road, Cornwallis, on the Hawkesbury River near Windsor. We grow Sir Walter and Matilda soft leaf buffalo, Kikuyu, Wintergreen couch and Greenlees Park couch, harvesting each one only when a job is booked.
From the farm, our crews travel to residential and commercial sites across Greater Sydney, including the Hills District, the Sutherland Shire, the Inner West and Western Sydney. We also lay turf in the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and the Central Coast, bringing grass that’s been cut fresh for each project. Wherever the job is, the grass is laid on the day it arrives.
How Our Crews Handle Grass Turf Laying
Good grass establishment depends on doing things in the right sequence and paying attention to the small details. Here are the four steps our crews follow on every grass turf laying job.
1. Free quote and site check: tell us about your project and we’ll assess the area, access and soil.
2. Preparation: we remove the old lawn, level the ground and spread turf underlay.
3. Laying: fresh turf is laid with tight, staggered joints and trimmed neatly to the edges.
4. Water in and aftercare: we water the lawn in and give you a simple care plan for the first weeks.
Matching the Laying Approach to Your Grass Variety
Each grass we grow has habits that influence how it should be laid and looked after.
Soft leaf buffalo in shaded yards. Sir Walter copes with part shade, but shaded soil stays damp longer. We watch drainage during preparation so roots aren’t sitting in wet ground. Well-drained soil keeps the roots healthy.
Kikuyu near garden beds. Kikuyu’s vigorous runners spread readily. We trim edges neatly at laying so the lawn starts with clean borders that are easier to maintain. Firm edging also helps keep the runners in check.
Fine couch needing a level base. Wintergreen and Greenlees Park couch are often mown low, which shows every bump. They need especially careful levelling for an even finish. The extra effort shows in the finished surface.
Maxi rolls on bigger areas. Large sites can use maxi rolls with fewer joins, which speeds up laying and gives a cleaner finish across open lawns. Big rolls still need the same careful soil preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grass Turf Laying
What makes grass turf laying successful?
Successful grass turf laying comes down to preparation and technique. The old lawn is removed, the soil levelled, underlay spread and the turf laid firmly with tight, staggered joints. Watering in straight away and keeping the soil moist for the first few weeks helps the grass root evenly.
Why are staggered joints important?
Staggering the joints, like brickwork, stops seams from lining up into long channels where moisture escapes. It helps pieces lock together, reduces visible lines and encourages the grass to knit into a single, even surface as roots grow into the soil below.
Does the grass variety change how turf is laid?
The core method stays the same, but each grass has its own needs. Fine couches demand very careful levelling because they’re often mown low, Kikuyu needs clean edges to manage its runners, and shaded buffalo areas benefit from good drainage. We plan for these during preparation.
How soon after harvesting is your grass laid?
We harvest to suit your laying date, so turf goes from our farm to your prepared soil as quickly as possible. Most grass turf orders are ready in a day or two. Laying on the day of arrival keeps the grass fresh and gives roots the best start.
How do I know my new grass has rooted?
After two to three weeks of regular watering, gently lift a corner of a piece. If it resists and you can see roots growing into the soil, the grass is taking hold. At that point you can make the first mow with the mower on a high setting.
Can grass turf be laid over existing lawn?
We don’t recommend it. Laying over old grass leaves a poor surface for new roots and lets old runners and weeds push through. Our grass turf laying service removes the existing lawn and weeds first, then levels the soil and adds underlay for a clean start.
Should I fertilise newly laid grass?
A lawn starter fertiliser can be applied during preparation to support early root growth. After that, focus on deep, regular watering for the first few weeks. Our turf care advice explains what to do as the lawn matures, and our turf varieties page compares each grass.
Do you offer grass turf laying on commercial sites?
Yes. Our experienced crews lay grass turf for homes, businesses, schools, councils and developers. Commercial sites get the same careful preparation as residential lawns, and larger areas can use maxi rolls to reduce the number of joins and speed up installation.
