Landscaping Around Your New Home

The real cost savings come in when you are able to get the job done yourself, with qualified landscapers charging around $55 – $75 per hour for their services.

We’ve worked with lawn experts Cobbitty Lawn Turf to provide you this article, to help you get your new home looking great, on the outside too!

Here are some tips for landscaping around your home on a budget, and without unnecessary stress!

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!

We can’t stress this enough! As a crucial starting point, plan out what you want your yard space to look like, and include.

Start by sketching out your vision, (it doesn’t have to be perfect!). Mark where you want your lawn, garden beds, pathways etc.

Not only will this initial step help you to visualise what you need to make your vision come to life, but it will also help you to nut out the size of main areas.

This is important as it will help you to work out how much turf you are going to need for grassed areas, how much soil you will need for garden bed areas, pavers for paved areas, and so on.

HOW TO ESTIMATE TURF QUANTITIES

Firstly, break the grassed area of your sketch up into a shape (or shapes). This may be a rectangle, triangle, circle or semicircle.

Then, using a tape measure, record the actual dimensions of this shape (or shapes) in your sketch, so that you can calculate the area, which will tell you how many square meters of turf you need!

HOW TO FIND THE AREA OF DIFFERENT SHAPES

To calculate the area of a rectangle, simply find the width and height, and multiply them together.

• The area of a rectangle = w x h.
• To calculate the area of a triangle, find the width and height, multiply them together and divide by 2. The area of a triangle = (w x h)/2.
• To calculate the area of a circle, find the diameter, divide it by 2, square that and multiply by pi (3.14). The area of a circle = 3.14 x (d/2)2.
• For a semi-circle, use the same as a circle, but divide area by 2 – area of a semi-circle = (3.14 x (d/2)2)/2.

By knowing close to exactly how many square meters of turf you will need, you are eliminating the need to make a costly ‘generous’ estimate to ensure that you have enough!

For more information on estimating turf quantities, click here.

KNOWING WHICH TURF VARIETY IS BEST FOR YOU

You will need to select a variety that best suits you and your family’s personal conditions and needs, for example;

• The level of maintenance required
• Whether it will be in full sun or full shade
• How much traffic your lawn will get
• Resistance to pests
• Resilience and ability to self repair
• The look and feel

SIR WALTER DNA CERTIFIED MAY BE FOR YOU IF…

You need something extremely shade or drought tolerant and low maintenance!

Sir Walter DNA Certified turf has been proven to grow well in a multitude of harsh conditions, including full sun, shade, extreme heat, frost and drought.

With a broad leaf that is deep green in colour, you’ll find that Sir Walter DNA Certified gives your lawn a luxurious and verdant look that other varieties don’t.

Sir Walter DNA Certified also has a tight growth habit to hold out most weeds, and the ability to repair itself quickly if damaged, leaving fewer bare patches.

SIR GRANGE MAY BE FOR YOU IF…

You need something extremely hard wearing and low maintenance!

Sir Grange was originally developed for the golf industry but it was soon discovered that due to its characteristics, it would make a fantastic home lawn.

With its beautiful dark green leaf, Sir Grange is a fine bladed premium turf variety, which is extremely hard wearing, has high shade tolerance and very low nutrient (fertiliser) and water requirements.

And for the best part… Sir Grange requires up to 50% less mowing than other common turf varieties.

If you want your home to stand out, with a beautiful, extremely hard wearing and low maintenance focal point, then Sir Grange will be everything you have ever dreamed of!

EUREKA KIKUYU MAY BE FOR YOU IF…

You need something that grows vigorously and stands up to a wide range of climate conditions!

Looking for an economical all rounder? Then Eureka Kikuyu is the one for you!

Its vigorous growth habit allows it to repair very quickly if damaged, and it is able to establish a strong, deep root base to help it stand up to the hottest Summer days.

Eureka Kikuyu enjoys a long growing season, and with regular mowing will hold a good tight growth mat. Holding colour well into Winter, it will brown off when frost affected, but bounces back with full vigour in Spring.

TIFTUF BERMUDA MAY BE FOR YOU IF…

You want the soft, dense look and feel of a professional sports field!

100% genetically pure, Tiftuf Bermuda has superior qualities in drought tolerance, shade tolerance, wear tolerance and maintaining Winter colour.

Tiftuf‘s density enables it to handle high wear situations such as an intense game of backyard soccer or cricket, whilst its fine blade ensures shade tolerance and makes it a particularly soft leaf to walk on!

HOW TO LAY YOUR TURF YOURSELF

START LAYING ASAP

Your new turf should be laid as soon as possible for best results.

On hot days in particular, the turf should be laid as soon as possible, and immediately in severe heat. Cooler days will give you at least 24 hours from harvest to lay your new turf.

If the turf needs to be left for a long period, ensure the rolls are kept in the shade and remove the plastic wrapping so the turf doesn’t sweat. The turf does not need to be watered while on the pallet.

START AT THE EDGES

Begin laying your new lawn around the outside of the area, against pathways and along garden edges, to form a border.

You can trim your turf to fit in around edges neatly using a knife or a spade.

USE THE BRICK PATTERN METHOD

Working your way inwards from the edges, for the best finish, your turf should be laid in a brick pattern, making sure all edges are pushed tightly against each other.

TIP: Remember not to stretch your turf, leave gaps or overlap pieces.

WHEN, AND HOW OFTEN TO WATER

Within 30 minutes of installation, you should give your lawn at least 25mm of water. It is important that no corners or areas of the turf are missed.

After this, and for the first 2-3 weeks, you should water your new lawn for around 30 minutes daily.

Both the turf and soil need to be kept moist until firmly rooted. After about three weeks, the turf should have taken root, and will require less frequent and deeper watering.

TIP: Check the turf by carefully lifting in areas and checking for moisture and new roots. Once the turf cannot be lifted, watering can be spaced out to once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.

COST EFFECTIVE, DIY EDGING SOLUTIONS

You’ve just laid your beautiful new lawn! Now, let’s look at edging materials! Yes, you can even DIY!

Whilst lawn edging is a functional addition to prevent your grass from infiltrating your gardens, it is important that it looks great as well.

Common materials which give a beautiful finished look are bricks, plastic, metal & timber sleepers.

BRICK OR PAVER EDGING

Bricks or pavers are a great, cost effective DIY lawn edging option, as they are easy to apply around straight and curved grassed areas.

Bricks and pavers offer a nice ‘wide’ barrier between your lawn and your garden bed, allow for drainage, and can add an ‘industrial’ feel to your garden space.

TIP: Search for recycled bricks or pavers on the likes of Gumtree, you may come across a bargain!

PLASTIC OR METAL EDGING

As the primary function of your edging is to stop your lawn from invading your garden beds, it will need to sit deep into the soil to stop the roots of your lawn from spreading.

Plastic is most likely to work the best as a divider where the plastic edge is almost entirely buried, and therefore less susceptible to deformation due to sun exposure.

Metal edging products are also a great lawn barrier option that offer the necessary depth, whilst providing a more permanent and visually appealing look to your garden.

The latest flexible steel edging is the strongest and most versatile option. It handles sloping areas well, and is now much more DIY friendly than it was in the past.

TIMBER SLEEPING EDGING

Pine or hardwood sleepers create a beautiful, natural edging look, that you could perhaps even tie into your new home by using the same timber species that the exterior of your home features.

Timber sleepers are obviously a fantastic, easy edging option for straight line areas. Just ensure that the product you are using is treated, so that it won’t quickly rot or deteriorate.

As an extra tip for bringing your beautiful new yard space to life – search for plants at markets, or even ask friends for clippings of things that you like.

With all of this in mind, we expect that your yard spaces will be looking just as beautiful and impressive as your new home, in no time!

For more information, please contact our friendly New Homes Consultants on (02) 4256 0222.