Matilda vs. Sir Walter Buffalo Turf: Which is Right for Your Lawn?
September 10, 2024
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Freezing cold weather. Thundering storms, hail, and rainfall. And long days spent inside nursing up to the heater with a hot chocolate in hand. Doesn’t exactly sound like prime conditions for gardening, does it?
While winter isn’t the most convenient time to lay down new turf, that doesn’t mean it’s not impossible. In fact, when you choose the right turf, lay it down properly, and follow some winter-specific maintenance tips, you’ll be surprised at the results you can achieve in the colder months.
What’s more, by taking these crucial steps in the middle of the year, it means your lawn will be lush and thriving when summer comes around again.
To find out how to correctly law down new turf in winter, read on. Alternatively, if you’re after some expert tips on this subject, contact the experts at A View Turf. Our friendly and knowledgeable turf experts will be happy to assist you.
First off, you need to choose the right turf. Depending on your climate, soil type, and how you plan to use the lawn, some turf will be better suited for you than others – especially if you expect high foot traffic.
Buffalo is one of the most versatile types of turf out there. It’s ideal for residential settings like front and backyards, due to its resilience in sun and shaded areas, low-maintenance, pest and disease-resistance, and vibrant green colour. Simply put, it looks gorgeous, and you won’t have to spend countless hours on the weekend looking after it.
Some of the most popular types of buffalo grass include Matilda, Palmetto, and Soft-Leaf. If you’re unsure which variety is right for you, be sure to talk to the experts first.
Kikuyu grass is another popular type of turf. It has great tolerance to drought, heat, and salinity. And while it prefers having adequate soil moisture, it can still survive in temporarily drought-stricken environments. Keep in mind, though, regular maintenance and pest control is a must if you want to keep your Kikuyu grass lush, healthy, and vibrant year round.
Last, but not least, is Couch Grass. Generally speaking, couch grass is the preferred choice for large local settings like parks and public spaces, as it is both fast-growing and luscious. As a result, it can quickly repair itself after being exposed to high foot traffic – i.e. sporting events – but is more high maintenance than other varieties.
Once you have chosen the right turf for your lawn, you need to have it supplied to your premise. When you order from a place like A View Turf, you can request the turf to be: 1) Delivered straight to your location, or 2) Ready for local pick-up at a convenient time for you.
Whichever option you choose, make sure that you order enough turf to cover the whole lawn.
Turf is usually sold in square meters. You need to measure your yard properly, so that your lawn receives full coverage. Consider using an online turf calculator to confirm that your turf requirements are accurate. Again, if you’re unsure how much turf you need, talk to someone who can guide you through the measurement process – or perhaps even do it for you.
Once you’ve placed an order for your turf, you need to prepare the surface.
Good surface preparation is essential to the success of your new turf. When the turf is first laid down, it needs to quickly and safely establish its roots. If this doesn’t happen in a timely manner, the turf could die.
Here are some good surface preparation tips to follow:
For particularly tough weeds, you may need multiple applications of weed killer to get the job done. When done correctly, adequate weeding will greatly reduce the amount of weeding you’ll need to do once the turf is laid down.
Ideally, the pH level of the sandy loam should sit between 5.0 and 7.0. If the pH level is too low, use lime to increase the acidity. If the pH level is too high, add some gypsum or sulphur to correct the issue.
Rake and lightly roll the soil over the surface until it is flat. Make sure the area is also free of rocks, weeds, and other debris. And try to make the surface as flat as possible, so that the turf has the best possible chance of establishing its roots.
Have the tips of the turf sit just slightly above surrounding pathways and edges. This will provide a seamless transition from the pathway onto the grass, making it safe and accessible for everyone.
On the day of receiving your turf, lay it down as soon as possible – on the same day. If the rolls of turf are left to dry, they could die and fail to establish their roots. So make sure you lay down the new turf quickly.
Use a sharp knife or secateurs to cut your turf, as opposed to manually tearing it.
Then, make sure you lightly water the pre-prepared soil area. Roll out the turf, and push the individual strips together to ensure there are no gaps. Also, try to avoid kneeling or stretching out the turf, so install the turf starting from the outwards and then move to the centre.
Once you’ve laid down your turf, water it immediately. This is crucial to activating the fertiliser and preventing the turf from drying out. Be sure to use plenty of water, as you want to thoroughly wet the soil beneath the turf and encourage strong root formation.
So your beautiful new turf is laid down. Now what?
If you’ve decided to lay it down during winter, there are certain maintenance tips you’ll want to closely follow. Because of the mild, colder conditions around this time of year, the steps you must take to look after your turf is a bit different compared to summer.
Nonetheless, by following these steps, you’ll greatly increase the odds of your turf growing up to be more healthy, vibrant, and luscious.
Your new turf will require lots of hydration to help the roots settle in. Therefore, you’ll need to water the turf regularly, sometimes even more than once per day, depending on your climate.
Keep people and pets off the surface for at least once month. This will protect the fresh turf from damage, and ensure that it firmly establishes its roots without disruption.
Rain is not always a suitable alternative to manual watering. Why? Because, depending on the amount of rainfall you get on a particular day, it may not have been enough to penetrate the deep soil. Therefore, always stick to manual watering for the first four to six weeks, unless you have a particularly heavy day of rain.
When you do mow for the first time, only trim the tips. Set the mower to the highest possible setting, and make sure your blades are sharp. In winter, you can expect to mow around every five to six weeks, and a bit more frequently when the weather warms up.
Vital for new lawns, the high levels of Phosphorus help encourage new root growth while strengthening the root structure. From there, reapply the lawn starter fertilizer at least twice per year.
And there you have it! These are just some of the most valuable tips to follow when it comes to laying down turf in winter. As you can see, while there’s a bit more strategy involved, turf laying in the colder months is definitely within your grasp.
Of course, if you’d prefer to leave it to the experts, contact A View Turf today. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable turf laying experts will take care of it all for you. From measuring and ordering to surface preparation and turf laying. They’ll handle it expertly and correctly, while making sure you get the best results out of your new turf.
This way, you can relax knowing that your new turf is in good hands, and will bring you many years of joy and freshness.
Contact A View Turf today for a free price estimate on our turf supplies.
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