Turf preparation - spray or use turf cutter?

Hi

    Just wondering how you prepare the ground before you go to a turfing job, currently I visit the site 2 weeks before turfing and spray whole area with roundup.

I'm getting quite a few turfing jobs this year and the spraying 2 week before turfing is taking up valuable time and was wondering do any of you do this like me? or do you not bother spraying and just turn up rotavate and turf? or finally do you use a turf cutter? and then add the cost of disposal of cut turf to the customer.

I hope this makes sense and couldn't find an answer by searching the forum

Thanks

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Andrew Evans on July 1, 2012 at 21:27

Personaly i just strip off the old turf with a turf cutter, rotivate, add extra topsoil where required then lay turf!

Dont usualy spray beforehand!


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd on July 1, 2012 at 21:46
I would always spray so as to destroy deep rooted perennials such as dandelions etc. Then strip off, rotovate etc.
Permalink Reply by Lawn lover on July 1, 2012 at 22:20

Good method if you want to pass the job on to another turfing company in 12 months time to rectify your work.

The original turf usually fails for a reason be it compaction, old turf not able to rejuvenate fast enough or lack of drainage.  

Craig Downey said:

Turf cutter, then add top soil over the top, I never rotivate, it's hard work, then you have to stamp it back down, why bother
Permalink Reply by Simon Smith on July 1, 2012 at 22:21

Bother because most lawns getting redone are poor because of years of compaction. Why re-lay a lawn but not deal with the underlying problems???

Personally i follow the same regieme as nick.

Permalink Reply by Craig Downey on July 1, 2012 at 22:30
Yeah true!! I don't do much turf were too busy with maintenance, the last ones I have done the customer had sprayed his own lawn 2 years ago!! Do it was all well dead lol. Yeah thinking About it most if the other ones have been new build houses, and the ground has been quite new anyway
Permalink Reply by Robert Cottrell on July 1, 2012 at 22:39

we allways spray off 4 weeks before we turf prep. Then stone burry the ground and final rake and lay. if you just rotivate the old grass you wont be able to chop it up fine enough and you will spend a long time rakeing off the old turf.. only problem is the client has to look at dead turf for a few weeks but its not the end of the world as it saves mowing it..

Permalink Reply by Colin Hunt on July 2, 2012 at 6:30

We always spray first, turf strip, rotavate down to 6" and prepare.  We would deal with compaction if necessary, occasionally using a kango and clay spade.


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Rich AGS on July 2, 2012 at 18:34

David

Before any turf is put down you always apply  pre seeding fertiliser ,   and the same when making a lawn from seed ,, 

Richard 

Permalink Reply by David Strong on July 2, 2012 at 20:16

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll hire a turf cutter for my next returfing job but i will carry on spraying the garden a couple of weeks before.

The aim of this will just to be to save me having to rake the dead grass off when I've rotavated (however I dont mind doing this) I'm just curious to see if this will save me much time.

Richard - I've never used pre seed fertiliser for either seeding or before I've layed turf, I might give it a try one day though, Has anyone else ever used this?

 

Permalink Reply by Simon Smith on July 2, 2012 at 21:39

Its so much quicker to get a decent tilth. I use scotts new grass fertiliser before seed or turf


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Rich AGS on July 2, 2012 at 23:18

David 

You dont need any fancy fertiliser to start of turf or seed ,, most pre seeding fertiliser is -N-6-P-9-6K  or use grow more at  6-6-6  , you find lot of people dont do this they just lay turf or seed ,,  my back ground  is golf courses and turf care so all ways did it this way , 

Richard

Permalink Reply by Colin Hunt on July 3, 2012 at 6:24

Standard Growmore, raked into the final tilth is what we have used for many years.

David Strong said:


Richard - I've never used pre seed fertiliser for either seeding or before I've layed turf, I might give it a try one day though, Has anyone else ever used this?

 

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