LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

GRASS LAYING

GRASS LAYING
THE PLANTING MATERIAL THAT FORMS A CARPET OF
LOW HEIGHT; THESE LOW- GROWING PLANTS ARE
USUALLY INSTALLED AS THE FINAL PART OF LANDSCAPE
CONSTRUCTION.
TYPES:- SOD
- TURF LAYING
- INSTANT LAWN
- ARTIFICIAL LAWN

SOD
TIME REQUIRED 8 HR/ 10 SQ. FEET
CULTIVATION
GROWN ON SPECIALIST FARMS, MINIMIZE BOTH THE COST OF TRANSPORT AND RISK OF
DAMAGE TO THE PRODUCT.
USUALLY HARVESTED 10 TO 18 MONTHS AFTER PLANTING, DEPENDING ON GROWING
CLIMATE.
ON FARM, IT UNDERGOES FERTILIZATION, FREAQUENT WATERING, FREQUENT MOWING AND
SUBSEQUENT VACCUMING TO REMOVE CLIPPINGS.
IT IS HARVESTED USING SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT, PRECISION CUT TO STANDARDIZED SIZES.
IT IS TYPICALLY HARVESTED IN SMALL SQUARE SLABS, ROLLED RECTANGLES, OR LARGE 4
WIDE ROLLS.
SINCE, SOD IS NOT GROWN IN SOIL, IT DOESNT NEED TO BE WASHED CLEAN OF SOIL
DOWN TO THE BARE ROOTS AND TIME TO EXPORT IS SHORTENED.

ROLLED
SOD

INSTALLING SOD
IT IS A POPULAR WAY TO ESTABLISH A NEW LAWN. IT IS USUALLY BETTER WHEN INSTALLED IN
SPRING.
IT TYPICALLY COSTS FROM 4-19.5 RS A SQUARE FOOT, IN ADDITION TO INSTALLATION FEES.
LAYING SOD IS TIME CONSUMING, INSTALLING SOD MORE EXPENSIVE.
CHOOSING SOD
WHILE THIN SOD IS SAID TO ROOT FASTER, IT GENERALLY REQUIRES MORE FREQUENT
WATERING. SO TRY TO CHOOSE SOD THAT IS AT LEAST AN INCH OR SO THICK AND MAKE SURE
ITS ALSO SIMILAR TO YOUR SOIL TYPE AND SITE CONDITIONS.
MOST SOD VARIETIES THRIVE IN SUNNY LOCATIONS; HOWEVER, A FEW TYPES THAT WILL
TOLERATE SHADE.

HARVESTING
SOD

HOW TO LAY SOD

PRIOR TO LAYING SOD, YOU SHOULD PREPARE THE SITE. ALTHOUGH THE EXISTING SOIL IS UNUSUALLY SUITABLE FOR SOD, YOU MAY
WANT TO GO AHEAD AND AMEND THE SOIL WITH ORGANIC MATTER TO IMPROVE ITS QUALITY AND ROOTING SUCCESS. YOULL ALSO
NEED ABOUT 4-6 INCHES OF LOOSE TOPSOIL.
MAKE SURE THE AREA IS FREE OF ROCKS AND OTHER DEBRIS AND ROUGH GRADE THE SITE TO ENSURE ADEQUATE DRAINAGE.
IF YOURE UNABLE TO INSTALL THE SOD RIGHT WAY, PLACE IT IN A SHADY LOCATION AND KEEP IT SOMEWHAT MOIST. NEVER ALLOW
THE SOD TO DRY OUT, AS IT WILL DIE QUICKLY.
LAY STRIPS OF SOD ON THE PREPARED SITE, EDGE TO EDGE BUT WITH STAGGERED JOINTS IN A BRICK-LIKE PATTERN. ON SLOPES,
START AT THE BOTTOM AND RUN PERPENDICULAR. STAPLE THE SOD IN PLACE WITH BIODEGRADABLE SOD STAPLES, WHICH WILL
EVENTUALLY BREAK DOWN INTO THE SOIL.
ONCE THE SOD IS DOWN, LIGHTLY ROLL IT TO REMOVE AIR POCKETS, AND THEN WATER IT THOROUGHLY. A STARTER FERTILIZER MAY
BE APPLIED TO ENCOURAGE ROOT DEVELOPMENT, IF DESIRED, THOUGH THIS IS NOT REQUIRED.
TRY TO KEEP OFF THE NEWLY INSTALLED SOD UNTIL IT BECOMES WELL ESTABLISHED, USUALLY WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS TO A
MONTH.
CARE FOR NEW SOD LAWNS
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS IRRIGATION, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER. GENERALLY, NEW SOD NEEDS TO BE WATERED EVERY
TWO TO THREE DAYS. GIVE IT A THOROUGH SOAKING, ABOUT AN INCH OR SO DEEP.
CHECK FOR ROOT DEVELOPMENT PERIODICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT ROOTING IS TAKING PLACE. ONCE IT HAS TAKEN HOLD, YOU CAN
BEGIN TO GRADUALLY DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF WATERING.
USES
LAWNS, GOLF COURSE, SPORTS STADIUMS.
SOME OF SOD GRASSES:
CENTIPEDEGRASS (COVINGTON, SANTEE)
BLUEGRASS (BELLA BLUEGRASS)
ST. AUGUSTINE GRASS (CAPTIVA ST. AUGUSTINE)
BERMUDAGRASS (DISCOVERY BERMUDAGRASS, CELEBRATION BERMUDAGRASS)

MOWER

RAKE

TURF LAYING
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER WHEN LAYING NEW TURF IS,
GREEN SIDE UP, BROWN SIDE DOWN!
PREPARATION TIMING
ONCE CUT FROM THE FARM, THE TURF IS UNDER STRESS AND WILL
EASILY DRY OUT, SO THE SOONER IT IS LAID AND WATERED THE BETTER.
PREPARATION
ENSURE THE SITE IS WELL DRAINED AND ANY SURFACE DEBRIS (LOOSE
STONES, WEEDS AND OLD TURF ETC) HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
THE LAWN WILL IDEALLY NEED OVER 100MM (4) OF GOOD SOIL, DIG TO
A DEPTH OF 100-200MM (4-9) DEPENDING ON THE DEPTH OF TOP SOIL.
AFTER REMOVING ALL LUMPS, FIRM AND LEVEL SOIL BY TREADING OR
ROLLING THE SURFACE (IF DRY ENOUGH), THEN RAKE IT.
REPEAT UNTIL GROUND IS LEVELED, SMOOTH AND EVENLY
CONSOLIDATED, BUT NOT COMPACTED. BEFORE LAYING TURF, RAKE
APPROX 28G (1OZ) OF BONEMEAL OR GENERAL PURPOSE COMPOUND
FERTILISER PER SQUARE YARD.

GOLF COARSE
TURF

ORDERING
WE SHOULD NOT ORDER TURF UNTIL PREPARATION IS COMPLETE.
YOUR GRASSLANDS TURF SHOULD BE ORDERED 3-4 DAYS AHEAD OF
LAYING.

1.

PLEASE ALLOW A LITTLE EXTRA TURF TO ALLOW FOR CUTTING, SHAPING

AND MISMEASUREMENT.
UNLESS WEATHER IS COLD, TURF SHOULD BE LAID ON THE DAY OF
DELIVERY.
LAYING THE TURF
IF THE GROUND IS DRY, DAMPEN THOROUGHLY AND DO NOT WALK ON
PREPARED SURFACE.

2.

BEGIN LAYING NEXT TO A STRAIGHT EDGE I.E.: PATIO OR PATH

PLACE ROLLS END TO END. ENSURE TURF NOT STRETCHED BUT BUTTED
TIGHTLY AGAINST PIECES ALREADY LAID.
PIECES AT THE END OF A LINE THAT ARE TOO LONG CAN BE CUT AND
PLACED AT THE START OF NEXT LINE.
PIECES OF TURF SHOULD LOOK LIKE BRICKWORK AND WHEN LAYING
THE TURF, WALK ON BOARDS SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE THE NEW TURF.
WHEN LAWN IN PLACE, FIRM NEW TURF DOWN BY ROLLING LIGHTLY OR
TAMPING WITH A FLAT BOARD NAILED TO A POLE.
ENSURE NEW LAWN AREA MOIST AND WATER IF NECESSARY.

3.

ESTABLISHING LAWN
FINAL EDGE SHAPING SHOULD NOT BE DONE UNTIL THE LAWN IS ESTABLISHED.
AT THIS STAGE THERE SHOULD BE NO CRACKS, HOWEVER, IF THE WEATHER IS VERY DRY, CRACKS COULD APPEAR LATER AND SHOULD BE FILLED
WITH A MIXTURE OF SOIL, SAND AND PEAT, OR GOOD QUALITY TOPSOIL.
EARLY TURF CARE
WATER IN THE EARLY MORNING AND/OR THE EVENING, WHEN NECESSARY.
ENSURE THAT THE TURF AND TOP 25MM (1) OF SOIL REMAIN MOIST SO THAT THE NEW ROOTS GROW QUICKLY.
WHEN THE LAWN IS ESTABLISHED, DO NOT OVERWATER IN DRY WEATHER. INSTEAD ENCOURAGE THE GRASS TO DEEP STRING ROOTS BY APPLYING AT
LEAST 12MM ( )OF WATER AT A TIME. USE A JAM JAR TO CHECK THE RATE.
TOO MUCH WATER TOO OFTEN WILL ENCOURAGE SHALLOW, WEAK ROOTS AND CAN ENCOURAGE WEEDS.

TURF MAINTENANCE
ONCE THE ROOTS HAVE KNITTED INTO THE SOIL AND THE GRASS IS GROWING WELL, LAWN MAYBE LIGHTLY MOWED.
TRIM NO SHORTER THAN 25MM (1) IN THE FIRST SEASON.
ONCE THE LAWN IS WELL ROOTED, GIVE IT A TOP DRESSING WHILST THE AUTUMN WEATHER IS STILL DRY.
THE DRESSING SHOULD COMPRISE ONE PART FINE PEAT, THREE PARTS SHARP SAND AND THREE PARTS GOOD LOAM. APPLY TO CLOSELY
MOWN LAWN AS EVENLY AS POSSIBLE AT A RATE OF 3-4 KG (6-9LBS) PER SQ METRE.
USE THE FLAT BACK OF A RAKE TO DRAW THE DRESSING OVER THE SURFACE IN ORDER TO FILL LOW AREAS AND MAKE THE LAWN REALLY
LEVEL.
DO NOT COVER THE GRASS COMPLETELY, ENSURE THAT THE TOPS OF THE GRASS BLADES ARE STILL SHOWING.
FEEDING
FOR THE BEST RESULTS, APPLY A SPRING FERTILISER IN MARCH OR APRIL, A SUMMER FERTILISER IN JUNE AND AN AUTUMN LAWN FERTILISER
IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER.
YOUR LOCAL GARDEN CENTRE WILL BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND A SUITABLE PRODUCT.
ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PACKET AND ALWAYS WATER FERTILISER IF NO RAIN FALLS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF APPLICATION.
MOWING
WHETHER YOU CHOOSE A CYLINDER OR ROTARY MOWER, ENSURE THE BLADES ARE SHARP AND CORRECTLY SET UP.
USE A BOX TO COLLECT CLIPPINGS AND A ROLLER TO CREATE NEAT STRIPES AND A FLAT LAWN.

INSTANT LAWN LAYING

SOIL PREPARATION
REMOVE ALL BUILDING WASTES.
TREAT WEEDS WITH A PRODUCT LIKE ROUNDUP, THEN LEAVE THE AREA FOR A WEEK FOR THE ROUNDUP TO KILL ALL THE WEEDS AND
UNDERGROWTH.
LEVEL THE SURFACE AND ELIMINATE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS BY MAKING THE SOIL DRAIN AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. ROLL THE AREA WITH A
ROLLER TO COMPACT SOIL AND TO LEVEL THE DESIRED AREAS.
APPLY A 'LAWN STARTER' FERTILISER - WHICH YOU CAN BUY FROM YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE OR NURSERY.
IN HOTTER MONTHS MOISTEN THE SOIL BUT DO NOT MAKE THE SOIL TOO WET; DO NOT LAY INSTANT LAWN ON DRY HOT SOIL.
INSTANT LAWN LAYING
FIRSTLY SPREAD YOUR INSTANT LAWN STARTER FERTILISER EVENLY OVER THE AREA TO BE PLANTED AND LIGHTLY RAKE IN. (IF YOU
FORGET TO PUT IT UNDER, IT IS NOT CRUCIAL AND IT MAY BE PLACED OVER THE TOP - MAKE SURE THAT IT IS WELL WATERED IN).
CHOOSE YOUR STRAIGHTEST AND LONGEST EDGE; START WITH ROLLING YOUR INSTANT LAWN OUT WITHOUT PULLING OR STRETCHING,
PUSHING THE ROLL EDGES TOGETHER STAGGERING THE JOINS IN A BRICKWORK PATTERN (THIS HELPS CONTROL WEED GROWTH
BETWEEN SECTIONS). YOU MAY NEED TO PEG GRASS ON SLOPING AREAS TO PREVENT MOVEMENT. (AVOID GAPS OR LAYING OVER EACH
OTHER).
AVOID LEAVING NARROW STRIPS AT THE OUTER EDGES, AS THEY WILL NOT RETAIN MOISTURE AS WELL AT THE EDGE.
ON HOT DAYS LAY A SECTION OF INSTANT LAWN AND LIGHTLY WATER THEN LAY THE NEXT SECTION REPEAT UNTIL ALL THE INSTANT LAWN
IS LAID. ON COOL DAYS ALL INSTANT LAWN CAN BE LAID AT ONCE.
IF TRIMMING IS REQUIRED JUST USE A BREAD KNIFE TO CUT AROUND EDGES.
WITHIN 1 HOUR OF LAYING INSTANT LAWN SQUASH BENEATH FEET OR ROLL WELL TO REMOVE ANY AIR POCKETS (DO NOT ROLL COOL
SEASON GRASSES) AND WATER THOROUGHLY.
AFTER THE INSTANT LAWN HAS BEEN DOWN TWO WEEKS IT CAN BE MOWN, THE FIRST MOWING IS USUALLY DONE A LITTLE HIGHER THAN
NORMAL.
WATERING FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS IS CRITICAL. KEEP THE INSTANT LAWN MOIST BUT NOT TOO WET FOR ANY LENGTH GREAT LENGTH
OF TIME.

ARTIFICIAL LAWN
HIGH QUALITY NATURAL LOOKING GRASSES.
ALTHOUGH THE INITIAL INSTALLATION COST OF LAYING ARTIFICIAL GRASS CAN BE QUIET HIGH AS
COMPARED TO NATURAL GRASS (GIVES LONG TERM BENEFITS).
AVERAGE COST OF NATURAL GRASS IS : 24.76 RS PER SQ. FT
AVERAGE COST OF ARTIFICIAL GRASS IS : 742.8 RS PER SQ. FT
SIZES- 7.5 , 12 , 15 WIDE AND 100 LONG.
IT IS ALWAYS ADVISABLE TO DRAW A BASIC PLAN OF THE AREA OF INSTALLATION AND CALCULATE
THE QUANTITY OF GRASS THAT YOU WOULD REQUIRE FOR USE IN ORDER TO AVOID WASTAGE.
ITS YEARLY MAINTAINANCE COST IS RS 0.
IT WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT NO EARLIER THAN ATLEAST 15 YEARS.
KEY BENEFITS:
IT SAVES WATER. ON AN AVERAGE, A HOME OWNER CAN SAVE UPTO 55 GALLONS OF WATER PER
YEAR PER SQ FEET.
IT IS EASY TO MAINTAIN.YOU JUST NEED TO HOSE IT DOWN TO CLEAN IT.
IT IS ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY. YOU DO NOT NEED TO FERTILIZE ARTIFICIAL LAWN, SO NO HARMFUL
CHEMICALS ARE THROWN BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

PREPARATION
PREPARE THE AREA BY REMOVING NATURAL GRASS OR
SOD. DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF EXISTING LAWN, A
SOD CUTTER IS A GREAT TOOL FOR THIS TASK. REMOVE
ALL DEBRIS AND CAP OFF SPRINKLER HEADS, IF PRESENT.
LEVEL AND SMOOTH OUT THE AREA. YOU MAY WANT TO
COMPACT THE AREA AS WELL.
ADD 3-4 CRUSHED GRANITE WITH FINE MATERIAL OR
CRUSHED STONE AGGREGATE.TOP OFF WITH 1 OF
STONE DUST.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ANY UNDULATION ON
THE SURFACE WILL BE VISIBLE ONCE THE TURF HAS
BEEN INSTALLED.
WHILE THE STONE BASE WILL AID IN THE DRAINAGE
PROPERTIES OF THE SYSTEM, A SLIGHT SLOPE IS
RECOMMENDED TO ENSURE PROPER DRAINAGE.
SMOOTH OUT THE AGGREGATE USING A SCREEN OR
RAKE.
COMPACT THE BASE USING COMPACTOR OR CEMENT
ROLLER.
SPRAY WATER ON THE AGGREAGTE AND COMPACT AGAIN.

INSTALLATION
BEFORE ROLLING OUT GARDENMARK TURF, WE
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED COVERING THE ENTIRE
COMPACTED BASE WITH WEEDMARK.
LAY GARDENMARK TURF ON TOP OF WEEDMARK WEED
CONTROL FABRIC AND TRIM IN AREAS AS NEEDED.
CUT FROM THE BACK USING A BOX KNIFE.
ONCE THE GRASS IS SET IN PLACE, ANCHOR IT DOWN
ALONG THE EDGES WITH NAILMARK.
NAILMARK SHOULD BE PLACED EVERY 6 ALONG THE
PERIMETER. PLACE THE NAILS 1-2 FROM THE
OUTSIDE EDGES.
START ON ONE SIDE OF THE APPLICATION AREA SO YOU
CAN PULL THE TURF TIGHT FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
THIS PROCESS IS MOST IMPORTANT, SO YOUR TURF IS
ATTACHED SECURELY AND PROPERLY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO LAY THE TURF WITH ALL GRASS
FIBRES OR BLADES GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION TO
ENSURE THAT ALL PIECES OF TURF MATCH UP.
YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY CUTTING THE TURF TO CREATE
THE EXACT SHAPE OF YOUR AREA, SO THE FEWER

 OFTEN TIMES, YOU WILL NEED TO SEAM TWO OR MORE PIECES OF

TURF TOGETHER. THE USE OF TAPEMARK AND BONDMARK IS
ESSENTIAL TO DO THIS PROPERLY.
WHEN SEAMING TWO PIECES OF TURF TOGETHER, IT IS IMPORTANT
TO LAY EVERYTHING OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT LINES UP
PROPERLY, BEING SURE TO LEAVE A SMALL SEPERATION
(APPROXIMATELY ) BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES OF TURF THAT
YOU WILL SEAM TOGETHER.
ROLL THE TWO PIECES OF GRASS BACK IN ORDER TO LAY
TAPEMARK SEAMING TAPE UNDERNEATH THE TWO SECTIONS.
APPLY A GENEROUS AMOUNT OF BOND MARKADHESIVE TO THE
SEAMING TAPE.
CAREFULLY, LAY THE TWO PIECES OF GRASS TOGETHER SO THAT
THE FIBERS OR BLADES DO NOT STICK TO BONDMARK.
WHILE USING BONDMARK IT IS RECOMMENDED TEMPERATURE
SHOULD BE 45*F OR HIGHER. YOU SHOULD PLAN TO USE
APPROXIMATELY ONE TUBE OF BONDMARK FOR EVERY 15-20 LINEAR
FEET OF TAPEMARK SEEMING TAPE.
LET SET FOR 24-48 HRS. YOU CAN ALSO APPLY SAND ON THE TOP
OF THE TURF ALONG THE SEAM TO GIVE THE TURF ADDED WEIGHT
SO IT WILL ADHERE MORE QUICKLY AND FIRMLY TO THE SEAMING
TAPE.
AFTER LETTING THE TURF SET, IT IS IMPORTANT TO FLUFF THE TURF
UP WITH A RAKE OR POWER BROOM TO RAISE THE BADES. THIS
HELPS TO GIVE THE TURF A FINISHED, QUALITY LOOK AND FEEL.