DIY Jobs: 5 Tips for Laying Your Own Yard

Laying your own turf can be a great way to save some money and improve the look and value of your home. If you’re considering laying your own yard, there are some essentials that you need to consider.While it’s not a hugely arduous task, it’s essential you get it right the first time, or your money saving idea can turn into a real financial nightmare.

Before you jump headfirst into laying your own yard, consider the following to save you time, money and stress.

1. Do Your Homework

Don’t know your cooch from your bulldog? Your Sir Walter from your common weed? You probably know what you want, you just don’t know what it’s called, how it grows, the cost and how to prepare your yard before the lay. You could fumble around Google looking for answers… or you could simply talk to an expert. Check out the website of a turfing specialist like Hancey’s Turf and read about their turf installation service at this URL: http://hanceysturf.com.au/turf-services/turf-install. Doing some research will make a world of difference and, as a bonus, you’ll already know who to call for help if the task becomes overwhelming or more difficult than you foresaw.

2. Do Your Measurements

One of the first mistakes people make when laying their own yard is measurements. You just need to measure how much turf you need, right? Wrong. The turf is important, but have you thought about your ground preparation, getting any diggers or machinery in, or even the removal of old grass, dirt or debris? Doing your measurements also means making sure you’ve got the necessary resources to do the lay… and the resources to get rid of the rubbish.

3. Act Quickly

If you’re going to lay turf, act sooner rather than later. If you’ve got the motivation to do it, don’t waste your time. Like anything, if you put it off, you’ll probably never get around to doing it. As they say: strike while the iron is hot!

4. Enlist Help

There’s nothing more satisfying than finishing a DIY project and thinking ‘I did that.’ But there’s nothing more frustrating than when it’s Sunday night, the job isn’t even half finished, you’ve got work the next day, and your wife is giving you the ‘what were you thinking?’ look. Don’t be proud; enlist the help of some friends to help you get the job done. When you’re all finished, you can enjoy a barbeque and a beer together on your new lawn.

5. Protect Your Investment

Grass does not grow itself, but weeds sure do. Once you’ve laid your turf, especially until it’s established, it’s going to need some care. Expect your water bill to go up, be prepared to spend that bit of extra time making sure it’s growing properly, and don’t be scared to give an expert a call if you’re concerned a particular patch isn’t growing correctly. You’ve paid good money to get this turf laid, so take the extra time to protect your investment.

Have you laid your own yard? How did you find it? Are there any tips you can share with someone else considering it? Share your ideas and thoughts in the comments below.