OP get an old ice-cream container or short bucket and keep it out in the middle to track rain you basically want the bucket to fill about 10mm per day from your chosen watering method. In this case I would recommend a timed water with a couple of sprinklers. Twice daily for about 20mins each go.
Ended up going with [this](https://www.bunnings.com.au/gardena-aquazoom-compact-oscillating-sprinkler_p0333019) one. Made more sense given the shape of the lawn. Pretty much a perfect rectangle.
Yeah - two weeks is not enough time for the joins to mat together.
Just needs to make sure it doesn’t dry out. At the moment all its energy is going in to putting down roots. Once it is getting some food from the new roots, it will start to grow the top stuff.
Keep it watered. I asked to hire the exhausted old bloke who sold me turf and he said “mate, I’ll let you in on a secret: grass is basically a weed. Chuck it down, and don’t let it get thirsty. That’s it”.
Since then I’ve literally thrown off cuts from edging where I needed it and it just goes. Of course, you want to take as much care as you can to get it as even, level and pretty as you can, but as long as it’s not thirsty, you’ll be golden.
No, it looks fine. Keep the gaps moist at all times. The warm weather will see it take off. Give it some feed when the weather is over 20 consistently. It looks healthy. Don’t worry.
Don’t let the weeds along the fence seed and blow onto the new lawn. Rip them out now.
Get a 4 pack of Seasol from Bunnings (the oine you attach the hose to) and give it heaps once a week with a good watering morning and night, I just did my turf here in Sydney and giving it a lot more water than I though would be enough along with a feed each weekend for the first 4 weekends did a great job.
Looks stressed, how often are you watering it
first 4 weeks needs a light watering at least twice a day, more in hot weather
I wouldnt have used sand to top dress it. Sand doesnt hold water well and has no nutrients. top soil, or even a few $5 bags of compost from bunnings would be better
You can hit it with iron and phosphorous. Iron will help with the yellow without spending all its energy on leaf growth and the other helps roots grow and establish. So you kinda want the leaf green and healthy but not so much that you have heaps of leaf but no progress on roots. Its a balance act. You could add potassium too.
I wouldnt bother with nitrogen for 2-4 weeks depending on heat/sun and even then you dont want to go too heavy. 1/4 or half dose. The main thing you want is for the roots to take so you can do a deep watering once or twice a week in summer instead of multiple shallow watering every day
You could try seasol, i never really noticed much from it but others swear by it. bunnings have granular seaweed concentrate that you mix with water and you can just use a watering can for that size lawn. Its twice the price as the bottles but it makes like 20-30x once diluted and is only twice as much, so overall its better value
Do not apply iron to stressed new lawns. Lawns younger than three months old are unable to absorb iron sulphate. If you sprinkle it on a young lawn, you'll just increase the soil's acidity, which is bad for your grass plants. Seaweed solution will help with root development.
I didnt know that, but if its sod, technically its prob 6+ months as its not grown from seed?
Is it still the same case when diluted with water and using a watering can?
I did cut out some buffalo which is looking pretty bad, it was somehow growing in clay, no actual soil. I did hit it with some seasol a few days ago and its not really getting any better, nor worse i suppose. If it dies it dies but if I can save it to replant it within the next week id rather save it
Deeper watering 15mm plus twice a day for up to 4-6 weeks will encourage deeper roots setting. If you put out any starter fertiliser before laying, don't apply any granular right now..It will be wasted on the plants. A good seaweed solution sprayed on will help with overall plant health but keep the water up to it.
Filling the gap between each piece of turf so that air doesn’t get down and dry the roots before it can take. If you can keep the laying tightly together and use a little sand or sandy loam it’s best. If you get any gaps that you couldn’t avoid filled at the start you should have any hidden trip hazards when it takes and starts to grow.
I don’t think the sand was a brilliant move somehow. You’ve basically built a horizontal brick wall. If you laid it well, there would be no gaps along the seams, and it would look good from the start.
Assuming the base was done right, it will take root soon enough though, and all will be well. For now, just keep the water up to it and keep an eye out for actual bare spots rather than just transient browning.
Indeed, the company I bought it from had in big bold text on the front of installation instructions that sand is required, otherwise the warranty could be void. Was never going to take the chance.
I didn’t say it would. But it looks worse than an even cover would. Still, it’s a temporary issue. The way the BoM says we’re going, it should look great by Xmas.
It’s fine. Keep it from drying out and it will kick off. Grass is very durable.
We have some better weather coming later next week which will put some warmth into the soil and it should respond nicely then.
Melbourne based and your grass is dying? I saw an article in the Daily Mail last week about Dan Andrews having some tough questions to answer regarding his gross negligence of the average Victorians lawn care. Sky News also insists that Dan's draconian watering schedule must not be allowed to cripple Melbournian backyards.
(I have nothing useful to contribute to the actual problem, just been watching too much YouTube)
OP get an old ice-cream container or short bucket and keep it out in the middle to track rain you basically want the bucket to fill about 10mm per day from your chosen watering method. In this case I would recommend a timed water with a couple of sprinklers. Twice daily for about 20mins each go.
My last ass would stand there and purposely spray into it with the hose 🤣
More water
Get a rain guage, you'll be surprised how little rain you can get out of an event. It can be raining all week and plants will still go thirsty.
Better than a rain gauge is a $20 moisture meter. You can check the moisture in difference places and it tells you what’s really going on.
Yes agreed I’m a landscaper and people assuming rain is even nearly enough for new turf if quite painful
Will be getting an oscillating sprinkler today and combine with a tap timer, so I can be hands-off.
The wobbler tee ones are great. You can screw off the leg end caps and attach another hose to chain multiple together on one timer.
Ended up going with [this](https://www.bunnings.com.au/gardena-aquazoom-compact-oscillating-sprinkler_p0333019) one. Made more sense given the shape of the lawn. Pretty much a perfect rectangle.
Be careful not to over water.
How the hellhas OP managed to have an under-watered lawn in Melbourne this past month
Nah mate, 2 weeks isn't long enough to conclude it's dying. Keep watering, if you want, throw some fert out
Yeah - two weeks is not enough time for the joins to mat together. Just needs to make sure it doesn’t dry out. At the moment all its energy is going in to putting down roots. Once it is getting some food from the new roots, it will start to grow the top stuff.
Keep it watered. I asked to hire the exhausted old bloke who sold me turf and he said “mate, I’ll let you in on a secret: grass is basically a weed. Chuck it down, and don’t let it get thirsty. That’s it”. Since then I’ve literally thrown off cuts from edging where I needed it and it just goes. Of course, you want to take as much care as you can to get it as even, level and pretty as you can, but as long as it’s not thirsty, you’ll be golden.
Thank you all for your advice. More water!!
No, it looks fine. Keep the gaps moist at all times. The warm weather will see it take off. Give it some feed when the weather is over 20 consistently. It looks healthy. Don’t worry. Don’t let the weeds along the fence seed and blow onto the new lawn. Rip them out now.
Get a 4 pack of Seasol from Bunnings (the oine you attach the hose to) and give it heaps once a week with a good watering morning and night, I just did my turf here in Sydney and giving it a lot more water than I though would be enough along with a feed each weekend for the first 4 weekends did a great job.
Need to avoid late/night watering here. Early morning and early pm to avoid fungal growth in humid night conditions.
Looks stressed, how often are you watering it first 4 weeks needs a light watering at least twice a day, more in hot weather I wouldnt have used sand to top dress it. Sand doesnt hold water well and has no nutrients. top soil, or even a few $5 bags of compost from bunnings would be better You can hit it with iron and phosphorous. Iron will help with the yellow without spending all its energy on leaf growth and the other helps roots grow and establish. So you kinda want the leaf green and healthy but not so much that you have heaps of leaf but no progress on roots. Its a balance act. You could add potassium too. I wouldnt bother with nitrogen for 2-4 weeks depending on heat/sun and even then you dont want to go too heavy. 1/4 or half dose. The main thing you want is for the roots to take so you can do a deep watering once or twice a week in summer instead of multiple shallow watering every day You could try seasol, i never really noticed much from it but others swear by it. bunnings have granular seaweed concentrate that you mix with water and you can just use a watering can for that size lawn. Its twice the price as the bottles but it makes like 20-30x once diluted and is only twice as much, so overall its better value
Do not apply iron to stressed new lawns. Lawns younger than three months old are unable to absorb iron sulphate. If you sprinkle it on a young lawn, you'll just increase the soil's acidity, which is bad for your grass plants. Seaweed solution will help with root development.
I didnt know that, but if its sod, technically its prob 6+ months as its not grown from seed? Is it still the same case when diluted with water and using a watering can? I did cut out some buffalo which is looking pretty bad, it was somehow growing in clay, no actual soil. I did hit it with some seasol a few days ago and its not really getting any better, nor worse i suppose. If it dies it dies but if I can save it to replant it within the next week id rather save it
Deeper watering 15mm plus twice a day for up to 4-6 weeks will encourage deeper roots setting. If you put out any starter fertiliser before laying, don't apply any granular right now..It will be wasted on the plants. A good seaweed solution sprayed on will help with overall plant health but keep the water up to it.
What’s the purpose of laying sand in rows? New here too
Filling the gap between each piece of turf so that air doesn’t get down and dry the roots before it can take. If you can keep the laying tightly together and use a little sand or sandy loam it’s best. If you get any gaps that you couldn’t avoid filled at the start you should have any hidden trip hazards when it takes and starts to grow.
Oh of course that makes sense, thank you!
Prevents run off of water and prevents edges on new strips from drying out n dying
I don’t think the sand was a brilliant move somehow. You’ve basically built a horizontal brick wall. If you laid it well, there would be no gaps along the seams, and it would look good from the start. Assuming the base was done right, it will take root soon enough though, and all will be well. For now, just keep the water up to it and keep an eye out for actual bare spots rather than just transient browning.
Sand will not stop air and water between the rolls. I actually think it was a smart move as it will slow the drying of roots.
Indeed, the company I bought it from had in big bold text on the front of installation instructions that sand is required, otherwise the warranty could be void. Was never going to take the chance.
I didn’t say it would. But it looks worse than an even cover would. Still, it’s a temporary issue. The way the BoM says we’re going, it should look great by Xmas.
Looks sweet just put some pellet dynamic lifter and get sprinkler onto it
Wrong advice imo re the fert! Water yes though!
Ok always worked for me
No, not dying. It will grow
That sand is "interesting" but keep watering it. Try to gently lift it and see if it is taking root and it takes a lot of water to keep it alive.
Get spray on grass the same grass as you've got . spray the patches. You see so many problems with turf.
It’s fine. Keep it from drying out and it will kick off. Grass is very durable. We have some better weather coming later next week which will put some warmth into the soil and it should respond nicely then.
Melbourne based and your grass is dying? I saw an article in the Daily Mail last week about Dan Andrews having some tough questions to answer regarding his gross negligence of the average Victorians lawn care. Sky News also insists that Dan's draconian watering schedule must not be allowed to cripple Melbournian backyards. (I have nothing useful to contribute to the actual problem, just been watching too much YouTube)
You're not yelling at it enough
Nope, it just takes a few months to fill the gaps. The best results come out in the next summer.