Archives for July 2015

Your lawn is your investment. I have written often about how your lawn is the first thing people see when they come to your place and how the investment  your lawn can add minimum of $70,000.00  of value to your home.

But today, I want to chat to you about the soil underneath your new turf. When you invest into your lawn, it is wonderful to buy  perfect Coastal Turf slabs to become your new lawn but to ensure a return on your investment, either environmental or financial, you need to have a  good base for your lawn investment to thrive in.

Like the old saying “Soils ain’t Soils!” (Sorry Barbara in the office is a bit of a John Law’s fan and he does tend to get into your head). Soils are a living thing. If you took a really really really close look at the soil underneath a turf farm or a thriving green lush lawn you would see not just little dirt particles, but a thriving ecosystem of worms, microorganisms, organic matter and dirt particles. Its these alive little bugs that help create fantastic “waste” for the roots to absorb. I went to an interesting soil workshop (no really it was interesting, I thought it was going to be boring, but the presenter was AMAZING) and found out all about the really super tiny organisms that make a huge difference. Did you know that not only do their poo give soil nutritionist for plants to absorb, but by tunnelling through the soil to do their little buggy business they create pathways for the roots to expand through the ground. Its amazing that all the things we can’t see can make all the difference.

I guess its like building a house. Getting the foundations right means that your home will weather any storm and will be a safe place. And getting the foundations right for your lawn means that you will have to spend less time and money later to maintain its beautiful colour and be the best lawn on the street.

So when you order the Soil, ask for an organic rich mix. A great way to tell if the soil is healthy is to smell it. It should smell, well, for lack of a better word, yucky. A bit of the old blood and bone smell or chicken poo smell to it. One gentlemen I chatted to sad it smelt like mushrooms left to die. Soil also needs to be loose enough that the Bugs can move through the soil with ease, but not humbly enough that it wont hold together. My favourite test it to pick up a hand full, make a fist, and then when I open my hand, see if it stays clumped together or falls away from your hand like dry beach sand. If it clumps together is a great sign that your soil is wonderful! This test also gives you the ability to feel the texture of the soil, to feel how damp the soil is, and it will give you a great indication of the true smell.

When you spread out your soil, by hand or by machine, please make sure that you have it sloping away from your home. So if we do get a big dumping of rain the water will run away from your home.

By biggest tip for Buying soil is to buy from a local supplier who knows your area. They will know if you already have really sandy soils, or clay soils, or rock. And then they can match you up to the best type of under turf soil for your area. Often a yard will have a generic Under Turf Soil. These are usually a great mixture for your local area. But I suggest just asking if they incorporate any Mushroom Compost or Chicken poo within the soil. By having it added to the soil, you wont need to add fertiliser down the track as often.

The next most important thing is straight after you get off the phone from the soil people (and then the bobcat people if you want it machine spread for you) is to call us and arrange to have the turf delivered the day after the soil is spread. Recently so many people have had their soil come, spread it out (a lot of hard work I tell you), forget to order the turf, and then have the rain come and wash it away. Get your order in for the right turf for your area delivered early the next morning after you have spread the soil and trap all those nutrients and Bug Life under the turf, make your soil work for your lawn and create the best looking lawn in the street with some locally supplied soil and some beautiful Coastal Turf Lawn.

 

Remember your Soil life, effects your Lawns Look. So Don’t waste your investment of time and energy of getting and spreading the soil, cover all the goodness with some Beautiful Coastal Turf Grass and create a beautiful lawn.

Chat soon

Sare

I wanted to share with you a story about my mum. My Mum is one of the most brilliant amazing women I know and without her my life would be just unbearable some days. She is not just my mum but my friend and trusted confidant. Saying that my Mum is a bargain hunter. And being a bargain Hunter, she always goes for the cheapest bargain, no matter what. No matter the quality or the brand, if its cheap she feels she has won one over someone. My family always gives my Mum a bit of a jib about it. But She is convinced that her Bargain shopping will be our saver. We believe that her Bargain shopping is actually costing her more in the long run.

For example a couple of months ago we were shopping in a department store and on one of the Bargain discount tables she found a Toaster reduced from $25 to $4. “Bargain!” thinks my Mum and she buys the toaster. Even though at the time she had a perfectly working toaster at home. So Mum takes the Toaster home and puts it in her “emergency” cupboard. So last week, Mums Toaster died, as Toasters do after a good 4 years of service. “My Bargain Toaster!” thinks my Mum.  She is all excited as my kids were in her house for school holidays, and she was going to show us all how great her Toaster was. And who better to spread the word through the family how good you are than the Grandchildren! They are obviously unbiased. Out comes the $4 Toaster and is proudly put on the bench for all to see and make toast with on the chilli morning. In goes the first two slices and success. Toast is made. Slightly more toasted than usual, well it was burnt in my youngest opinion. Then go in the next two slices, down goes the button, slowly the toast slides down, the heat turns on and the elements glow….

Then all the lights go out, but most importantly in an 8 year olds holiday life, the TV goes off! The amazing $4 toaster has tripped the safety switch! Not really a Bargain. More a dud! And thank goodness for the safety switch! So my Mum then had to ring me to come home and switch the power back on, and borrow our toaster for the morning. My Dad then went out that afternoon and bought a $40 toaster from our local Electrical store, with a safety guarantee and the local knowledge back up that when we see him down the street, he will be somewhat accountable for our money spent with him. Both he and my Dad know they can both look each other in the eye and shake hands in the street when they meet because a quality product has been bought for a reasonable price.

Bargains can often come with a warning in the background. If something is cheap, really cheap then it is usually because it is not right. And the same goes for Turf and soil. If a growing grass slab is offered cheap, then there is usually a reason. Unlike my Mum’s toaster, the Grass is less likely to blow a safety switch, but it may come with extra nasties like Weeds. Weeds are defined as any living plant that should not be growing in an area. But Weeds are commonly know as such Nut Grass, Bindi’s, and Summer grass.

Buying a Bargain Turf or soil, one that is cheaper than the norm, can often cost more in the long run. Spraying out the weeds in your new turf  costs extra dollars, and can hinder the establishment period of your lawn. And if your soil is of poor quality, then nutrients will have to be added in the long run to ensure the lawns continued health.

At Coastal Turf, we don’t have bargains. (Because my mothers Emergency Bargain cupboard wont store turf. LOL. No not really.) We have high quality Turf Grass to become your new lawn. And you have the guarantee that when you buy from a local family business, and you see us in the Pub, Park or down the street, we can shake hands, have a chat about your lawn, and life, and both look each other in the eye; Confident that you bought a quality product with a solid service, for a reasonable price.

Chat soon

Sare

Empire Zoysia is quite often over looked because it has a weird name that is hard to say. Don’t be embarrassed when you say its name. No one here cares if you pronounce it correctly or not.  And least of all the grass cares. Try  calling it by its preferred nick name of Empire Zoysia the E-Z lawn. Like all of us with a interesting first names that are either unpronounceable or have that embarrassing story, Empire Zoysia prefers its Nick name E-Z. Yes its partly from the first two letters of the name, and partly a funny play on words. Because Empire Zoysia is such as easy lawn to own. The grass it self is a thick dense lawn, with close knit blades making the lawn a soft cushion to walk on. The dark emerald green colour is very appealing to the eye as well. The easy going part comes from its need for little to no attention from the owner.

My favourite part of this lawn is that in May the lawn concentrates on its root growth over its leaf growth so there is no need for any mowing until August. This doesn’t mean you have to stay off the lawn. No no. It means you still get out there and walk, run, play, tackle, roll and enjoy your Empire Zoysia lawn all winter. And when the Empire Zoysia lawn awakens in Spring, it is still a very slow growing leaf so your mowing regime is for possibly every 10 to 15 days rather than every week. Over Summer the Empire Zoysia will let you know if its thirsty by rolling its leaf up. So in Summer when you are out on your lawn playing the all important game of cricket, if your lawn is curling up then give the game a bit of a cool down with a light sprinkle of water. Or a quick slip and slide mid way through the game. Always a crowd pleaser. And thats all the fuss that the E-Z lawn will give you.

Because E-Z lawn is so dense, it is less likely to allow nasty weed invasions as well. So you can rest assured you can walk around bare foot in the warmer months. ( you can as well in winter, but I don’t recommend it as it really really cold on the toes. brrr) And due to E-Z lawns slow growing leaf, there is less fertilising required over the life of the lawn. So in short there is more time to be enjoying your Empire Zoysia Lawn, than fussing over it. I love mine around my clothes line. Because it does mean I can walk out there no shoes in the warmer months, (I do wear shoes in winter, mostly because I am a cold frog who believes anything under 20 degrees is freezing and requires beanies and gloves) and enjoy the lawn under my feet.

Chat soon

Sare

I really thought that winter was half way over and I was really hoping that the weather was going to start to get warmer not colder. But Colder it has definitely got. I know my fingers and toes are not happy about the chill. But the grass seams to be not feeling the cold. As we were harvesting some gorgeous green for a gentleman today, it was a pleasure to sink my hands into the thick slabs to stack the turf delicately on the pallet. It was nearly as nice as it was running my hands through our dogs warm winer coat. Nearly – the dogs respond a lot better though.

 

I think part of the Coastal Turf pleasure is that we do harvest our turf with a thick slab of soil underneath so the roots can stay warm and most to aide in the establishment period. The turf doesn’t stress so much about being ripped out of the ground. It just takes some of its belongings with it. As you can see, the leaf takes up nearly half of the slab, and the other half is roots and soil. Almost small like , like it takes its home along with it. But much more welcome in your garden! By leaving the soil on the bottom of the slab, not only do you get the root system still in tact, but you also get all the great fertilisers and nutrients that we have been slowly feeding into the soil over the paddocks life to come home with you as well. This means a Coastal Turf Slab get a healthier kick start to its new life as your lawn.

 

 

 

And who wouldn’t want this beautiful Green colour all over their lawn? And staying this was as well? No matter if its been 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 years since you put your lawn down, give us a call if you are having problems and we will do our best to help diagnose the problem, and recommend the best way to return your lawn to its optimum healthy green state again. Because a Coastal Turf Lawn is for Life. A happier more time spend outside life. A place to play with your kids, a place to sit and watch the stars, and a place to roll around with the dog. And in the extremes of our weather, like now with our very chilli winds that are whipping through, having lawn right up against your home with help reduce your heating bills, as well as vastly reduce your cooling bills in Summer.

So a Coastal Turf Lawn may look thick, but it is the bright tough thickness you are looking for for you new lawn.

Chat soon

Sare

Well, my kids are back at school, and the farm and office is really quiet without the song of “MUM!” filling the air. I must admit though I do miss them. I miss their really helpful ideas on how to use my computer, and my daughter learnt how to make Tea this holidays. That was wonderful! Constant cups of tea in the office.

But now they are back at school, I am forced to use my computer slowly and carefully, and make my own tea. The worst part is on the farm. I really enjoyed having lunch with my kids and watching them play around the farm while we harvest. I know their Poppa will miss them and their constant cheerfulness they bought with them down the farm. So we are back into the normal full swing now. The early morning run to the bus stop, after a rushed morning of finding shoes, and those pesky hiding socks, filling lunch boxes and remembering to eat SOMETHING for breakfast. My husband leaves for work at 7am and the kids and I have to be out of the house by 7.20am to get to the bus. I know the reason he leaves at 7am. He misses all the tearing around. (I dream about other peoples homes in the morning as being calm and not having socks that hide from them, and wish that one day my mornings may go that way) So its no wonder that this morning I forgot my own lunch. Lucky I live where I work. I think I’ll take it as an excuse to microwave last nights leftovers for a warm lunch.

So I totally understand when someone rings and says they forgot to order their turn a couple of days ago. I understand that life and socks, quite often get in the way of being organised. It is always preferable to have 3 days notice for all deliveries, then we can both make sure you can receive your turf on the day you want and at the time you want. When you do become swept up in the whirlwind of first week back at school, work or any really busy times in your life, can you have forgotten to order, we will do our very best to organise to get your turf to you. We will also help with contacts for soil and machinery operators to help you out. We know the right people who can help as well. Because life is not always as perfect as Facebook!

Chat soon

Sare