Choosing the Best Soil for Turf Installation & Topdressing
Whether you’re laying a new lawn or revitalizing an existing one, selecting the right soil is essential for strong, healthy turf growth.
Turf Underlay
Turf underlay serves as the foundation for your lawn, and getting it right from the start is crucial. Once your turf is installed, there’s no going back! At Nepean Landscape Supplies, we recommend a well-balanced turf underlay mix, which typically includes:
✔ Washed river sand – Medium to coarse particles with a small percentage of clay to aid compaction and stability.
✔ Heavier soil components – Helps retain moisture while allowing for proper drainage.
✔ Composted organic matter – Often derived from green waste, chicken or animal manure, and natural nutrients to promote soil health and balance pH levels.
This blend creates the ideal foundation—firm yet free-draining—to encourage deep root establishment, helping your turf withstand harsh conditions like drought and frost.
For best results, apply at least 100mm of turf underlay before installation. Always clear any existing weeds or grass, level and compact the soil, and water thoroughly before laying your new turf.
Topdressing Your Lawn
To maintain an even, healthy lawn, topdressing is key. We recommend Sand for this process, as it offers several benefits over alternatives like brickies sand:
✔ Lighter texture – Easier to spread and screed, reducing the risk of compaction.
✔ Lower clay and silt content – Minimizes surface crusting and prevents water repellency (hydrophobic soil).
Apply topdressing no more than 5-10mm thick at a time, working it into the turf with a lawn level bar to help it integrate with the thatch layer.
For optimal results, prepare your lawn before topdressing:
✔ Apply a general-purpose fertiliser and wetting agent a few days in advance.
✔ Water the lawn well to encourage strong growth, allowing the grass to push through the sand layer more quickly.
At Nepean Landscape Supplies, we stock premium Turf Underlay and Sand to ensure your lawn gets the best start.
Drop in or give us a call to discuss your turf project today!