Roll out the green carpet for Christmas

READYLAWN Dunedin is the only turf nursery in the region and, after 25 years laying instant lawns, franchisee Fred Doherty says he’s never been busier.

New homes are popping up throughout coastal Otago and Southland (the areas Readylawn Dunedin covers) and landscaping is now seen as a normal part of the build.

‘‘Instant rollout lawn used to be something only an Auckland yuppie would consider, but we live more and more in an instant age,’’ Fred says.

Turf can be laid at any time of the year. Late autumn is busy for Fred, his landscaping business partner Niven Hyslop, and turf manager Ivan Luscombe, as people realise they’ve missed the boat for sowing grass seed.

But right now is prime lawnlaying weather; our typical wet spring makes for easy aftercare of Readylawn Dunedin’s hardwearing goodlooking ryegrassbrowntopfescue turf. As spring gives way to summer, the Readylawn crew gets even busier. Yes, there’s a Christmas rush.

‘‘We can be selling turf up until lunchtime on Christmas Eve, even as late as 4pm,’’ Fred says.

Some customers do simply rock up to Readylawn in Outram with a trailer, buy what they need and lay it themselves. For doityourselfers, thorough site preparation is the key to success. But if required, the guys at Readylawn can take care of the whole operation: site preparation and measuring up, delivering and laying the turf, and advising on aftercare. And it doesn’t just stop with the lawn. Niven will do the edging and any other landscaping you require as well.

Or, if you have a problem with your existing lawn, the Readylawn team are there to help. They’re experts in different soil conditions, grass seeds, and lawn pests and weeds.

Ivan Luscombe hard at work on the turfcutter.

Mowing three times a week during springkeeps the Readylawn turf immaculate. Turfmanager Ivan Luscombe on themower takes a break to discuss progress with Fred Doherty.

Readylawn turf gives your lawn a massive headstart; it is healthy and well established when harvested, and issupplied to you as easytohandle rolls like the one Readylawn Dunedin franchisee Fred Doherty carries.