Ready Lawn Installation: Should You Lay It Yourself or Hire a Pro?

Whether your outdoor space needs a makeover, your current lawn is looking a little worse for wear, or you’ve just moved into a new home and want a lush green lawn fast, laying ready lawn can be a great solution.

At first glance, installing ready to lay grass might seem like a simple weekend project. But in reality, it often requires more time and effort than people expect. You’ll need to properly prepare the lawn bed—removing weeds, applying quality topsoil, and ensuring everything is level. And once the lawn is down, consistent aftercare is essential for several weeks to help it thrive. 

What many don’t realise is just how heavy rolls of turf are, especially if you’re covering a large area. Combine that with the fact that good quality ready lawn isn’t cheap, and you’ll want to make sure your investment isn’t money down the drain.

In this guide, we’ll break down what’s involved in laying ready lawn in NZ, including costs, considerations, and whether it’s better to go DIY or hire a pro.

And if you decide to get some help? Ezy Peazy can connect you with reliable, affordable landscaping services across the country. We’ll make it easy to get your lawn laid properly, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your new lush, green outdoor area.

Ready lawn DIY: here’s what’s involved

Laying ready grass in your backyard might sound like a piece of cake, but there’s a bit more to it than just rolling out the turf and calling it a day.

Here’s what the DIY process typically involves:

Preparing the base

The process of turf installation starts before you’ve even ordered your ready lawn. To ensure the best possible end result, it’s important you make sure you carry out the following steps. 

Pro tip: Don’t be tempted to order your ready lawn in advance and leave it sitting outside while you prepare your site. Ready turf dries out quickly, which can compromise the health of your grass!

1. Clear existing grass, weeds, rocks, sticks, roots, and other debris
   Thoroughly clear the area of grass, weeds, rocks, sticks, old roots, and other debris. These can all interfere with root development, cause an uneven lawn or even damage your lawnmower down the track. Start by raking the area to collect loose debris, and follow up with a pickaxe or shovel if needed for larger rocks or stubborn roots
    
2. Apply weed killer
   You may need to apply weed killer more than once to ensure you haven’t missed any patches. This process can take several days, as you’ll need to wait for regrowth between applications. It’s also wise to wait at least a week before turning or raking the soil—this helps ensure the roots are fully dead and reduces the risk of regrowth beneath your new turf.
    
3. Add high-quality topsoil
   Aim for a layer at least 100–150mm deep. Once in place, level it out evenly to create a smooth, consistent base for your lawn.
    
4. Compact your topsoil with a roller or plate compactor
   Compacting helps eliminate air pockets that could dry out roots, reduces the risk of uneven settling after watering or rain, and creates a firm, even base for your turf. While you can compact small areas with your feet by walking over them, this method isn’t ideal for larger spaces (it’s also really time consuming!) For medium-to-large lawns, it’s best to use proper tools like a lawn roller or plate compactor (available to hire from places like Bunnings or Hirepool).

Laying your new lawn

Once your base is properly prepped, it’s time to place your ready lawn order! If you’re not wanting to break the budget, ready lawn can be picked up off TradeMe for bargain prices.

Wherever you order from, make sure you’ve accurately measured your lawn area first so you know exactly how much turf you’ll need—and consider ordering a little extra in case you make any mistakes during installation.

Laying turf can be harder and more physically demanding than many people expect. As we mentioned earlier, turf rolls are heavy, and they need to be laid quickly to prevent them drying out.

Turf installation top tips:

• Start by laying the turf along a straight edge, and stagger the joins like bricks for a more natural finish
   
• Butt each roll tightly against the next, leaving no gaps. Turf can shrink slightly in dry weather, so tight joins help prevent visible cracks later on
   
• Use a sharp utility knife (like a Stanley knife) to trim the edges neatly for a clean, professional look
   
• Water your new grass immediately after laying it to help the roots settle and prevent drying out

Ready lawn aftercare

The job doesn’t stop once your turf is down. The first 2-3 weeks are crucial to ensuring it has a long and healthy life!

Here’s our top recommendations for ready lawn aftercare:

• Water daily, especially in warmer months. Consider setting up a sprinkler on a timer to do this job for you
   
• Keep an eye out for dry spots or areas where the turf may be lifting. This can indicate poor watering and inadequate soil contact
   
• Steer clear of walking on your new lawn for a few weeks. Light foot traffic is generally fine after two weeks, once the grass has started to take root. Your turf will be at its most vulnerable for  the first week - so avoid walking on it during this time. 
   
• Hold off on mowing for at least 2–3 weeks. Your lawn is ready for mowing when the grass resists a gentle tug. For the first mow, don’t cut more than a third of the blade height, and avoid mowing when the soil is still soft or wet to prevent damaging the grass

DIY ready lawn pros

There are definitely some advantages to laying ready lawn yourself. The most obvious? Cost savings. you won’t need to hire someone to lay lawn, which can help keep your budget in check. DIY also means you can work at your own pace, fitting the project around your schedule. And of course, there’s the personal satisfaction that comes from standing back and admiring a job well done, knowing it was all down to you.

DIY ready lawn cons

Let’s face it: laying ready lawn is physically demanding and time-consuming. Depending on the size of the area, it’s a job that could easily take an entire weekend. It might not save you as much as you think either. Especially once you factor in the cost of renting tools like rollers or plate compactors. And if you make mistakes during installation, you risk damaging your new lawn. This could be costly to fix, meaning you might need to spend even more.

Benefits of hiring someone to lay your lawn

Taking the DIY route to ready lawn installation can be tempting, but there are a lot of benefits to be gained from investing in professional lawn laying services. And while the upfront cost may be higher – it’s often worth it.

Here’s how hiring a pro can give you peace of mind:

• Quick, effortless results
  As we mentioned earlier, installing turf yourself can be backbreaking, time-consuming work, especially if you’ve got a large backyard to cover. Hiring someone to lay lawn for you means you can skip the hard labour, keep your weekend free, and still enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done. It’s the fastest way to tick your backyard project off the to-do list and get on with enjoying your beautiful refreshed outdoor space.
   
• Superior prep
  A healthy lawn starts from its base – and a well-prepared base is absolutely essential to ensuring your new lawn takes properly and has a long life. Professional landscapers know exactly what to do to ensure your lawn base is prepped properly – from expert weedkiller application to optimal soil prep.
   
• A fully stocked toolkit
  from lawn rollers to turf cutters, professional landscapers will arrive with everything needed to get the job done, saving you the hassle and cost of hiring or buying new equipment
   
• Fewer mistakes
  Don’t get caught out by rookie errors. Laying ready lawn isn’t as easy as it looks! Gaps between your turf rolls, uneven soil and inadequate watering can all undo your hard work and investment. A pro knows how to avoid these common pitfalls
   
• Faster turnaround for healthier turf
  Because professional landscapers take care of tasks like like turf installation day in and day out, your lawn spends less time rolled up and  drying out, giving it the best chance of establishing itself well and thriving later on.

So, what’s the best option?

Deciding whether to lay your new lawn yourself or hire a professional ultimately comes down to the time and tools you have available - and the size of the job.

Here are a couple of key considerations to help you make the best choice:

• DIY is best for small, flat areas that already have a good soil base. Because laying ready lawn is physically demanding and time-consuming, if you’re looking to lay ready lawn in NZ we recommend hiring someone for larger sections. A professional can complete the job quickly, reducing the risk of your ready to lay grass drying out before it’s installed.
   
• Tricky or uneven spaces, like sloped lawns, awkward shapes, or areas that need detailed cutting around trees or paths can benefit from an expert pair of hands. Since high-quality ready lawn isn’t cheap, getting it right the first time helps you avoid costly mistakes and potential waste.

Choose Ezy Peazy for professional lawn laying services in NZ

No matter where you are in the country  - Auckland to Hamilton, Tauranga to Wellington, Christchurch to Dunedin -  with Ezy Peazy it’s easy to enlist the help of local taskers who can help you with turf installation.

Thanks to our extensive network of professional taskers up and down the country, comprehensive landscaping services, including professional lawn care are just a few clicks away.

All you need to do is list the requirements of your job, including your ideal timeframe and budget – and wait for offers from qualified taskers to roll in. You’ll then be able to read reviews, compare quotes and select the offer of your choice before getting the work underway.

And even better, using Ezy Peazy is safe. We keep your payment secure until the task is complete and you’re 100% happy.

Need ongoing lawn care once your ready lawn has been laid? No worries. One of the benefits of using Ezy Peazy is its flexibility. Simply chat to your tasker about how they can support you with comprehensive lawn aftercare.

So, what are you waiting for? Avoid the hassle and costly mistakes of DIY turf installation and get the lush lawn you’ve been dreaming of. Choose Ezy Peazy to help you with turf installation NZ wide, whether you’re in Auckland, Christchurch, or anywhere in between

About Ezy Peazy

Since 2019, Ezy Peazy has been connecting Kiwis with skilled taskers right across the country to help them get virtually any job done. From TradeMe pickup and delivery, convenient e-waste disposal, and whiteware removal to window repairs and landscaping services, Ezy Peazy makes it simple and straightforward to find reliable, local help for anything you need. With transparent reviews, competitive pricing, and a user-friendly experience, Ezy Peazy is transforming the way Kiwis get things done.