The Auckland Council has released a report saying that the rate of infill in lawns in New Zealand is too high. The report also says that the rate of companies supplying turf was not keeping up with demand, and many companies were failing to meet basic health and safety conditions for workers. These conditions cover a number of areas, including ensuring employees have the correct footwear and clothing. Failure to comply with these conditions can lead to accidents on the job, as well as injuries and death on site. For example, there's no evidence that any worker would fall if they were wearing hard hats and the correct type of safety clothing when working on lawns. The infill lawn industry has responded by installing a workforce who are aware of the hazards and using protective gear.
The report comes as the government prepares to introduce a new policy requiring companies who install ready lawn in Auckland to be trained in health and safety. This follows an announcement from the New Zealand Transport Agency that all drivers will be required to take a driver training course. The transport agency says the aim of the course is to make drivers safer on the road, and that the new policy is necessary to protect both consumers and the environment. The report also refers to a lack of compliance regarding the use of inappropriate equipment on lawns by contractors.
The companies who supply turf to install ready lawn in Auckland are finding it increasingly difficult to meet consumer demand and to stay ahead of regulations. In response, some have introduced the provision of spray on grass to their product range. It seems to be that spray on grass has become acceptable for homeowners to install, despite the hazards, and despite the knowledge that the chemical components contained in the product may be dangerous for long term exposure. Although this new technology may bring some short term benefit to the turf industry, its real potential is probably underestimated.
The companies supplying turf to install ready lawn in Auckland should be doing everything they can to protect workers using spray on grass. The regulations from the New Zealand Ministry of Business and Employment state that spray on turf "may not contain prohibited substance(s)". The spray should not be used on "toxic plants" and "toxic waste" or on "waste disposal units". The law also states that the spray can only contain approved levels of ingredients, which are usually low. Unfortunately, there is no adequate way to calculate how many plants a turf can potentially kill with a single application of the chemical agent.
Some contractors are also using infill to reduce costs. The infill they are using is basically the left over material from lawn mowing that has not cost too much to get rid of. As with the spray, it is impossible to assess the amount of infill that a lawn can safely absorb. It seems that the only way contractors are able to ensure that a reasonable level of infill is used is to provide the lawn with regular mowing.
Even if you do find companies that offer complete infill, that doesn't mean that you are automatically going to get the same quality product that comes with spray on turf. Contractors often sell turf that is lower in grade because it costs more to produce. There is also the issue of consistency of the turf. Many companies install turf of the same high quality, but they may install it a little lower, because they are cutting costs.
If you have a lot of trees around your property, this may cause problems with some companies installing turf. In an ideal world, companies installing turf will remove the tree stump as well as the roots from the ground before installing the lawn. Some companies will even dig it up and dispose of the soil. If you install from areas that don't have any tree stumps, then you run the risk of roots growing back into the spaces between the turf layers. In this situation, companies installing turf in your backyard may not be able to do any of the above.
When you consider all of these factors, it becomes apparent that there are some advantages and disadvantages to install ready lawn in Auckland. It is therefore up to you to carefully weigh your options and select a company that you can trust to install ready turf in Auckland. It should always be installed by trained professionals like The Lawn Laying Company who know exactly how to undertake this type of work.