Turf

Turf Checklist: Six Key Points About Choosing and Laying Turf

Got questions about turf? We've got the answers!

Ready to order? Scroll down the page to choose and buy your turf online!

1. Which Turf Should I Use?

Choose a variety that works for your needs and conditions. For example, is your yard shady or does it get lots of sun? Will kids and pets be running around on it? Are you in a drought-prone area? Do you enjoy cutting and edging your lawn or would you rather do that as little as possible?! Find out more about different types of turf with our quick comparison chart showing some key turf varieties. Or take a look at this cool feature from Better Homes and Gardens, which is a great introduction to the history of turf, how turf is grown, cut and delivered, key turf types and Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo Turf.

But, as a quick tip from us, we find Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo Turf is a soft but robust turf that thrives in Sydney and the Shire! It's a multi-purpose turf that looks and feels good year-round, handles wear and tear (aka kids and pets), survives extreme conditions, is drought-resistant and even does well in shady conditions. Sir Walter's versatility has made it Australia's number one turf and it's the ideal turf that can handle pretty much anything our local conditions can throw at it. Our Sir Walter is DNA certified and even comes with its own 10-year warranty from Lawn Solutions Australia.

Or, if you want the classic European look of finer, softer grass, Sir Grange Zoysia is a luxurious turf that, when well cared-for, gives you an even, velvety finish. Sir Grange is used worldwide for its classic good looks and is the turf of choice for terraced and display lawns. However, with its origins in the golf industry, it can also handle a fair amount of wear and tear.

2. What is the Best Time of Year to Lay Turf?

In most areas of Sydney and surrounds, you can lay turf all year round. We always have turf for sale, other than when there has been extremely heavy rain, because then rolls cannot be cut.

• Spring: The ideal time to lay turf! The weather is warming up, but it's not so hot that your turf will suffer from the full strength of the sun and you'll use less water than you would in summer.
• Summer: Turf laid in summer will grow fast, but it will be water-hungry while it's establishing its root system.
• Autumn: The cooler days are perfect for turf and your grass will have time to establish its root system before winter, with less water needed to keep it healthy.
• Winter: Although turf goes into a semi-dormant condition in winter, you can still lay it with good results. The root system won't grow strongly until spring, but it will need less water.

Watering New Turf Under Water Restrictions

Whatever time of year you lay your turf, new turf needs water. In Sydney, Level 1 water restrictions are in place, but they do allow for the watering of new turf. You can use a hand held hose with a trigger nozzle or a watering system for the critical first four weeks while your turf establishes itself. Some conditions do apply, particularly around the times you are permitted to water--please see Sydney Water's water restrictions page for full details.

3. How Much Turf Do I Need?

First, measure your yard to find out the number of square meters you need to cover. Turf rolls usually come in 1m2. Standard rolls of turf usually measure approximately 1.7x0.6m, but it is a natural product, so please bear in mind that the rolls can vary a little in size. As a rule of thumb you will need at least as many rolls as square metres in your yard. We always suggest you add a few extra rolls (allow for about 5% extra), particularly if you are working with curves or unusual shapes. There's nothing more frustrating than coming to the end of a turf laying project and discovering that you are a roll or two short! If you need more help figuring out what you need, visit our calculator page where we have project calculators ready to help you order the right amount of material. As well as a turf calculator, you'll find calculators for turf underlay and top dressing, and for many other types of project.

4. When Should I Order My Turf?

All our turf is brought in fresh to order, to ensure you get the best result from your lawn. Place your order before midday and we will deliver your turf the next day! (Saturday and Sunday orders are freshly cut on Monday and delivered on Tuesday). All year round, but particularly in spring and summer, we order additional quantities of Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo and sometimes our other turfs, so if you need your turf immediately, call us on 8543 3401 and we will let you know what we have in stock.

5. What Else Do I Need to Lay My Turf?

You will also need soil to create the perfect conditions for your new lawn, and fertiliser to encourage healthy growth. Our Turf Gro Premium makes an ideal base for your turf, and Lawn Launcher is an excellent starter fertiliser. In future years, a layer of Turf Gro Premium on top of your lawn will keep the surface level and keep your grass looking amazing and growing healthily for many years. Do all your preparatory work before your turf arrives so you can lay it on the day of delivery when it is as fresh as possible.

6. Turf vs Lawn vs Grass - what's the difference?!

Turf refers to grass and the soil it has grown in together. This can be cut into rolls, a bit like rolls of carpet. Lawn is the grassed area that is the end result when you lay down your rolls. And grass is the plant itself, the blades and the roots. The definitions are fairly interchangeable, though--some sports are played on 'turf', call us up and ask to buy 'grass' and we'll explain about rolls of turf, and many people refer to their lawn as 'grass' or 'turf'.

How to Lay Turf

Preparation is important to get the best growth from your turf both when it's laid and in the future. You can't lay turf on concrete or rock and, while it might seem quick and tempting, it won't take well if you lay it over existing grass. Turf needs direct contact with good quality earth to thrive, so remove rocks, debris, improve your soil and smooth it out first. You can use weedkiller to kill off any existing grass and weeds, but be sure to wait for two weeks, or longer if directed on the packet, before you lay any new turf or it will die off as fast as your weeds! Take a look at our Turf Preparation Guide for hints and tips. Also, see our Top Dressing Guide for some useful information on caring for an established lawn.

Take advantage of these bonuses when you order turf from BC Sands:

• NEW! Order 25m²+ of Sir Walter Buffalo DNA Certified turf and get 10% off TurfGro premium turf underlay!
• Order 200m+ of turf and receive FREE Sydney delivery!
• Borrow one of our lawn levellers for free!

Watch our helpful How To Lay Turf video for great tips and ideas!

Delivery

With yards at Brookvale and Taren Point, our landscaping and building products can be delivered throughout greater Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, Sutherland Shire, Northern Beaches, Western Suburbs and beyond. Loose products such as mulch, soil, sand and pebbles can be tipped or delivered in bulk bags.

Book your delivery time when you check out!