Which turf should I use for my yard?

Which turf should I use for my yard?

Turf, it’s not just any ol’ grass. It’s long summers spent drink in hand, a few snags on the barbie. It’s time spent playing catch with the family pupper. At the end of the day, it’s admiring a verdant green vista which perfectly frames your home. And because a nice lawn means so much to Aussies far and wide, you just know it’s important to pay attention when choosing the right turf variety for your yard.

Rock n Soil is here to help. As a Lawn Solutions Centre, and fully accredited growers and turf industry affiliates, it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about what makes for a beautiful lush lawn. We can point you in the way of the most suitable types of grass for your neck of the woods, your corner of the earth or your personal patch of paradise – whatever you like to think of as your ideal backyard or outdoor space.

Consider your conditions

The number one condition for a thriving lawn is the amount of direct sunlight your area receives. It all starts with Mother Earth, and you’ve got to take into consideration what she’s got on hand before you start any gardening or horticulture endeavour. That includes establishing turf. Each grass variety has its own unique characteristics which will respond according to the conditions of the location in which it is grown.

Translated into what will work best for your yard, you’ll want to look out for certain terminologies. These include things like shade tolerance, drought tolerance, fertiliser needs, wear resistance and weed/disease/pest resistance. In a lot of ways, all these factors come together to form the overall maintenance level that a particular turf is likely to require. Naturally, this is dependent on the conditions of the area in which you intend to lay it.

It’s easy to make an initial assessment of growing conditions based on the amount of sunlight per day your area receives on average. After all, it’s the one thing you can’t control or supplement. To make it even easier we’ve picked our ideal turf choice for each category (you’ll find these grass varieties available in-store or online here at Rock n Soil).

Full Sun

• What does this mean? An outdoor environment that gets at least 6 full hours of direct sunlight most of the time. For an area to be Full Sun it won’t be overly shaded by trees or other obstructions.
• What can/ can’t survive here? Opt for a turf that loves sunny and dry growing conditions ie. drought resistant, like Kikuyu Grass. Avoid grass varieties with low heat resistance, especially ones that are likely to suffer from heat stress such as Kentucky Bluegrass (which also goes entirely dormant during the Summer months).
• Which turf is best? Nullarbor Couch (Hybrid Bermuda) is a great choice for Full Sun conditions. It has a high level of heat resistance and thrives in Summer. If you do happen to live in a very sunny location, you can take advantage of the lower upfront costs associated with this turf. That’s provided you can upkeep a dedicated maintenance program.

Partial Shade/Partial Sun

• What does this mean? Your yard will usually fit into this category if it receives around 3-6 hours of sun exposure per day on average. Sometimes you’ll be dealing with dappled sunlight, eg. filtered through trees.
• What can/ can’t survive here? It’s best to err on the side of caution by choosing a specifically categorised shade-tolerant grass. This may be a cool-season variety. There is also a selection of warm-season varieties that have the ability to grow well, such as Sir Grange (Zoysia) which can tolerate up to 40% shade each day. Avoid Common Couch (generally has a low shade tolerance).
• Which turf is best? Sir Walter DNA Certified (Buffalo Lawn). Buffalo grass is the most shade-tolerant warm-season lawn type in Australia. This scientifically developed grass variety can withstand up to around 70% shade per day.

Full Shade

• What does this mean? The notion of ‘Full Shade’ can be a bit deceptive. It doesn’t mean no sunlight at all, but rather less than 3 hours of direct sunlight per day, with filtered sunlight the rest of the time.
• What can/ can’t survive here? You are limited to grasses which can handle low sunlight conditions – either naturally or through special engineering. For example, Fescue Grass has a deep root system that allows it to grow in the shade and still absorb necessary nutrients, making it suitable for Full Shade conditions.
• Which turf is best? TifTuf (Hybrid Bermuda). Is ideal for those wanting a fine leaf shade-tolerant lawn. Requires only 2-3 hours of sun per day.

Pick your priority

Once you have assessed your growing environment, you can refine your choice according to your priorities. Luckily, at Rock n Soil, you’ll never have to compromise on quality as all our licensed grass varieties are supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity. And all our turf comes with a 10-year warranty. It’s also harvested fresh for use of the day of your delivery/pickup. So when you shop with us that’s one box that’s already ticked for you!

From here you may want to decide how you would prioritise the following:

• Aesthetic – eg. fine leaf (TifTuf), luxury colour (Sir Grange/ Sir Walter), deep green colour (Nullarbor Couch).
• Budget – eg. low initial cost (Nullarbor Couch) or strong investment (Sir Grange).
• Maintenance level – eg. Minimal mowing required (Sir Grange/ Nullarbor Couch).
• Water/Drought tolerance

There may be extra factors that influence your choice in turf, such as soil PH, wear-resistance and pest control. Remember, that’s what the team at Rock n Soil is here for – to answer any of your questions and pointing you in the right direction. If you’re shopping for turf then we’ve got plenty of quality varieties. Plus, tons of great advice to go along with it. Why not pop over to our landscaping yard? Or give us a holler today!