How to choose from among the many varieties of instant turf
With so many varieties of instant turf available, it’s hard to know which one might be best for your lawn. But it doesn’t have to be complicated – here’s what you need to know to help you make the best decision for your unique situation and needs.
Answer these questions first:
What are your climate and environmental conditions like?
Do you live in an extremely hot or an extremely cold location? Do you experience regular frosts or droughts? For high drought and heat tolerance, choose any one of Sir Walter, Sir Grange, TifTuf, Eureka Premium VG or Nullarbor Couch, which will all tolerate hot and dry conditions well.
Eureka Premium VG and Sir Walter turf can tolerate frost conditions easily. Are you near the sea? If so, choose a salt-tolerant grass such as Sir Grange or Sir Walter. Or do you experience both extremes and need
If so, grasses such as Sir Walter, TifTuf turf and Sir Grange can grow and thrive in any environmental condition in Australia and will happily tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
How much shade does your lawn get?
If your lawn gets a lot of shade, you’ll only be able to consider certain varieties of instant turf. Eureka Premium VG will only thrive in full sun and will not tolerate shade.
In excessively shady situations, a turf variety such as TifTuf would not be the best choice either, as it will not thrive in lawns that receive less than four hours of direct sunlight a day. A more shade tolerant grass such as Sir Walter or Sir Grange would be a better option, as
these varieties are extremely shade tolerant and can handle only two or three hours of full sun per day and still thrive.
How much wear is your lawn likely to receive?
Do you have children or pets who will give the lawn a beating? Does your lawn get used to play sports such as cricket or football? If so, choose a tough, durable and hard-wearing grass such as Sir Walter or TifTuf, that is hard-wearing and fast-repairing and are great choices for high impact activities and a lot of traffic on the lawn.
What are your maintenance requirements?
Do you like to spend hours babying your lawn, or would you prefer to only undertake minimal maintenance? For a low maintenance lawn that you can spend more time enjoying rather than working on, choose TifTuf, Sir Walter, Eureka Premium VG or Sir Grange. These varieties are drought, weed, pest and wear tolerant, meaning less time you need to spend to keep them looking good.
What look and feel are you going for?
Do you need a lush, soft and irritation-free lawn that will be suitable for children and pets? If so, varieties such as Sir Walter Buffalo and TifTuf turf are your best option.
Do you prefer fine or wide-bladed turf varieties? Sir Walter turf, with its greater leaf width, is a great choice for those in the wide-bladed camp, while varieties such as Sir Grange, Nullarbor Couch or TifTuf might suit you better if you prefer a finer look to your grass.
Do you want a bright green colour for your lawn? If so, choose TifTuf, which stays greener for longer in autumn than any other variety and greens up quicker in spring, while also having great colour retention over winter. For a darker green colour, choose Sir Grange, or for a slightly blue-tinged green colour, go with Sir Walter.
All of these turf varieties are available from quality suppliers such as Coolabah Turf. For more information on each of these instant turf varieties or to get advice on which type of turf would be best for your situation, contact Coolabah Turf here.