The Ultimate Turf Buyers Guide
From identifying the features you need, to understanding the best turf variety for your climate, this guide covers it all... After reading this guide from head to toe you will ...
Many families want a luscious green lawn that can cope with the heavy traffic from their active dog.
There are many turf varieties available that will remain green despite a dog’s high energy activity thanks to deep roots that give it a better wear tolerance.
When considering a dog-friendly grass you also need to ascertain if your lawn will have full sun or be subject to some shade.
Kikuyu grasses, such as Kenda®Kikuyu, are the strongest hard-wearing dog-grass varieties, but prefer sunny areas and don’t grow well in the shade.
One of the strongest grass varieties on the market for homeowners with dogs is Kenda®Kikuyu.
Kenda Kikuyu’s strength is due to its dense leaf coverage and extra-large prostrate runners that re-grow vigorously following any damage from dogs.
When mowing Kenda Kikuyu raise the mower height so the hard-wearing grass has extra growth that protects the underlying stolons and roots.
Hard-wearing Kenda requires infrequent deep watering, early in the morning between 7 am and 10 am, to enhance the development of strong root development.
Where it grows: Kenda Kikuyu grows well in southern Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Your local grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Expect to pay: Between $7 and $11 per square metre. To get more Kenda Kikuyu pricing info, visit our Kenda Kikuyu info page and get 3 quotes from your local growers today.
Couch grasses also have rapid regrowth for repairing dog damaged areas, for example, OZTUFF®Couch and Stadium Sports Couch.
OZTUFF®Couch is an excellent hard-wearing grass for families with very active dogs.
The home-bred Couch stays green and recovers rapidly following damage from wear and tear.
OZTUFF’s deep-rooted system gives it robust characteristics and its soft green grass cover protects the underlying growth from dog activity.
Water OZTUFF Couch when you notice the lawn browning off. Infrequent deep watering of your OZTUFF Couch is recommended early in the morning.
To maintain protective growth cover, during warmer months mow OZTUFF Couch every 7 days to a height of 25mm and in cooler conditions every 3 to 6 weeks to a height of 30mm.
Where it grows: OZTUFF Couch is well-suited in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and Victoria. Your local grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Expect to pay: Between $8 and $10 per square metre. To get more OzTuff pricing info, visit our OzTuff information page and get 3 quotes from your local growers today.
Certain Buffalo varieties, such as Prestige® Buffalo, Sapphire® Buffalo and Palmetto® Buffalo, can tolerate shade conditions and have good wear tolerance.
Prestige Buffalo’s deep-rooted system means it is a hardy tough wearing grass suitable for lots of wear and tear from active dogs.
To give your Prestige more protection from activity mow to a level of 45mm in sunny conditions every 7-10 days. During cooler months mow your Prestige to about 60mm every 3-6 weeks.
Remember to water your Prestige Buffalo deeply every 7-10 days.
Where it grows: Prestige Soft Leaf Buffalo is well-suited for most parts of Australia including much of Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Your local Grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Expect to pay: Between $13 and $16.50 per square metre. To get more Prestige Buffalo pricing info, visit our Prestige Buffalo info page and get 3 quotes from your local growers today.
As with most Buffalo varieties, Sapphire Soft Leaf is a highly durable robust lawn that is ideal for dogs and children.
Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo is also able to cope with up to 70% shade cover and has a rapid recovery rate at damaged areas on your grass.
Mow your Sapphire Soft Leaf buffalo to a height of 45mm in sunny sites and up to 60mm in shaded area. Infrequent deep watering of Sapphire should occur early in the morning.
Where it grows: Prestige Soft Leaf Buffalo is well-suited for most parts of Australia including much of Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Your local Grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Expect to pay: Between $10 and $15 per square metre. To get more Sapphire Buffalo pricing info, visit our Sapphire Buffalo info page and get 3 quotes from your local Sapphire growers today.
One of the most dog-friendly, hardwearing Buffalo varieties is Palmetto
Palmetto Buffalo’s durability is because of its large deep-rooted system that makes it an excellent dense lawn with strong wear tolerance.
When mowing your Palmetto lawn, to maintain hardiness, raise the mower’s height to 45mm in sunny areas and 60mm in shade sites. Water your Prestige Buffalo deeply every 7-10 days to encourage re-growth.
Where it grows: Palmetto Soft Leaf Buffalo is well-suited for most parts of Australia including much of Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Your local Grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Expect to pay: Between $10 and $15 per square metre. To get more Palmetto Buffalo pricing info, visit our Palmetto Buffalo info page and get 3 quotes from your local Palmetto growers today.
Zoysia grasses are more suitable to medium wear and tear from dogs as they have slower regrowth compared to other varieties, ideal options are Empire®Zoysia and Nara Native®Zoysia.
Nara Native grasses can tolerate medium hard-wearing conditions because they have slower re-growth compared to Kikuyu, Couch and Buffalo varieties.
If you have dogs playing on your Nara Native Zoysia mow to a height of 45mm. When you notice your Nara Native wilting, deep infrequent water early in the morning is recommended.
Where it grows: Nara Native Zoysia grows well in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Your local Nara Grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Expect to pay: Between $11 and $16 per square metre. To get more Nara Zoysia pricing info, visit our Nara Zoysia info page and get 3 quotes from your local growers today.
Empire Zoysia is another good choice for areas with medium traffic activity. Empire Zoysia is water-efficient and maintains a good winter colour.
So your Empire Zoysia maintains wearability mow to a height of 45mm. During dry conditions, you only need to water your Empire Zoysia when you notice leaf wilting.
Water Empire Zoysia infrequently and deeply early in the morning.
Where it grows: Empire Zoysia grows well in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Your local Empire Grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Expect to pay: Between $12 and $16 per square metre. To get more Empire Zoysia pricing info, visit our Empire Zoysia info page and get 3 quotes from your local Empire growers today.