The cost of turf: How much does it cost to turf a yard?

How much does turf cost?

You can expect to pay anywhere from $18 to $34 per square metre for professionally installed turf, according to the trades job listing site, hipages. This price can vary depending on the type of grass you want, the ease of access to your property, the cost of delivering the turf to you, the amount of prep work required and other general landscaping costs. The overall cost of the job will ultimately depend on whether you need an entire new lawn or you just want to replace a portion of your existing one.

The cost of different types of turf per square metre

The type of turf you choose to use can have a major impact on the overall cost of your turfing project. hipages suggests the following prices for different types of turf, not including installation costs:

Eureka kikuyu: $7 to $10 per m²

An economical turf, Eureka kikuyu has bright green leaves, can tolerate about 25% shade conditions and has a medium level of drought resistance. It’s ideal for high wear areas, though it may require some maintenance. It grows well in colder climates and is also highly disease resistant.

Tropical carpet grass: $8 to 11 per m²

Ideal for tropical areas like northern Queensland, Tropical carpet grass can tolerate up to 75% shade, but only has a medium level of drought resistance and requires frequent watering. This type of grass is more suited for places where water and rain are in abundance and isn’t usually recommended for sports or high wear areas.

Nullarbor couch: $9 to $12 per m²

Nullarbor couch grass makes for a good turf for sunny areas, but can also withstand up to 25% shade conditions. It’s highly drought resistant and works well in high wear areas like home lawns and sports fields. It can be a high maintenance turf though.

Zoysia grass: $10 to $15 per m²

A moderately drought resistant grass, Zoysia grass prefers warm to tropical climates and can grow in 50% shade conditions. This type of turf is best used in low-traffic areas, as it does not tolerate wear all that well.

Sir Walter buffalo grass: $12 to $16 per m²

Sir Walter buffalo grass is an all-rounder that can be used almost anywhere. It’s drought and frost tolerant, can withstand wear and can grow in full sun or shade (up to 75% due to its broad leaves)—making it a low-maintenance turf.

Velvetene grass: $13 to $16 per m²

Often used on bowling and putting greens, Velvetene grass is thick and densely-packed and can grow in clay or sandy soils. It’s salt tolerant, meaning it can be grown in coastal areas, and is also highly drought resistant.

Sir Grange: $22 to $30 per m²

Sir Grange was originally designed for golf courses, being dark green in colour with fine leaves and high drought resistance. It’s a low-maintenance turf that can tolerate up to 75% shade conditions and low nutrients, making it suitable for many types of soil.

How much turf do you need?

To work out how much turf you’ll need, you will have to measure the space that requires the turf. Since turf is usually sold by the square metre, you can calculate an estimate of the space by measuring the length and width of the area and multiplying the two numbers together, thus giving you the area in square metres. Lawn suppliers may offer to do this calculation for you—often factoring it into the overall cost of installation.

hipages recommends ordering around 10% more turf than you need, especially if your lawn has curved areas.

Can you save on turfing costs through DIY?

As with most home improvement projects, you can typically save money by doing the work yourself. That being said, you would need to have the required tools and know how in order to do the work. If you’re planning to buy the required tools, it’s important to consider whether you will get use out of the tools after the project is complete and whether the cost of them will erode any savings made by DIYing the project.

Specialist turf installer, The Turf Farm, suggests that the supply of instant turf can cost between $13 and $18 per square metre without the associated professional installation costs, which means you could save by doing the work yourself. If you do plan to DIY install your new turf, hipages suggests that you need to make sure that the surface is well prepared and that the turf is laid properly.

How much does artificial turf cost?

If you dread the idea of wheeling out the lawnmower every week or driving up your water bill by watering your lawn, then artificial or synthetic turf may be an option you could consider. But don’t be surprised if you end up paying a premium for the convenience of low-maintenance.

Again, how much it costs to install artificial grass depends on how big the area is, how much preparation is involved, the type and cost per square metre of the artificial turf you buy, and if you are doing it yourself or contracting a professional to do it for you.

The turf supplier and installation company, Lawn Solutions Australia estimates that artificial turf can cost anywhere from $56.75 to $279.25 per square metre. hipages suggests that a budget to mid-range synthetic turf could cost $50 to $75 per square metre, whereas a higher-quality one could cost between $75 to $100 per square metre to supply and install.

If you’re purchasing artificial grass by the square metre, costs can differ depending on length of the strip of grass, its colour, thickness, backing material, and a range of other factors. It’s a bit like buying carpet—there are different grades which have a different look and are more suited for certain situations. It could be a wise idea to research what’s on offer in the market before deciding on what to buy.

How much does it cost to maintain a lawn?

If you opt for natural grass for your lawn, don’t forget to consider the ongoing costs of keeping it neat and healthy. This could include the cost of buying a lawnmower and fuelling it, or arranging professional mowing services, which hipages estimates can cost between $45 to $85 per hour.

Also consider the lawn fertiliser or weed killers you might need, as well as watering costs, bearing in mind that restrictions on when and how you can water your lawn could be in place depending on your location, either permanently or due to periods of drought. Aerating your lawn once or twice a year can also help promote growth of the grass, Lawn Solutions Australia says. However, on smaller lawns this may be done simply by prodding holes in the turf using a sturdy garden fork, so this might not add to your overall maintenance costs.

Artificial grass typically requires less maintenance than a live lawn, but still needs attention. For example, artificial turf suppliers suggest it could be a good idea to regularly hose the grass to wash away dust and dirt, to remove tree litter such as leaves and sticks, and to use a stiff-brush broom to sweep in the opposite direction of the fibres to discourage flat patches.

What’s the best kind of turf for your yard?

As shown above, there can be a pretty big difference in the cost for various turf varieties, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the most expensive one is the best for you. The turf that’s best suited to your yard could come down to factors such as the climate in your area, maintenance related costs, whether or not your lawn will be in the shade and the overall cost of the turf itself.

Cover image source: Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com