The turf lawn low-down

Some home owners are dubious about the ability of turf lawn to look as good as lawn grown from scratch, seeing it as somehow different from – or a poor man's version of – lawn grown from seed.

However, companies specialising in turf lawn are quick to refute this idea. "Turf lawn is real lawn – it is grown the same way as any other lawn," says Alana Elliott from Lilydale Instant Lawn. The only difference is that a turf lawn is already well established when it's laid.

While growing lawn from seed can take up to a year to establish, during which time you will have to keep off it, turf provides an instant lawn that can be used in just a few weeks. Turf lawn also requires less water than growing lawn from seed, making it a good option in these water-conscious times.

Turf lawn comes in several varieties, which are sold either by companies specialising in a particular variety or by general turf lawn retailers. Some common turf lawn varieties are:

Sir Walter Premium Lawn Turf

"This is a creeping lawn that can be edged easily," says Alana. "It loves the summer and won't do as well in winter, but in most cases it will retain some winter colour."

The best time to lay Sir Walter Premium Lawn Turf is between September and March. Once established it needs less watering than other turf varieties and it's suitable for a range of soil types.

Tall Fescue

This is a medium- to dark-coloured turf lawn that has a more complex root system than other turfs and suits most soil types. It is drought tolerant and does well in either cool or warm conditions. Tall Fescue turf can be laid at any time of year, should be watered once a week and fertilised every three months, and should not be mown too short.

Kikuyu

A resilient lawn, Kikuyu is great for high-traffic areas or if you have a dog that likes to dig. It's a fast–growing, creeping lawn and can get out of control if not handled properly. Once established, it needs less water than some other lawns.

Kikuyu turf lawn works best in a sunny position and will become dormant and discoloured over winter. It is generally available from October until March.

Installing turf lawn

"Turf lawn has to be laid on a flat, prepared surface," says Alana. Beyond this general requirement, there are particular methods for laying each type of lawn, with different preparation required. Some lawns need to be laid in a brickwork pattern, while others will need to be top dressed with sand.