With ideal weather year-round, the Sunshine Coast is an idyllic place to call home. Its enviable climate also makes it super easy to maintain a fabulous-looking lawn – if you choose the right variety. So if you’ve just built a house, are planning a build or want to replace existing turf at your property; there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing turf on the Sunshine Coast.
5 things to help you choose the right turf
1. Look at what’s growing locally
Before you leap ahead and choose the first variety you see, take time to explore your surrounding area and look at what lawns tend to be thriving. If you’re not sure what variety they are, take photos and jump online, or if you’re brave ask the local home or landowner.
There’s no point in laying a lawn that won’t survive or thrive in the hot and humid Sunshine Coast climate. As such it’s usually wise to stick to warm season grasses, especially those that have the added bonus of being able to cope with a little shade.
2. Consider how you will use your new lawn
Have a think about what you will be using your new lawn for. Is it mainly for its incredible aesthetic and cooling abilities or will it take a battering from dogs, kids or regular foot traffic. Maybe you need a new lawn for a holiday house, a rental property or a large area, in this instance a variety such as Wintergreen couch might be an option.
An all-rounder that is soft-to-touch, this couch is hardwearing and has rapid recovery from wear and damage or high traffic. Importantly for the Sunshine Coast climate, it’s a warm season grass that keeps its mid-light green colour year round.
3. Where will your new lawn be located?
The gorgeous Sunshine Coast is made up of rich farm land, coastal towns and hinterland havens. Before choosing a turf variety, consider where you’re located and the local climatic conditions. For example, do you need a lawn such as Empire Zoysia that is hardwearing and can cope without rain for a little while during those odd drought events?
Maybe you live coastal and need a lawn that can adapt to sandy soils and thrive if the soil isn’t particularly fertile. In this instance the super hardy Tropika blue couch is a good choice; it’s a warm season perennial grass that adores tropical climates prefers full sun, like most Sunshine Coast locals! As an added bonus it requires very little maintenance so you won’t be chained to the mower every weekend.
4. Do you live in an area that gets frosts?
It might sound strange to use the words frosts and Sunshine Coast in the same sentence, but this wonderful region is diverse and there are certain areas that do get very cool in the winter. If you live in an area that gets the occasional frost, a good turf to consider would be a buffalo such as the Sapphire soft leaf buffalo.
With a stunning colour, this variety is bred in Australia from Sir Walter buffalo and is a next generation grass. It needs less water than many varieties, has deep roots and keeps its striking green colour in summer and winter. Importantly, Sapphire soft leaf buffalo is very tolerant of both hot and cold weather; it’s even been tested down to minus 10C.
5. Find out if the turf you want is grown locally?
It’s wise to do some research in regards to which turf suppliers actually have their farms located on the Sunshine Coast. Be wary of those that say they can deliver to the Sunshine Coast but actually grow their turf a lot further south whether the conditions are quite different to the ones experienced here.
Most reputable growers will happily offer you the chance to visit their farms to inspect the varieties they grow. If you’re about to outlay a fair chunk of money and have the time – it’s always worth a visit. You’ll also get a sneak peek into where you future lawn is grown and what condition it’s in before harvest.
