First Home, First Lawn: A Brisbane First-Time Buyer's Guide to Getting Your Yard Right

When you're buying your first home, there are a million and one things to consider. Your yard is one of them.

How much turf do I need? Which turf variety? Can I just pick the cheapest Couch? What's the difference between Sir Walter and Genuine Sir Walter DNA Certified? Where is a turf supplier near me? When should I lay my lawn?

It's enough to send anyone's head spinning, so today, we want to take the guesswork out of it all. Here's everything you need to know about getting a yard as a first home buyer (and congratulations).

But before we get any further, whether you're building a new home or renovating an existing one, grass goes last. Meaning every other trade should have been and gone, because absolutely no one should be walking on your new grass. So, please finish any other work on the house before laying down the finishing piece.

Starting From Scratch vs. an Existing Lawn

Now, are we starting from scratch or dealing with an existing lawn?

Existing Lawn

You've got a bit more work up your sleeve. If you don't like your current grass or it's a right little mishmash of different varieties, you're going to have to rip it all out. All of it. Make sure it's gone for good before you begin the prep. Anything lingering below, especially weeds, will rear their ugly head down the line if not dealt with properly. 

Get it right, and you’ll save yourself a lot of turf turmoil in months to come.

Starting From Scratch

If you're starting your yard from scratch, lucky you, your prep load is a little lighter.

How to Prepare Your Yard

Now prep work is the groundwork, and it's really important we get this right.

Before Your Turf Arrives

Complete Other Landscaping First

If you haven't done this already, you'll need to make sure you have completed any other gardening work, like retaining walls, edges, and paths.

Remove Existing Turf and Weeds

Remove any existing turf and spray with weed killer at least 14 days before your new turf arrives. Also, be sure to remove any dead grass and weeds, as well as any rocks, sticks, or other solid materials in the soil. A blank canvas is required.

Stock Up For Success

For prep, we recommend a weed killer, under-lawn fertiliser, and soil (which depends on your turf variety). For this one, you’ll need to know your square meterage and the application rate.

Soil Preferences by Turf Type

Adaptable to Most Soils:

• Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo

• Nullarbor Couch

Prefer Sandy Loam Mix (80% sand / 20% loam):

• Zoysia Sir Grange

• Zoysia Australis

• TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda

• Stampede

If you need tailored advice on any of the above, just give our team a call. We can also take it all off your hands with our preparation and installation services.

Choosing Your Turf Variety

Alrighty, we're all prepped. Which grass is for you?

Climate Suitable

First of all, you'll need one suitable for the local climate. Thankfully, at GoTurf, we've narrowed it down for you; all of our turf varieties are grown in South East Queensland for South East Queensland.

Match Your Lifestyle

Next up is your lifestyle. There are hard-wearing varieties, different maintenance levels, and varying shade tolerances. Take the quiz to find out which one is right for you, or learn all about them with our blog ‘Which Turf Variety is Right for My Yard? The Ultimate SE Queensland Guide’. Aesthetics are important, but we’re also talking about a living, breathing organism that has its preferences on light, wear, fertiliser frequency, and water frequency, amongst other things.

How Much to Order?

Head to our area calculator and punch in your address. Plot the area you're planning to turf, and we'll tell you the right amount. Or get a tape measure out if you prefer.

Lastly, make sure you're purchasing the legitimate turf variety you’re after. There are a lot of impostors out there. Back to the question on the difference between Sir Walter and Genuine Sir Walter DNA Certified. One of them could be anything; it might not even be buffalo. The genuine kind, Sir Walter DNA Certified, is only sold by Lawn Solutions Australia Accredited Suppliers like us.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About

A common mistake we see is going straight for the square meter price. Look, we get it, budget always matters. The thing is, get the right turf variety, and you'll have it for life. Pick the wrong one, and you'll be ripping it up and replacing it in no time.

And don't forget about the hidden costs. Just because a variety is cheaper to lay doesn't mean it's cheaper to care for. For example, Nullarbor Couch requires more fertiliser than the rest, so your long-term costs might not be a saving. We do get a lot of questions on the couch, so we’ve even broken this down more ‘Why can't I Just Get Wintergreen Couch? Why the Cheapest Turf Isn't Always the Right Choice’

The right turf for you is the one that matches your lifestyle, the amount of shade and wear your yard cops, and the climate it’s in. Price per square metre shouldn’t be the only factor you take into consideration when selecting your grass.

Budget Check: What to Expect to Spend

Okay, so now the million-dollar question: how much is all of this going to cost?

We can't say much without knowing the size of your yard and its condition.

But all of our turf is priced per square meter; you can see how all our turf varieties stack up here.

What You'll Need to Budget For:

Turf: Priced per square meter; varies by turf variety.

Soil: Depends on your yard's current condition and which turf variety you choose

Prep Products: Weed killer and under-lawn fertiliser

Preparation and Installation: DIY or hire a professional (like the GoTurf team).  

Delivery or Pick Up: You can pick up your turf for free at GoTurf Brendale or Beerburrum. For turf delivery, fees vary by zone and range from $55 to $330, depending on your location. This will be calculated at checkout.

Want accurate numbers? You can find out how much your turf, lawn care products, and delivery will cost on checkout; however, our services do require a custom quote, so please get in touch with our team.  

Installation: Getting It Down

Now it's time for the install. For optimal results, lay your new lawn immediately after delivery. Your turf is a living and breathing organism. When we harvest it, we sever the roots, and they need to get back down into the ground ASAP. Summer also increases the risk of pallet burn, which is your turf literally rotting from the heat, so please, get it in the ground with haste.

When to lay your lawn in Brisbane

This is one of our favourite questions: in South East Queensland, we’re blessed with great turf-laying weather year-round. Anytime is a good time to lay a lawn in Brisbane and its surrounds. Of course, there will be some seasonal differences: summer-established lawns will require more watering but will establish faster. In our personal opinion, the shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn are slept on, but you really can’t go wrong in our pocket of Aus.

Key Installation Points:

1. Lay turf the same day it's delivered

2. Stagger slabs like brickwork

3. Ensure tight contact between slabs and soil

4. Water thoroughly

5. Roll or press down to eliminate air pockets

Okay, so are you calling the pros or getting the DIY gear out?

The Professional Option

Pros:

• Job gets done quickly and to a high standard

• Right tools and equipment already on hand

• No learning curve for you

• No arguments with whoever would be giving you a hand

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost

The DIY Route

Pros:

• Saves on labour costs

Cons:

• Physically demanding work

• Takes significantly longer

• If you don't do it right, you risk your whole lawn

• Need to hire or buy equipment

Our honest take? If you’ve never picked up a turf slab before, please don’t underestimate the physically demanding nature of laying it. Seriously consider the cons. A poorly laid lawn can create long-lasting problems. (Note: laying the lawn in Brisbane summer may be particularly unenjoyable.)

Aftercare: The Critical First Weeks

After installation, allow a few weeks for the turf roots to establish before heavy use. The exact amount will vary depending on the variety you choose and the time of year. To test it, try to lift a turf slab; if you can’t because the roots are intact, that’s established.

Timeline Expectations: From Order to Established Lawn

Week 1-2: Daily care, twice-daily watering, absolutely no traffic

Week 2-4: Roots establishing, reduce watering frequency, check if it's ready for the first mow

Week 4-6: Lawn becoming more resilient, light foot traffic possible

Week 6-8: Ready for fertiliser application

Week 8+: Normal lawn care routine can begin

Give your lawn a full 12 weeks before heavy use or major events.

First Year Maintenance: What to Do Each Season

Your lawn's needs change with our seasons. Here's your game plan:

Autumn (March-May)

Don't let the cooler months dull your vibrant lawn. It's time to focus on eradicating weeds, feeding your turf, and keeping your grass looking schmick through winter.

Winter (June-August)

Don't let winter get the better of your lawn. Focus on protecting your turf from winter stress, preventing damage from harsh conditions, and ensuring your lawn can spring back.

Spring (September-November)

Help your lawn transition from winter dormancy to vibrant summer growth by focusing on preventive action against various lawn pests and weeds, and boosting turf health and colour with a carefully balanced fertiliser.

Summer (December-February)

It's critical to take extra care of your lawn in the summer heat, protecting it from risks such as weeds, disease, heavy wear, and drought stress. A consistent nutrient boost from a high-quality lawn fertiliser and effective water management will keep your turf in tip-top shape all summer long.

SHOP LAWN CARE

Alrighty, that’s all we have for you for now, so let’s get that order on the way, shall we?

Ready to Get Started?

Getting your lawn right from the start saves you thousands in the long run and gives you an outdoor space you'll actually want to use.

Your Next Steps:

1. Measure your yard accurately using our online area calculator.

2. Take our turf variety quiz to find your perfect match.

3. Request a quote if you're interested in our prep services (optional).

4. Add turf laying at checkout if you’d like our team to take it off your hands.

5. Pick from delivery or pick up.

Questions? Contact the GoTurf team. We've helped hundreds of first-home buyers get their yards right, and we're here to help you too.

Welcome to lawn ownership. We can’t wait to make your yard the envy of the block.

Shop our turf varieties