How Much Does It Cost to Turf a Yard in Adelaide?
Installing instant lawn is one of the fastest ways to completely transform your outdoor space. Whether you’re building a new home, renovating your backyard or replacing dead grass, instant turf creates an attractive and usable lawn almost immediately.
But how much does it actually cost to turf a yard in Adelaide?
The answer depends on several factors, including the type of turf you choose, the size of your yard, soil preparation requirements and whether you install the lawn yourself or hire professionals.
In this guide, we break down average instant lawn costs in Adelaide, explain what affects pricing and help you choose the best turf option for your property and budget.
Average Cost to Turf a Yard in Adelaide
On average, Adelaide home owners can expect to pay from $13 to $20 per m2 for the supply of instant lawn, with additional charges for delivery from $100-$250.
Just like any products on the market, there is quite a big variation in pricing of instant lawn in Adelaide. If we focus on quality instant lawn varieties from trusted and accredited turf growers, the difference between varieties is minimal. Just remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Lawn Solutions Australia growers, like us at The Turf Farm, are all AusGap accredited and back their lawns with a 10 year product warranty. We can guarantee that we have grown, harvested and transported your lawn to the highest standard and our lawns are genetically pure and will perform as expected in their new home.
We grow 4 popular instant lawn varieties that are all tried and tested in our South Australian climate. Each variety has unique pricing structure due to farm and growing requirements and with newer varieties like TifTuf Bermuda, the cost to bring their unique traits to Aussie soils.
Kikuyu from $12-$15 per m2
Buffalo from $15-$18 per m2
Hybrid Couch from $15-$19 per m2
Fescue from $15-$20 per m2
You also need to include the cost to deliver to your home. From $100 – $250 for Adelaide metro and surrounding suburbs – lawn is heavy, delivered on pallets and requires a special truck with a forklift unload. If you’re further afield in regional SA expect to pay this per pallet and therefore delivery price is dependent on how large your area is (50m2 average per pallet).
What Affects the Cost of Instant Turf?
Instant Turf Variety
Different grass types come at different price points.
Premium turf varieties such as soft-leaf buffalo like Sir Walter DNA Certified generally cost more due to their durability, appearance and shade tolerance. Kikuyu is usually the most affordable option due to its invasive nature and fast growth habit. Basic couch varieties that can’t perform in shaded areas would sit somewhere in the middle, however newer hybrid couches cost more for their drought tolerance, suitability to SA climate and shade tolerance.
Area Preparation and Soil
One of the biggest cost factors is preparing the area before laying turf.
This can include:
- Removing old grass
- Clearing weeds
- Levelling uneven ground
- Adding new soil or underlay
- Improving drainage
Proper preparation is essential for long-term lawn health, and skipping this step can lead to poor turf establishment.
Size of yard
It will come to no surpise that the bigger your yard the more expensive the project, that’s just simple maths!
Access to the site
This is a big one if you plan to bring in a landscaper to help prep your area. Labour costs will increase significantly if soil has to be hand dug and wheelbarrowed or whether there is access for machinery.
Irrigation requirements
With any installation of instant lawn we recommend a reliable way to water it. The best way is to install a fully automated pop-up irrigation system, so you don’t have to worry or remember to water your lawn.
How to Save Money on Turf Installation
If you’re working within a budget, there are several ways to reduce costs without sacrificing lawn quality.
Prepare the area yourself
If you’re fit and ready to give preparing your instant lawn area yourself, the process is quite easy as long as you’re prepared to do some heavy lifting!
Choose the right variety
Although choosing the cheapest variety might seem like a budget-conscious decision, if you try to install kikuyu in a shaded area where it won’t grow, you’re setting yourself up for failure and likely a replacement job in the future. Selecting the right variety for your area and lifestyle is the best way to ensure your lawn thrives for a long time.
Install in autumn, winter or early spring
Installing your lawn over the cooler months means it needs less water to establish, saving you on your water bill.
Chat to the professionals
We’re here every step of the way – whether you’re just curious, ready to dig or prepped and ready for lawn, we’re happy to help you.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via phone on (08) 8577 8826, email lawn@theturffarm.com.au or request a quote here.
