What is the Cost of Lawn Installation?

Grass types vary in price wildly, and we covered the approximate costs in our How Much Does Turf Cost article.

Some varieties are easy to grow, or can be grown in larger quantities which allows them to be more cost effective for the consumer, while some premium varieties or hybrids using the latest technology can be more expensive to grow and will command a higher price.

You can use the Find Your Turf page to help with indicative pricing on all myhomeTURF varieties, or connect with a myhomeTURF Supplier in your area using the Get 3 Quotes tool which will allow you to access the latest and most personalised pricing for your project.

To estimate your turf costs, measure the area to be turfed in square meters and multiply by the price per square meter of your chosen variety. For example, a 100-square-meter lawn using Nara Native Zoysia (which can cost between $11-18/m2) will cost between $1,100-1,800 for the turf alone.

Once you’ve ordered your turf and the farm has cut it, you have the option of picking it up from the farm or having them deliver it. Given that the average lawn will take at least a pallet of turf, it’s common for the farm to deliver it to your job site by truck, but this delivery isn’t free.

The cost of delivery will be dependent on:

• Distance from the Turf Farm: Most turf suppliers charge based on the kilometres travelled.

• Order Size: Larger orders may require multiple deliveries or specialised transport.

• Time Sensitivity: If you need your turf delivered at a specific time, expect to pay a premium for priority service.

As well as buying the turf, there are other costs to consider when installing a new lawn like the cost of preparing the site, for example.

Preparing the site may be as simple as laying down a good bed of quality turf underlay soil from your local landscape supplies store which will cost between $60-80/m3. The supplier will be able to recommend the right amount of soil for your project if you give them the dimensions of the yard.

Many turf underlay blends will include natural sources of nitrogen to assist with turf establishment and may even be blended with soil wetter granules, so it’s best to check with your supplier exactly what’s in their blend, and consider using a quality Starter Fertiliser like LawnPride’s Under Turf.

You may want to take the opportunity to change the shape, size or layout of the lawn which may include more expensive and time consuming hardscaping works like grading the land and installing retaining walls.

This is also a great time to think about installing under lawn services like power to garden lighting or irrigation. Services can always be installed after the lawn is laid, just at greater expense and disruption to the fresh turf.

Installing a new lawn is a great way to build an affinity with your new outdoor space, and is both a simple and rewarding project that can be tackled by any DIY Weekend Warrior.

The basic process of installing a new lawn is tackled in our handy DIY Guide to Laying A New Lawn, but the basics are to lay each line of turf offset to the previous line by approximately half a roll, creating a brickwork pattern that offsets your turf joins. It’s also recommended to roll the area with a weighted or water-filled roller afterwards to ensure good root-to-soil contact, and that there are no air pockets that might hinder turf establishment.

Materials Needed for DIY Installation

As well as your turf, soil underlay and Starter Fertiliser, we’d recommend the following basic tools for installing a new lawn, and to be fair, they’re staple items that any lawn lover should have for ongoing maintenance work:

• A wheelbarrow, shovel and metal rake for spreading soil
• A quality Lawn Levelling tool to spread the soil evenly. These are also great tools to have for spreading top soil or sand as part of your Spring Renovation
• A sharp knife or shears to trim the turf
• A roller to flatten and secure the turf
• A hose and sprinkler for watering

DIY vs Professional Lawn Installation

Installing your own lawn will save you considerably on labour costs, however the reality is that the job may be too physically demanding or require too much time commitment for some lawn lovers.

Some sites may also require specialist tools to properly prepare it for a new lawn, including instances where the site needs to be extensively cleared or levelled before it’s fit to lay new turf.

Some home owners also opt to enlist a professional when using premium turf varieties as a way to protect their investment, and ensure their expensive new lawn is installed with precision.

While DIY turf installation can save you $10-$20 per square meter in labor costs, it requires time, effort, and some skill. Professionals, on the other hand, bring expertise and equipment that ensures:

Installing your new lawn is a rewarding project that will transform your yard and your home, whether you choose to install it yourself or enlist the help of a professional. Understanding the costs associated with it can help you budget more effectively for the project, or even save some money. myhomeTURF have a wide network of local turf growers for any Australian lawn that can help you with your new lawn.