All four are grown in Victoria for Victorian conditions and cut fresh for your delivery date. The differences that matter are shade, wear and how much mowing you're signing up for — compare them below.
Not sure which one? Call us on (03) 9331 5300. We'd rather talk you into the right lawn than sell you the wrong one.
Green through summer, green through winter
TifTuf is a fine-leafed Bermuda bred for drought. It uses around 38% less water than other lawn varieties, which makes it the pick for water-restricted suburbs and for anyone who doesn't want a sprinkler running all summer. It's the same grass used on golf courses and sports fields, so it takes a hammering and repairs itself.
What sets it apart in Melbourne is the winter. Most warm-season grasses go off colour once the cold sets in — TifTuf holds its colour far longer, and research has it surviving temperatures well below anything Victoria throws at it. Dense growth means it also chokes out weeds as it establishes. Browse the rest of our instant lawn varieties if you're still comparing.
Want your TifTuf laid for you?
We'll prepare the ground, lay your turf and leave you with a finished lawn — no hire gear, no sore back, no weekend lost to it. We come out, measure up and give you one total price covering turf, delivery and installation.
See how installation worksMelbourne metro · Free measure and quote · (03) 9331 5300
At a glance
LeafVery fine, dense
Minimum sun4 hours
Shade toleranceUp to 50%
WearHigh, self-repairing
DroughtVery high — 38% less water
MaintenanceMedium
Mowing height10–30 mm
ColourBright green, holds through winter
Is it right for your yard?
Works well for
- Water-restricted suburbs and anyone cutting water use
- Full sun, or up to 50% filtered light
- Kids, pets and backyard sport
- Holding colour through a Melbourne winter
- Frost-prone yards
- Any soil type — clay, sand, alkaline or acidic
- Getting established fast and crowding out weeds
Worth knowing
- Grows fast in spring and summer — expect to mow weekly, sometimes twice
- Happiest in well-drained soil, like most drought-tolerant grasses
- Slows down and loses a little colour at the coldest point of winter, though less than most warm-season lawns
Not sure it suits your yard? Ring us on (03) 9331 5300 — we'd rather talk you into the right one.
Common questions
How much watering does it actually need?
Less than most. TifTuf saves around 38% on water compared to other varieties, and needs only minimal water to establish — which is what makes it the pick for water-restricted suburbs. For the first 2 to 4 weeks keep the soil under the lawn damp while the roots take. After that it copes with far longer gaps than you'd expect.
Will it grow in shade?
It needs about 4 hours of direct sun a day, and handles up to 50% filtered light. If your yard is shadier than that, Sir Walter Buffalo is the better choice — it goes to 75%.
How does it handle cold and frost?
Very well. Research has TifTuf surviving temperatures down to -20°C, so early-morning Melbourne frost is no trouble. It stays brighter through winter than most warm-season grasses, though like all of them it slows down at the coldest point and picks straight back up in spring.
What soil does it need?
All soil types work — clay, sand, alkaline or acidic. It performs best in well-drained soil, as most drought-tolerant grasses do. If you're not sure what you've got, ring us and we'll talk it through.
How much mowing and maintenance?
Medium overall — less fertiliser and less water than most lawns, but more mowing while it's growing hard. Once a week through spring and summer, sometimes twice if you're keeping it short. In the cooler months it slows right down and you'll only mow as needed.
What's the best fertiliser for it?
We recommend Sir Walter Fertiliser — a premium lawn fertiliser you can use to dress the lawn at the start of each season.
You've picked the lawn. We'll do the rest.
We come out and measure on site, then quote one price covering the ground prep, the turf, delivery and installation. Most yards are finished in a day.
Not quite right? Try these
Premium Eureka Kikuyu VG
Tougher and cheaper, the pick for dogs and hard-worn yards. Needs full sun.
View Kikuyu →
Sir Walter Buffalo
Softer underfoot, handles up to 75% shade, slower growing so less mowing.
View Sir Walter →
RTF – Tall Fescue
Self-repairing, handles up to 50% shade, minimum order 30 m².
View RTF →
Give your new lawn the best start
Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser
Feed it at the start of each season to keep the colour and thickness up.
Add to your order →
Launcher
Gets the roots moving in the first few weeks, when it matters most.
Add to your order →
Oxafert
Fertiliser and pre-emergent in one — stops weeds before they show up.
Add to your order →
The perfect all-rounder
Premium Eureka Kikuyu VG is a warm-season grass with a small to medium leaf — finer than regular Kikuyu — and very high self-repairing properties. It's the one we point people at when the yard takes a hammering: kids, dogs, a nature strip that everyone walks across.
It's an aggressive grower with a rich green colour, and it handles Victorian conditions well. It can be cut lower than most instant lawn varieties without damage — keep it between 25 and 50mm.
Want your Eureka Kikuyu laid for you?
We'll prepare the ground, lay your turf and leave you with a finished lawn — no hire gear, no sore back, no weekend lost to it. We come out, measure up and give you one total price covering turf, delivery and installation.
See how installation worksMelbourne metro · Free measure and quote · (03) 9331 5300
At a glance
LeafSmall–medium, fine
Minimum sun6 hours
Shade toleranceUp to 25%
WearHigh, self-repairing
DroughtTolerant
MaintenanceHigh
Mowing height25–50 mm
ColourRich green
Is it right for your yard?
Works well for
- Yards that cop a hammering — kids, sport, foot traffic
- Dogs, including diggers
- Nature strips
- Full sun
- Cooler Victorian conditions
- Crowding out weeds as it creeps
Worth knowing
- Needs 6 hours of sun — not one for a shaded yard
- Runners travel above and below ground, so it will head into garden beds and under paths if you let it
- Regular mowing and edging to keep it in check
Not sure it suits your yard? Ring us on (03) 9331 5300 — we'd rather talk you into the right one.
Common questions
How often should I water it?
For the first 2 to 4 weeks, water regularly to help it establish and develop its root system — the soil under the lawn should be damp, not dry. After that, once every 7 to 10 days is fine.
Will it keep weeds out of my backyard?
It will. Kikuyu is a creeping grass, so it's very good at blocking and preventing the spread of weeds across the yard.
What do I use if weeds do appear?
Hand weeding is usually the best fix for spot issues. Kikuyu isn't exempt from herbicides, so you can also work Winter Grass Killer into your routine — apply at the end of winter or the start of spring for the best result.
What's the best fertiliser for it?
We recommend Sir Walter Fertiliser — a premium lawn fertiliser you can use to dress the lawn at the start of each season.
How do I keep it green through winter?
Kikuyu is hardwearing and handles harsh Victorian winters well. The main thing is a consistent care routine, and keeping a close eye on it for the first 12 weeks while the root system establishes. If it looks a little discoloured through the coldest part of winter, don't be discouraged — it bounces back once the peak has passed.
You've picked the lawn. We'll do the rest.
We come out and measure on site, then quote one price covering the ground prep, the turf, delivery and installation. Most yards are finished in a day.
Not quite right? Try these
Sir Walter Buffalo
Softer underfoot, handles up to 75% shade, slower growing so less mowing.
View Sir Walter →
TifTuf
Drought-bred, uses 38% less water, stays green through winter.
View TifTuf →
RTF – Tall Fescue
Self-repairing, handles up to 50% shade, minimum order 30 m².
View RTF →
Give your new lawn the best start
Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser
Feed it at the start of each season to keep the colour and thickness up.
Add to your order →
Launcher
Gets the roots moving in the first few weeks, when it matters most.
Add to your order →
Oxafert
Fertiliser and pre-emergent in one — stops weeds before they show up.
Add to your order →
Soft underfoot, and it copes with shade
Sir Walter Buffalo has a broad, soft leaf — the one people pick when the lawn is for sitting on, and the one to pick if the yard has a shady corner. It handles up to 75% shade, more than any other variety we carry, and it's low-allergen, which matters if the kids react to grass.
It's also the easy one to live with. It grows slowly, so there's less mowing, and its runners travel across the surface rather than underground — so unlike Kikuyu, it won't push into your garden beds. Tight growth chokes out weeds, and it's more pest-resistant than most. Compare it against our other instant lawn varieties if you're still deciding.
Want your Sir Walter laid for you?
We'll prepare the ground, lay your turf and leave you with a finished lawn — no hire gear, no sore back, no weekend lost to it. We come out, measure up and give you one total price covering turf, delivery and installation.
See how installation worksMelbourne metro · Free measure and quote · (03) 9331 5300
At a glance
LeafBroad and soft
Minimum sun4 hours
Shade toleranceUp to 75%
WearHigh, Sep–May
DroughtHigh
MaintenanceLow — slow growing
Mowing height30–50 mm
AllergensLow allergen
Is it right for your yard?
Works well for
- Shady yards — up to 75%, the most shade-tolerant lawn we carry
- Kids and anyone who reacts to grass — low allergen
- Lawns you actually sit on, not just look at
- Less mowing — it grows slowly
- Yards with garden beds — surface runners only, so it stays put
- Full sun, extreme heat, frost and drought
- Keeping weeds and pests down
Worth knowing
- It can lose a little colour over winter — this improves as the lawn matures
- Heavy wear is fine from spring to autumn, but it's slower to repair itself through winter
- Best laid between September and May
- Wants a top dress of washed sand to stay at its best
Not sure it suits your yard? Ring us on (03) 9331 5300 — we'd rather talk you into the right one.
Common questions
How often should I water it?
For the first week or two, water every few days so the soil underneath doesn't dry out. After that, once a week is usually enough. In a heatwave it'll want more; through winter it rarely needs watering at all.
Will it really grow in shade?
Yes — up to 75% shade, which is more than any other variety we sell. It's equally happy in full sun, which is what makes it the safe pick when a yard has both. If your yard is shadier still, ring us before you order.
Will it spread into my garden beds?
No. Sir Walter's runners travel across the surface rather than underground, so it's easy to edge and it stays where you put it. That's the main practical difference between it and Kikuyu.
How do I top dress and fertilise it?
Top dress with washed sand at about half a cubic metre per 100 square metres, concentrating on the joins and edges so they don't dry out. Then fertilise at the start of each season with Sir Walter Fertiliser.
When is the best time to lay it?
September through to May. It establishes fastest in the warmer months, and it repairs more slowly over winter — so if you can choose your timing, choose spring or autumn.
You've picked the lawn. We'll do the rest.
We come out and measure on site, then quote one price covering the ground prep, the turf, delivery and installation. Most yards are finished in a day.
Not quite right? Try these
Premium Eureka Kikuyu VG
Tougher and cheaper, the pick for dogs and hard-worn yards. Needs full sun.
View Kikuyu →
TifTuf
Drought-bred, uses 38% less water, holds its colour through winter.
View TifTuf →
RTF – Tall Fescue
Self-repairing, handles up to 50% shade, minimum order 30 m².
View RTF →
Give your new lawn the best start
Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser
Feed it at the start of each season to keep the colour and thickness up.
Add to your order →
Launcher
Gets the roots moving in the first few weeks, when it matters most.
Add to your order →
Oxafert
Fertiliser and pre-emergent in one — stops weeds before they show up.
Add to your order →
Low Maintenance & Self Repairing
Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF) has been developed as a beautiful instant lawn variety with all the features of the EasiCare with the added advantage of producing rhizomes. These rhizomes send shoots up through the lawn whilst establishing independent root systems for new plants, thus enabling self-repair for dry or hard worn patches. RTF will establish faster than the regular Tall Fescue, so you can enjoy it and water less much sooner.
The Quick Facts
- Soft, Medium textured leaf
- Minimum sun = 6 hours
- Medium drought tolerance – roots can travel 2m underground
can access water not normally available - Good shade tolerance – up to 50%
- Full sun preferred
- Low maintenance
- Stays Deep Green all year round
- High self-repair rate - underground Rhizome roots fill bare spots
- Establishes quickly – reducing water needs
Delivery Pricing Melbourne Metro Only
| Size | Price |
| 0-29m2 | unavailable |
| 30m2 or more | $185 |
Orders are subject to turf and truck availability, with delivery confirmation sent via SMS after 3pm the business day before delivery. Turf is delivered to nature strip - driver does not knock.
Turf Warranty
Lawn Solutions Australia provides a 10 year warranty for instant turf from the date of installation. It is important to follow the laying and care instructions provided with your turf delivery. Due to the perishable nature of turf, it must be installed immediately upon delivery. If any issues arise, you must notify us in writing within 8 hours of delivery. Please ensure that you make yourself familiar with the warranty conditions. To view the full Product Warranty Certificate please contact us at info@thegreencentre.com.au.
Why Choose The Green Centre for Your Instant Lawn?
When you choose The Green Centre, you're choosing over years of expertise in supplying Melbourne's finest instant turf varieties. We understand local conditions and deliver fresh, high-quality lawns that establish quickly and thrive year-round.
Our Quality Guarantee
- Fresh, Victorian Turf - All our instant lawn varieties are grown in Victoria for Victorian conditions. Harvested at peak freshness and delivered straight to your Melbourne or Geelong property, ensuring optimal health and faster establishment.
- Expert Delivery & Placement - Our specialised delivery service places your turf as close to your installation area as possible, minimising heavy lifting and making installation easier for you.
- Lifetime Lawn Care Support - From the moment your turf arrives, our expert team is here to help. We provide complimentary advice and support for the entire life of your lawn, ensuring it stays lush and healthy for years to come.
- Premium Starter Package - Every home delivery turf order includes complimentary starter fertiliser to give your new lawn the best possible start, plus detailed care instructions tailored to your specific variety.
- Friday yard pickups available (20m² maximum)
- Professional Installation Available - Don't want to DIY? Our experienced installation team can handle everything from site preparation to laying your instant turf.
Book Your Instant Turf Delivery & Installation Today
Melbourne & Geelong Metro Delivery
The Green Centre delivers premium instant turf across all Melbourne and Geelong Metro areas. Our specialised delivery trucks ensure your lawn arrives fresh and ready to install.
- Fresh-cut turf delivered at peak condition
- Delivery confirmation sent via SMS after 3pm the business day prior
- Turf placed as close to your installation area as possible
- Friday yard pickups available (20m² maximum)
Ready to order? Call us on (03) 9331 5300 for current availability and pricing.
Professional Installation Service
Take the stress out of lawn installation with our professional service. Our experienced team handles:
- Site measurement and assessment
- Removal of existing lawn and weeds
- Soil preparation and leveling
- Professional instant turf installation
- Initial watering and care instructions
Learn more about our instant turf installation service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of instant lawn depends on the following factors:
- Size of your lawn
- Type of instant lawn you’re choosing
- Quantity of the order
Our range of instant lawn requires minimal maintenance to keep it looking vibrant and healthy. We generally recommend watering 1-2 times per day for 4-6 weeks to help establish and develop its root system. Read our guide on how to care for your instant lawn for more information. To help your lawn get established and stay healthy throughout the year, we recommend using our Sir Walter Fertiliser.
The terms "Instant Turf" and "Instant Lawn" are often used interchangeably. Both refer to grass that has been professionally grown and cut into rolls that can be easily laid out to create a new lawn quickly.
The Sir Walter Buffalo grass is the number one choice of instant lawn. The lawn itself is resilient and hardwearing and does well with both kids and dogs. Watch our video on Sir Walter Buffalo Turf to learn more about how easy it is to install and maintain this lush, thick grass.
Our beautiful Sir Walter Buffalo comes with a free lawn starter/launcher, which you put underneath the grass before you lay it. Contact our team for more information.
The Green Centre offers a range of instant lawn care products to keep your lawn looking lush and well-maintained throughout the year. Our collection includes fertilisers, weed killers, lawn paint, and more, all designed to meet your lawn maintenance needs. Our lawn experts can assist you in choosing the right products for your specific requirements. All our products are available for delivery across Melbourne. For more information, feel free to get in touch with our team at 03 9331 5300.
Simply prepare your soil by clearing any weeds or debris and lay the instant lawn delivered right at your doorstep. Once delivered simply lay the instant lawn on top of your soil and see the magic happen. In about 6 - 8 weeks the roots will get established, which you can check by simply pulling it off the ground. If you can’t pull it up, then it means that the root system has taken and it is established. Read our guide on instant lawn preparation and installation to help get your started.
While it might seem like a time-saving step, we advise against laying new instant lawn over an existing lawn. The reason is that the new turf needs direct contact with the soil to establish a strong root system and absorb necessary nutrients. If placed over existing grass, the new turf's roots may struggle to penetrate through, leading to a less healthy lawn.
Additionally, the existing grass, deprived of sunlight and air, would likely wither and die. For the healthiest and most vibrant lawn, we recommend removing the old grass before laying the new instant lawn.
To ensure a smooth delivery process, we coordinate our turf and truck availability and will send you a confirmation via SMS after 3pm the business day prior to your delivery. Please note that for orders less than 20m2, a different delivery charge applies. Feel free to call us on (03) 9331 300 for pricing details. Our drivers aim to respect your privacy and thus, will not knock on your door when the delivery is made.
The Green Centre delivers to all properties across Metro Melbourne.
Delivery costs vary depending on the volume of instant lawn ordered, location and amount of times a truck is required to fulfil the order. For most orders, shipping and delivery fees are automatically calculated at checkout. For enquiries about delivery fees, we recommend getting in touch with our staff before ordering.
