Journal · May 2026 · 6 min read
Best Turf Varieties for South East Queensland Lawns
Choosing turf is a trade-off between shade tolerance, wear, water use and how often you want to mow. Here is how the common South East Queensland varieties compare in real gardens.
The main options
- Buffalo (e.g. Sir Walter) - the most shade tolerant, broad leaf, tough underfoot, moderate mowing
- Couch - fine leaf and a beautiful finish in full sun, but it thins badly in shade and needs more frequent mowing
- Zoysia - dense, slow growing and low maintenance, with good drought tolerance and a higher upfront cost
- Kikuyu - fast, cheap and hard-wearing, but vigorous enough to invade garden beds
Matching turf to your yard
If your lawn gets less than four hours of direct sun, buffalo is usually the only variety that will hold. Full-sun yards with kids and dogs suit couch or kikuyu, while zoysia suits owners who want a fine lawn with the least ongoing work.
Preparation matters more than variety
- Remove the old lawn and treat weeds before laying
- Grade to shed water away from the house
- Spread and level underlay soil - never lay onto compacted clay
- Lay tight with staggered joints, then roll and water deeply
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