dunsborough and south west wa

Turf Installation

Buffalo, Kikuyu, Couch. Proper soil prep and levelling.

TURF INSTALLATION

GROWING VALUE FROM THE GROUND UP

There is nothing quite like a brand new lawn. It transforms a dusty, glaring backyard into a cool, inviting oasis. It connects the house to the garden. It provides a safe, soft surface for kids and pets. But laying turf is a science. If you get it wrong, you end up with a bumpy, patchy, thirsty liability.

The Master Grass provides comprehensive turf supply and installation services in Dunsborough. We don’t just roll out green carpet. We engineer the soil profile to ensure the lawn thrives in our unique coastal environment. We have seen too many DIY jobs fail because the preparation was skipped. We do it once, and we do it right.

THE ICEBERG PRINCIPLE

IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT'S UNDERNEATH

When you look at a beautiful lawn, you are only seeing 10% of the system. The other 90% is the root system and the soil. In Dunsborough, we are typically working on Bassendean Sand or Spearwood Sand. These sands drain too fast and hold almost no nutrients.

If you lay turf directly on this sand:

  • Water Waste

    You will have to water constantly just to keep it alive.

  • Nutrient Leaching

    Fertiliser washes straight past the roots into the groundwater (bad for the lawn, bad for the environment/Geographe Bay).

  • Weak Growth

    The lawn will never develop deep resilience.

OUR SOIL PREPARATION PROCESS

We excavate the site to remove weeds, rocks, and debris. We then import premium Lawn Mix. This is a specific blend of sand, loam, peat, and compost. We spread this to a minimum depth of 50mm-100mm. This layer acts as a sponge. It holds moisture. It holds fertiliser. It gives the roots a rich medium to bite into. We screed this soil perfectly level, removing dips and humps, so your finished lawn is billiard-table flat.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TURF VARIETY

Not all grass is created equal. We supply high-quality, farm-fresh turf suited to the South West.

We will assess your site — shade patterns, water availability, usage — and recommend the perfect variety.

Soft Leaf Buffalo (e.g., Sir Walter DNA Certified)

  • Best For

    Family backyards, shady areas, and low-allergy needs.

  • Pros

    It is the only grass that handles significant shade (up to 70%). It has a broad, soft leaf that is non-itchy. It stays green in winter.

  • Cons

    Less drought tolerant than Couch; more expensive per square metre.

Kikuyu (e.g. Village Green)

  • Best For

    High traffic areas, dogs, large open spaces.

  • Pros

    It is a tank. It grows fast and repairs itself rapidly from damage. If your dog digs a hole, Kikuyu will fill it in. It stays green in winter.

  • Cons

    It is aggressive. It needs solid edging to stop it invading gardens. It needs frequent mowing in summer. It needs full sun.

Couch (e.g. Winter Green)

  • Best For

    Show lawns, golf-course look, budget-conscious large areas.

  • Pros

    Fine leaf, looks manicured when mown short. Very drought tolerant (goes dormant but recovers). Cheaper per sqm.

  • Cons

    Goes brown/dormant in winter. No shade tolerance at all.

Synthetic Turf

Synthetic turf installation offers a practical, low-maintenance solution for areas where natural grass struggles to grow or where you simply want a clean, green look year-round without the mowing.

For a successful install, the preparation is just as important as the turf itself — we excavate the site and build a solid, free-draining base of compacted cracker dust or blue metal to ensure a flat, stable surface that won't sink over time. Once the base is perfectly screeded, we lay high-quality, UV-stabilised synthetic grass, carefully joining the seams and securing the edges to create a seamless, durable finish that handles heavy foot traffic and pets with ease.

While it lacks the cooling properties of living turf, synthetic grass is an excellent choice for side passages, small courtyards, or under heavy shade where traditional varieties often fail to thrive.

THE INSTALLATION DAY

Many clients think edging is just aesthetic. It’s actually functional.

1

We coordinate the turf delivery so it arrives fresh from the farm on the day of installation. Turf is a living product; if it sits on a pallet for 24 hours in the sun, it starts to compost and die.

2

We lay the turf in a brick-pattern (staggered joints). This prevents long seams opening up. We butt the rolls tightly together. We cut in around sprinklers, paths, and trees with sharp knives for a seamless finish.

3

Once laid, we roll the lawn with a heavy water-filled roller. This presses the roots into the soil, removing air pockets. We then apply a starter fertiliser and a wetting agent and water it in deep.

AFTERCARE: THE FIRST THREE WEEKS

The first few weeks are critical. The roots need to travel from the turf roll into your soil.

  • Watering

    You must keep the turf moist. This usually means watering 2-3 times a day for short periods for the first 10-14 days. We will set your controller for you.

  • Traffic

    Stay off it! Walking on new turf can tear the roots and create depressions.

  • First Mow

    Don’t mow until you can pull on the grass and the roots hold firm (usually 3-4 weeks).

OTHER SERVICES

Paving

Installation

Edging &

Borders

Garden Bed

Installation

Lawn

Mowing

FAQ'S

Do you remove the old lawn?

Yes. We spray it out, then use a turf cutter or bobcat to strip the old grass and weeds. We dispose of the waste.

Do you install synthetic turf?

We focus on living turf because it cools the environment (artificial turf gets dangerously hot in summer) and supports biodiversity. However, for specific small areas (e.g., putting greens or heavy shade), we can discuss options.

What if I have reticulation problems?

We check the system before we lay. There is no point laying new turf if the sprinklers don’t cover it. We can adjust heads, replace broken ones, or install a new system if required.

Areas We Serve

We operate from Dunsborough and work across the South West—Busselton through to Margaret River, including Yallingup and Cowaramup. If you're outside that core (Dunsborough East, Siesta Park, Metricup), send your location and we'll check the drive.

Service Areas

  • Dunsborough

  • Busselton

  • Margaret River

  • Yallingup

  • Cowaramup

Ready To LAY YOUR TURF?