ATLAS TURF SUPPLIES

Frequently Asked Questions

Sir Walter was developed in the Hunter Valley in NSW by Buchanan Turf Supplies.

  • 1 ROLL = 1m2
  • Roll size is 585mm wide x 1.7m long (23″ wide x 5.6″ long) and approx. 25mm (1 inch) thick.
  • Each roll weighs about 15kg when dry.

All turf needs to be laid on the same day as delivery.

Multiply two sides together i.e.: 18m x 7m = 126m2. For irregular sites divide up into smaller squares/or triangles, calculate each individual area then add them together.

NB: The area of a triangle is the base x height divided by 2, and the area of a circle is 3.14 x radius x radius.

We recommend a 80:20, sand:soil mix which can be purchased from your local Soil or Nursery Supplier. Good soil may already exist on site, which may only require weed removal and sometimes the addition of some turf underlay to assist in levelling.

Apply Gypsum, which is a clay breaker, down first and incorporate it well with a Rotary Hoe.

2″ (50mm) is okay, but 4″ (100mm) of soil is better. The root system of your lawn will penetrate the soil to a depth of about 2ft (600mm) in good soil with deep irrigation.

The deeper the soil, the deeper the roots will penetrate and the more drought tolerant the turf will become.

Good turf must have a good root system.

  • About 30m2 of Sir Walter Buffalo will fit into a small trailer. (6 x 4ft.)
  • About 40m2 of Sir Walter Buffalo will fit into a large trailer. (8 x 4ft.)

Usually 55-60 rolls of Sir Walter will fit on a standard pallet.
For long travel distances we secure the pallet with netting which allows the turf to breath.

  • A table top truck 2.40m wide and 7.0m long will hold 10 pallets.
  • A semi trailer will carry 20 pallets.
  • A ‘B’ Double will carry 30 pallets.

Shademaster originated in the Hunter Valley of NSW. in the mid 1980s, it was the first soft leaf buffalo available. It was then grown in the Sydney area from the early 1990s.

However, because of its purple discolouration in winter, other soft leaf Buffaloes were developed including Sir Walter which stay greener than Shademaster in Winter.

Superior colour in winter compared with most soft leaf Buffaloes.

  1. Drought tolerance in summer.
  2. Herbicide and fungus resistance.
  3. Low Thatch development.
  4. Quick recovery after wear.
  5. Shade Tolerance.

No turf will grow in complete shade.

However, Sir Walter will grow in shady areas better than any other Buffalo grass that we have trialled including Shademaster soft lead Buffalo.

Generally 3 hours of direct sunlight or 4 hours of filtered light are required per day.

best Grass Types for Shade

Shade from Trees: The turf will require additional fertiliser and water to compete with the tree.

Shade from buildings: Sometimes these areas are damp and require extra drainage with subsurface ‘ag’ pipes.

With a lot of substituting of inferior turf for Sir Walter in the industry, only deal with a licensed grower or nursery.

Atlas Turf (License No. 201) will supply you with an invoice stating that your purchase is authentic Sir Walter.

Add launcher product prior to laying and again two weeks after installing, then every eight weeks for the first twelve months.

Once established, apply fertiliser early spring, early summer and mid autumn. The autumn fertilising is essential for the lawn to stay greener through winter.

Correct fertiliser recommendations vary depending on climate, region and soil type. Generally a slow released balanced NPK lawn food is best, such as Sir Walter Fertiliser that is available from our online store and most Sir Walter suppliers.

Alternatively, contact your local nursery for their recommended equivalent such as Dynamic Lifter, Shirleys No. 17 etc.

Newly transplanted turf requires extra care (especially water) for the first few weeks. Turf must be kept moist, (but not drowned all day) until the roots have taken.

During hot daylight hours the leaf should not be allowed to dry out and edge areas near concrete or brick borders will suffer the most.

Curling and a grey colour of the leaf will tell you when the turf has dried out. New turf should be saturated immediately after laying.

Test for soil moisture with a 4″ (100mm) probe e.g. screwdriver. The ground should be moist to this level. If hot and/or windy, extra watering will be required and each site will have different water requirements depending on soil type, drainage etc.

A good way to estimate how much irrigation has been applied is to place an empty container under the spray area of the sprinkler. When 20mm of water has been collected in the container, move the sprinkler to the next position.

After 30 minutes, check to see how deep the water has infiltrated into the soil and reapply irrigation until the 100mm depth has been achieved.

Once the turf has taken root (7-10 days in summer, 10-14 days in winter), watering can be decreased to a level that will depend on the climatic conditions.

As a guide, when conditions are dry, the lawn should require 2-3 deep waterings in summer per week, or 1 per week in winter, until the full establishment of a deep root system (approx. 12 months).

Once fully established, one deep watering per week is usually sufficient except in extreme conditions.

It is also possible to over water the turf during establishment especially in the cooler months. If you notice that the turf has turned a yellow colour in winter during establishment, this may well indicate that too much water (drowning) of the turf is taking place.

Do not make the turf so wet during winter establishment that it is squishy underfoot every day.

The first mowing should not be done until the roots have taken and the turf is not easily lifted. The first mowing should only be a light trim, and never take more than a third of the leaf off in any single mowing.

Sir Walter can be mown at various heights ranging from 15mm to 50mm, however, correct height can depend on personal preference and climatic conditions.

Mow higher in shady areas. It is recommended to raise your mowing height prior to winter.

Generally, a longer leaf will encourage a deeper root system, which is preferred to encourage drought tolerance.