The Smart Approved WaterMark (SAWM) by the Water Conservancy is the first water efficiency accreditation scheme in the world to recognise drought-tolerant turf.
The Smart Approved Watermark was established by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), Irrigation Australia, The Nursery and Garden Industry Association and the Australian Water Association, to provide an identifiable label for consumers so that they can make informed choices when choosing products, services and organisations that use water efficiently, reducing per capita water consumption and helping in the end goal of preserving such a precious resource.
In 2017, Lawn Solutions Australia applied for TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda to the Water Conservancy for Smart WaterMark Approval. TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda has led the way with independent testing through the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) with significant trial data provided in its application demonstrating its superior drought tolerance characteristics. As a result, TifTuf was awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark, but with an exemption for Western Australia and the Northern Territory with data yet to be finalised for performance in these states and territories at the time.
Additional testing data was submitted to SAWM on the 23rd of February 2024 and was presented to the SAWM Expert Panel for deliberation.
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda Grass has now been approved by Smart Watermark’s Independent Expert Panel Nationally within Australia. The restriction has been lifted in Western Australia as well as in the Northern Territory from further testing results received.
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TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the first and only turf grass to receive this for drought tolerance in Australia or anywhere in the world.
About Smart Approved WaterMark
Smart Approved WaterMark (SAWM) is the one-stop shop for water efficiency in Australia. Through its Smart Water Advice program, SAWM delivers a range of educational, interactive water-saving resources for councils and water utilities to take to communities about saving water around the home, garden, and business. SAWM certifies water-efficient products and services in Australia. With Smart Water Solutions, SAWM helps businesses reduce their water use and save money by delivering water audits and recommendations. SAWM has also published the ‘Water Efficient Australia’ 2019 report and ‘Water Efficiency 2017’ in partnership with Water Services Association Australia (WSAA). Smart Approved WaterMark works towards a blue future that celebrates the many amazing qualities of water, its strength, and its vulnerability.
Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) featured prominently at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show held recently promoting the LSA network of turf suppliers and their range of premium lawn varieties.
Staged at the world heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens from the 20th to the 24th of March, this year’s event was an incredible experience. Over 107,000 people came through the gates across the five days, with a huge number of people converging on Melbourne for both the Show and the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The Show features the best talent in landscaping, gardening, and floral design from right around Australia each year. With a large range of exhibitors showcasing their garden products and innovations.
The LSA range of turf grasses featured heavily across the world-class display gardens, showcasing their versatility to be used across a variety of spaces and designs. LSA members and staff, including ambassadors Charlie Albone and Jason Hodges, experienced an incredible number of enquiries and interactions throughout the week, handing out thousands of turf information guides and answering a range of lawn-related questions.
Lawns are such an integral part of the environment and gardens, and it was great to see how interested the public is in using the different turfgrass options available in a range of spaces and functions. The incredible artistry on show throughout the display garden entries exemplified the versatility of grass and how it can be used as a feature component within the landscape.
The Lawn Solutions Australia Lawn Display
Lawn Solutions Australia has enjoyed being an exhibitor and presenting partner at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show for many years.
This year’s lawn display was simple yet striking with Charlie Albone and the team at Venus Landscaping designing and building the display over the week leading into the start of the event.
Why Sir Grange Zoysia is the Perfect ‘Contaminant Free’ Ground Covering
In light of increasing reports of Asbestos being found in contaminated woodchips and bark material across various public space areas, we must identify superior contaminant-free, safe solutions and alternatives for these areas.
Woodchips, mulch and other mediums like sand are often used in playgrounds and swing areas as a low-maintenance ground covering, but they rarely stay clean and user-friendly for very long and have been found to suffer from asbestos contamination. This is highly concerning when there is a much better ground covering that could be used, a green and low-maintenance solution that is free of contaminants and safe for our families and environments.
This turf variety is Sir Grange Zoysia. Sir Grange is a Zoysia Matrella grass that offers a level of versatility in turfgrass that has been unseen until recent years. It has a stunning fine blade and a beautiful dark green colour. But most importantly, it can be left completely unmown and still look fantastic.
This makes Sir Grange Zoysia the perfect solution to the current asbestos issue. Woodchips can be removed and replaced with an incredible grass that requires next to no mowing at all, is soft and safe for playgrounds, is much more aesthetically pleasing and provides the assurance that the new ground covering will be asbestos free.
Often when we think about grass, it’s in the context of a lawn, sporting field or expansive park areas, and Sir Grange Zoysia can certainly be used in these applications. But its areas that we wouldn’t traditionally adopt grass where Sir Grange is truly providing an alternative floor covering and solution for troublesome landscaping areas. Garden beds, playgrounds, median strips, alongside bike paths and pedestrian footpaths – all of these areas are high maintenance areas for councils to maintain and are commonly filled with woodchips and other materials that requires regular replacement and upkeep. Sir Grange Zoysia can be used in all of these areas providing a much better outcome for councils and for the public.
Sir Grange is great in areas that are difficult to get to for maintenance purposes and can tolerate high wear once established. The reason this turf requires less mowing is due to it having a very slow growth pattern and limited height of growth. Sir Grange will grow until it reaches a certain height (about 15 to 20cm). After that, it virtually stops growing vertically and looks fantastic.
This makes Sir Grange the ideal solution for public parks and playgrounds, council verges, roadsides, sloping areas, sporting applications like golf courses and in the home lawn and play areas just like this one.
Available Australia wide
When purchasing your Sir Grange Zoysia lawn, make sure you are dealing with a genuine Lawn Solutions Australia turf supplier.
You can find the contact details of these suppliers near you here.
Woodchips and other mediums like sand are often used in playgrounds and swing areas as a low-maintenance ground covering, but they rarely stay clean and user-friendly for very long and in some cases have been found to suffer from contamination.
This is where the incredible versatility of one particular turf variety can provide a successful and visually stunning solution.
This turf variety is Sir Grange Zoysia. Sir Grange is a Zoysia Matrella grass that offers a level of versatility in turfgrass that has been unseen until recent years. It has a stunning fine blade and a beautiful dark green colour. But most importantly, it can be left completely unmown and still look fantastic.
Below is a practical application of Sir Grange at an Early Learning Centre around a play area. This area was a problem area, with woodchip and sand being used unsuccessfully before Sir Grange was adopted as a permanent solution. Much like local parks and playgrounds, this area needed to be safe for children playing, low-maintenance and needed to be visually appealing. Sir Grange Zoysia is the only medium that has been able to provide all of these outcomes and the owner of the facility is absolutely over the moon with the result.
Sir Grange Zoysia Natures Crash Mat
“The kids love it, previously it was sand that blew everywhere, then woodchip that was always wet, full of rubbish and spiders, this stuff is like a big mattress and takes virtually zero maintenance.”
Often when we think about grass, it’s in the context of a lawn, sporting field or expansive park areas, and Sir Grange Zoysia can certainly be used in these applications. But its areas that we wouldn’t traditionally adopt grass where Sir Grange is truly providing an alternative floor covering and solution for troublesome landscaping areas.
Safe landing assured with Sir Grange Zoysia
Sir Grange is great in areas that are difficult to get to for maintenance purposes and can tolerate high wear once established. The reason this turf requires less mowing is due to it having a very slow growth pattern and limited height of growth. Sir Grange will grow until it reaches a certain height (about 15 to 20cm). After that, it virtually stops growing vertically and looks fantastic. This makes Sir Grange the ideal solution for public parks and playgrounds, council verges, roadsides, sloping areas, sporting applications like golf courses and in the home lawn and play areas just like this one.
Available Australia wide
When purchasing your Sir Grange Zoysia lawn, make sure you are dealing with a genuine Lawn Solutions Australia turf supplier.
You can find the contact details of these suppliers near you here.
Turf Talk is suitable for all turf professionals, from turf growers to landscapers, golf courses and sports ground curators, to government and related industry organisations.
Turf Talk is here to share with you the latest information on the turf industry, the exciting developments in turf research and to keep you up to date with everything you need to know about turf.
For any enquiries, submissions or to subscribe to either our digital edition or mailing list to receive a hard copy, please contact us at the following:
Celebrating Excellence, Innovation, and Camaraderie in the Turf Industry
Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) proudly hosted its highly anticipated Global Turf Conference and Awards Dinner in the beautiful Tweed Heads, New South Wales. This year’s conference was truly global, with esteemed guests and speakers from the UK, USA, and Southeast Asia converging to share insights and expertise. As the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, the conference offered an incredible opportunity for LSA’s national network of accredited turf Members to learn, network, and be inspired by an impressive array of speakers.
The conference kicked off with a warm welcome on Monday, 31st July, with a canapes and drinks welcome function. The event was graced by industry partners, whose support played a pivotal role in making the conference a resounding success. Among LSA’s long-standing Platinum partners, Husqvarna Australia stood tall, renowned for their pioneering gardening and lawn equipment that has been taming the wild since 1689. Similarly, Trimax Mowing Systems left attendees amazed with their innovation in producing industry-leading commercial mowing equipment.
Industry Partners at the Forefront
LSA’s collaboration with a range of industry partners has been vital in advancing the turf sector. Partners such as Greenway Turf Solutions, Finlease, Nuturf, Firefly Automatix, ICL Specialty Fertilizers, Turf Biosolutions, Syngenta, Living Turf, Equipment Solutions, Envu, STRI, AusGAP, and Lawn Lovers contributed significantly to the conference’s success.
Event Overview
The two-day conference, held on 31st July and 1st August, was packed with a blend of entertainment, insightful business content, and thought-provoking sessions from both local and international guests.
Keynote Speakers
Andrew Daddo was our MC for the event, the celebrated Australian television personality, delivered an engaging opening keynote, sharing his genuine interest in the turf industry and captivating the audience with his own lawn experiences.
Gavin Rogers, Lawn Solutions Australia Director and CEO, reflected on LSA’s achievements, future goals, and the collective impact they aim to achieve in the years to come.
The conference featured an esteemed lineup of speakers from around the world.
Jonathan MacDonald, a strategic changemaker, award-winning author, and keynote speaker, shared valuable insights into change, digital transformation, and mindset. Jonathon provided some big-picture assessments of what it takes to create success in our businesses but also provided some really direct and tangible advice that could be taken on board and actioned.
Brandon Eubanks from Patten Seed Co./Super-Sod (USA) highlighted their journey of growing the business to 10 turf production facilities and over 20 retail stores, providing the supply of turfgrasses across several US states. Super-Sod is arguably the largest turf production company in the US, with production and harvesting capacities unmatched in the US, but quite possibly the entire world.
Dr Ambika Chandra, a leading researcher from Texas A&M University (USA), showcased her role in breeding warm-season turfgrass species for various applications, particularly the ones brought to Australia through LSA’s collaborations. We were so pleased to have Dr Chandra with us here in Australia, with a range of newly developed buffalo grass species from Dr Chandra’s program currently being under assessment here in Australia.
Dr Christian Spring, the lead scientist at STRI (UK), revealed the institute’s extensive services, including stadium designs, sports turf R&D, and consultancy, emphasising the quality of sports turf engineering. Dr Spring has an impressive resume as a self-professed ‘turf geek’, where he gets to be involved in the scientific aspects of preparing and maintaining world-class sports turf surfaces like those featured at facilities like Wimbledon and Wembley Stadium in the UK.
Scott Rowe, the Open Spaces Manager at Shellharbour City Council, shared his passion for creating quality open spaces within budget constraints, with turf playing a pivotal role. New and improved varieties like Sir Grange Zoysia and TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda have provided solutions in his council region that save their teams time and ultimately allow them to allocate their resources more efficiently.
Brad Burgess, the founder of Sports Turf Solutions (STS), presented his journey of setting up successful turf farms and sports field construction businesses in Southeast Asia. Brad has supplied new and improved zoysia varieties like Sir Grange Zoysia, to some of the world’s best golf courses in the region and continues to adopt best practices for creating highly sustainable and low-input golf courses.
Simon Hutton, a leading figure in the Sports Turf Industry from Tillers Turf (UK), showcased his vast experience in turf farming, supplying turf and maintenance services to most of the top stadiums and sports across the UK. Referred to as the ‘UK Turf Master’, Simon started his career at a very young age and continues to grow his impressive resume of projects and innovations within his sector of the UK turf industry.
Tommy Dean, the renowned American comedian, provided a light-hearted yet insightful take on the cultural differences between Americans and Australians, bringing laughter to the audience. Tommy has featured at three Lawn Solutions conferences now, with his comprehension and assessment of our industry providing plenty of laughs to everyone in the crowd.
Lawn Solutions Australia invites a range of turf industry guests each year to the conference and this year we invited the very best of those who represent lawns in Australia on social media. In a testament to the growing influence of these lawn enthusiasts, LSA invited top representatives from Australian Lawn Fanatics AUSLF, Lawn Tips, The Aussie Lawn, and Lawn Care Australia. These “Lawnfluencers” (a term I’m sure many of them are still becoming comfortable with) have significantly contributed to online lawn communities, offering valuable insights and expertise.
The conference culminated with the LSA Awards night, recognising outstanding achievements and dedication of LSA Members and their teams. The awards celebrated excellence in various aspects, setting high standards for the industry across the country.
The Lawn Solutions Australia Global Turf Conference 2023 was an unforgettable event that brought together the global turf community in a spirit of camaraderie, excellence, and innovation. The conference’s impact will undoubtedly resonate within the industry for years to come, as LSA and its Members continue to adopt and seek out innovation, foster collaboration as a network, and continue to set the standard for the turf industry and the future of Australian lawns.
Australia’s Favourite Lawn is Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo Grass
Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo Grass is considered one the best buffalo grass varieties in Australia due to its numerous desirable characteristics and it’s proven track record for success. Here are some reasons why Sir Walter DNA Certified is so highly regarded:
‘It’s DNA Certified’: Sir Walter DNA Certified is a specific strain of buffalo grass that has been carefully selected and tested to ensure genetic purity and quality. The DNA certification guarantees that the grass you receive is authentic and meets strict standards.
Adaptability: Sir Walter DNA Certified is known for its adaptability to various climates and growing conditions across Australia. It can thrive in both hot and cold regions and has good shade tolerance, making it suitable for a wide range of environments.
Drought Tolerance: This buffalo grass variety has excellent drought tolerance, allowing it to withstand periods of water scarcity. It has deep root systems that help it access water from deeper soil layers, making it more resilient during dry spells.
Low Maintenance: Sir Walter DNA Certified is low maintenance compared to other grass varieties. It requires less watering, fertilising, and mowing, making it an attractive choice for homeowners seeking a low-maintenance lawn.
Soft Texture and Aesthetic Appeal: The grass blades of Sir Walter DNA Certified are soft to the touch, providing a comfortable lawn surface for walking and playing. It has a vibrant green colour and forms a dense, lush turf, enhancing the overall visual appeal of the lawn.
Weed and Pest Resistance: Sir Walter DNA Certified exhibits good natural weed and pest resistance, reducing the need for chemical interventions. Its dense growth habit also helps to suppress weed growth.
Established Reputation: Sir Walter DNA Certified has been available in the Australian market for many years and has gained a strong reputation for its performance and durability. It has been extensively tested and is supported by a national network of licensed growers and suppliers.
It’s important to note that while Sir Walter DNA Certified is widely regarded as an excellent buffalo grass variety, the “best” choice for your particular area ultimately depends on your specific location, climate, and personal preferences. Consulting with your local Lawn Solutions Australia Member and considering your specific needs will help you make an informed decision for your new lawn.
What is the best buffalo grass? Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo Grass.
Did you know Sir Walter has reached a sales milestone in the Australian turf industry? Sir Walter has passed the 100 million metres sold mark, an achievement no other buffalo grass or grass has ever achieved! This makes it the greatest selling grass of all time, further solidifying it’s position as Australia’s best buffalo grass. Read more about this milestone here.
Turf Talk is suitable for all turf professionals, from turf growers to landscapers, golf courses and sports ground curators, to government and related industry organisations.
Turf Talk is here to share with you the latest information on the turf industry, the exciting developments in turf research and to keep you up to date with everything you need to know about turf.
For any enquiries, submissions or to subscribe to either our digital edition or mailing list to receive a hard copy, please contact us at the following:
Did you know there are over 5,000,000 square metres of TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda now proudly displayed in thousands of Australian homes?
This is a truly incredible milestone for a turf variety that has only been available for just over 3 years now in Australia.
To put this into perspective, if you laid this much TifTuf turf in a line it would be able to go from Brisbane, to Sydney, then to Canberra before heading across to Adelaide and then all the way across to Perth. That is one hell of a road trip!
The Birth of TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda
TifTuf was created at the University of Georgia in their world-famous turf breeding program based in Tifton, Georgia. TifTuf was hand-selected out of almost 30,000 other hybrid grasses and was assessed over a 25-year period before being released.
Further testing was then undertaken in Australia where TifTuf also outperformed all other available couch grasses in trials conducted over several years. With this success, TifTuf was released to the Australian market exclusively through the Lawn Solutions Australia national network of turf suppliers.
Since this release, TifTuf has continued to grow and grow in popularity. It’s incredibly drought-tolerant, and hard-wearing and makes for a highly attractive lawn for a range of climates. These superior traits have led to the grass being referred to as the ‘Alpha Grass.’
It’s so drought tolerant that it’s the only grass to be awarded the Smart Approved Watermark for water efficiency. So, it’s a ‘Smart Grass’ too!
The Importance of turf certification through AusGAP when it comes to new and improved varieties like TifTuf
When new grasses like TifTuf are released, it is so important that the genetic makeup of the grass is maintained. This ensures that the grass stays true to type and maintains the superior characteristics that make it so amazing. This is why the Australian Genetic Assurance Program for Turfgrass, known as AusGAP, is so important. TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is AusGAP Certified, which means all suppliers must adhere to the strictest of production standards and are regularly audited to ensure their grass maintains its genetic purity. TifTuf is the only hybrid couch grass in Australia to be AusGAP Certified. Just another significant reason why TifTuf stands above all other grasses in its category.
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is still a new variety in the Australian turf world and to achieve so much success in such a short amount of time is unparalleled. We can’t wait to see what TifTuf will do in the coming years.
To celebrate this milestone, Lawn Solutions Australia has brought together three of the most respected lawn-loving, landscaping gurus that Australian television has produced for a new TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda Commercial. The new ad features current brand ambassadors Jason Hodges and Charlie Albone, plus former ambassador for Sir Walter (another hugely successful LSA turf variety), Nigel Ruck. You can check it out on the Lawn Solutions Australia YouTube Channel here.
For more information on this special collaboration or TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, please get in touch with Lawn Solutions Australia.
Lawn Solutions Australia is excited to announce the upcoming release of a brand new turf grass variety – Zoysia Australis!
Zoysia Australis is a new breed of zoysia japonica and is like no other zoysia we have seen before. It’s Zoysia Redefined.
Lawn Solutions Australia is continually researching and developing new strains of turf to find grasses that offer real points of difference. Zoysia Australis is the perfect example of a grass that offers unique traits and characteristics unlike any other, which is why we are so excited we are now able to launch this incredible new variety.
Zoysia Australis is the zoysia for Aussie families and we can’t wait to share it with you all.
Zoysia Australis has a medium texture, blue/green leaf, has superior wear tolerance and recovery when compared with other zoysia and is a great alternative to other commonly available warm season grasses.
Medium leaf / Average width 4-5mm – Mid-dark green
Zoysia Redefined
Zoysia Australis is tough and hardy, providing a zoysia solution for Aussie families that can go in a wide range of areas. It can stand up to the stresses of a family and pets and has shade tolerance to thrive where other grasses falter.
Full sun to heavy shade (minimum 3 – 4 hours direct sunlight per day).
Suitable for all types of soil, but free draining soils recommended.
Can be mown as low as 10mm or left unmown.
Zoysia Australis has some unique qualities when it comes to the changing of the season and during dormancy can even develop a beautiful red hue.
The Zoysia for Families
Zoysia Australis looking sensational ready for harvesting
Key traits:
High shade tolerance
High Wear Tolerance and recovery for a zoysia grass
Soft medium leaf
Versatility in a range of conditions and climates
Fast establishment
Good colour (green/blue)
Strong rhizome growth
Deep root system
Less mowing requirements
Disease resistant
Zoysia Australis Foundation Plot
Bred by the World’s Best!
Zoysia Australis was bred at the world famous University of Georgia, Tifton Campus by Dr Brian Schwartz. Dr Schwartz is renowned as the scientist behind the release of the highly successful TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. Zoysia Australis arrived in Australia back in 2018 with a range of other elite zoysia grasses. After extensive trials in a range of conditions and applications, Zoysia Australis was selected for commercial release. Zoysia Australis offers significant benefits and a real point of difference from the other turf varieties available to consumers.
Stolon and leaf structure
Independent Australian Trials by World’s Leading Turf Research Institute
In a recent independent trial conducted by the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) ‘Screening new Zoysia turfgrasses under Australian conditions‘, Zoysia Australis showed some exceptional qualities.
For speed of establishment, Zoysia Australis (cultivar ZJ-19-017) was one of the fastest cultivars to reach establishment in the first 12 months of evaluation reaching 95% of establishment.
Zoysis Australis also showed exceptional speed of recovery after spring renovation.
These results demonstrate the unique characteristics that Zoysia Australis has, traits that are not normally associated with zoysia grasses.
If you like the idea of zoysia grass, but the existing offerings don’t provide the characteristics you need, Zoysia Australis may just be what you are looking for.
Zoysia Australis is currently being grown in a number of locations, with availability anticipated in the coming months.
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