Matilda Soft Leaf Buffalo Turf Supplier, Direct from the Farm

Around Londonderry, many homes sit on larger blocks where kids, dogs and visiting vehicles all share the lawn, and the ground can swing from dusty in January to soggy after a wet spell. Over in North Richmond, older homes are often framed by established trees and neighbouring rooflines, so parts of the yard only see the sun for a few hours. In both suburbs, a lawn needs to cope with patchy light and steady use while still feeling soft enough to sit on.

That is where Matilda earns its place. When you order from us, we start by asking how much sun each part of your yard receives, how the space is used and what soil sits underneath. If Matilda is the right fit, we cut it on our farm for your chosen day and deliver it or have it ready for pick-up. You can read more about the variety itself on our Matilda Soft Leaf Buffalo turf page, and we can also quote our team to lay it for you.

Two things push many Hawkesbury homeowners toward a soft leaf buffalo. The first is shade. New two-storey homes, tall fences and mature gums cut the hours of direct sun that reach the lawn, and sun-hungry grasses thin out and go patchy as a result. Matilda can thrive with as little as 3 to 4 hours of direct sun, which opens up side yards and areas beside the house that would otherwise struggle.

The second is winter. Cold air drains onto the low ground around the river, and frosty mornings are common through the cooler months. Couch and Kikuyu usually go dormant or turn a straw colour in those conditions, which leaves a brown lawn until spring. Soft leaf buffalo holds its colour better, so a Matilda lawn tends to stay greener while neighbouring couch has faded.

If your yard has deep, all-day shade, we may suggest Shademaster instead, which is up to 85% shade tolerant. We will give you an honest answer either way.

Matilda is an Australian-bred soft leaf buffalo, one of three soft leaf buffalo varieties we grow alongside Sir Walter and Shademaster. Like Sir Walter, it can thrive with as little as 3 to 4 hours of direct sun each day. It holds its colour better than couch or Kikuyu through frosty winters, which suits families who want a green lawn all year.

Fresh Matilda typically weighs around 15 to 25 kg per square metre depending on moisture, so plan your vehicle or delivery accordingly. Once it arrives it should be laid the same day, especially in hot weather. In warm conditions it usually starts rooting within about two weeks, provided the ground has been loosened, topped with underlay soil, levelled and kept well watered for the first few weeks.

Soil varies a lot across the district, and it affects how quickly new Matilda settles in. Around Londonderry, lighter sandy ground drains fast, so new turf can dry out in a hot week if watering slips. Many North Richmond yards sit on heavier clay that compacts easily, especially where builders have driven machinery across the site, and roots struggle to push down into that hard base.

The fix in both cases starts before the turf arrives. Loosen any compacted soil, spread a quality underlay soil and level the surface so water does not pool in low spots. On sandy ground, the underlay helps hold moisture around the new roots. On clay, it gives them a softer layer to grow into while the base below is opened up.

Then lay your Matilda on the day it arrives and water it regularly for the first few weeks. Our turf preparation guide walks through each step in more detail.