When to give new turf its first mow in south-east Queensland, how to run the tug test, and how to step the mower down safely for Sir Walter, Empire Zoysia and Wintergreen couch.
When to mow new turf in south-east Queensland: usually 2–3 weeks after laying in the warmer months, or as early as 10–14 days in peak summer. Winter-laid turf can take 4–6 weeks. Mow only once it passes the tug test, with the mower on a high setting, removing no more than a third of the leaf.
These timings are a guide for home lawns in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Whatever the calendar says, the turf decides: if it fails the tug test, wait a few more days.
| Variety | First mow (laid Sep–Mar) | First mow (laid Apr–Aug) | Mowing notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Walter buffalo | About 2–3 weeks (10–14 days in hot, humid weather) | About 4–6 weeks, or when it needs it | Start high and step down slowly. Keep shaded areas higher. |
| Empire Zoysia | About 2–3 weeks | About 4–6 weeks, or when it needs it | Slower growing. Recommended mowing height 25–50 mm once established. |
| Wintergreen couch | About 2–3 weeks, sometimes sooner in summer | About 4–6 weeks, or when it needs it | Grows quickly in warm weather and likes frequent mowing in full sun. |
Our new turf care plan covers the full first six weeks, including watering, the first mow and fertilising. Not sure which variety you have or want? Compare them on our turf varieties page.
New turf is ready to mow when the roots have knitted into the soil underneath. Mow earlier and the mower can drag the rolls or pull up loose pieces. Don’t mow at all in the first week.
Grab a handful of leaf near the edge of a roll, or gently lift a corner, and pull upwards. If the turf lifts easily or you can feel it peeling away from the soil, it has not rooted yet. If it holds firm and you can feel the roots resisting, it is ready. Test a few spots, including the edges.
Turf is usually delivered with a short, even cut. Once it is rooted, wait until the leaf has grown noticeably taller than the height you plan to cut to, so you are only taking off the top third. Sir Walter and couch put on height quickly in warm weather. Empire Zoysia grows more slowly, so by week 2 or 3 it may have rooted but barely need a trim. If so, leave it until it has grown enough to need one. Our Empire Zoysia care guide covers mowing it once it is established.
New lawns are watered heavily, so the soil underneath can stay soft. Walk across it. If your shoes sink, the soil squelches or you leave deep footprints, skip watering for a day or so and let the surface firm up before you bring the mower out. Our new turf watering schedule shows how to taper watering over the first 4 weeks.
Sir Walter buffalo is one of the most popular home-lawn turfs in south-east Queensland. Laid between September and March, it usually passes the tug test at around 2–3 weeks, and in a hot, humid Brisbane summer it can be ready at 10–14 days. Laid in the cooler months, give it 4–6 weeks and go by the tug test rather than the date. See the best time to lay turf in South East Queensland for how the season changes rooting.
Buffalo has a broad, soft leaf and grows in a dense mat, so a first cut that is too low will scalp the runners and leave yellow patches. Start with the mower on a high setting and come down gradually over the next few mows. Sir Walter handles shade well, but in shaded parts of the yard, leave it higher permanently: the extra leaf helps it make the most of the light it gets. Our guide to shade-tolerant turf for Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast explains how much sun each variety needs.
The first cut tidies the lawn without stressing new roots, so it should be higher than you will mow long term. The long-term height is about density, colour and weed resistance. Mower settings vary between brands, so measure with a ruler the first time rather than relying on the numbers on the dial.
First cut on a high setting. Over the next three or four mows, step down to your normal home-lawn height. Keep shaded areas, and any part that cops heavy summer heat, on the higher side.
Empire Zoysia has a finer leaf and grows more slowly than couch, so it needs mowing less often. Make the first cut at the top of its range, then settle into its recommended mowing height of 25–50 mm. Growth slows right down in winter, when it may hardly need mowing at all.
Wintergreen couch grows quickly in warm weather, so it is often ready for a trim early. It suits full sun and can be kept shorter than buffalo, but only if you mow often. If you mow less, keep it higher so each mow never takes more than a third of the leaf.
Rather than dropping straight to your target height, lower the mower a notch at a time. This is the pattern we suggest for turf laid in the warmer months.
| Mow | Timing (warm months) | Mower setting |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | When it passes the tug test | A high setting, taking off no more than the top third |
| 2nd | About 5–7 days later | One notch lower |
| 3rd | About 5–7 days later | One notch lower again |
| 4th | About 5–10 days later | Your ongoing height (for Empire Zoysia, within 25–50 mm) |
In winter, stretch the gaps between mows to match growth. If the lawn has barely grown, don’t mow it.
We have grown turf at Woodford since 1994 and supply lawns right across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. The weather has more say over the first mow than anything else.
Once the lawn is established, our year-round lawn care plan explains how mowing changes through the seasons.
New turf usually recovers if you give it time.
If patches are still thin or discoloured a few weeks later, the cause may be something other than mowing. Our page on grubs, diseases and weeds can help you work out what is going on.
Ease back on watering in the day or two before the first mow so the soil is firm and the leaf is dry, then water as normal afterwards. By this stage most new lawns are moving from daily watering to deeper, less frequent soaks. The Starter Care & Maintenance Plan sets out watering week by week and explains when to apply a slow-release starter fertiliser (around weeks 4–6). For more common questions about new turf, see our turf FAQs.
Don’t mow in the first week. After that, the tug test decides. If the turf lifts or peels back when you pull on it, it is too early, whatever the date.
For turf laid in the warmer months, all three are usually ready at about 2–3 weeks, and Sir Walter and Wintergreen can be ready at 10–14 days in peak summer. Empire Zoysia grows more slowly, so it may need longer before it needs a cut. For turf laid in winter, allow 4–6 weeks or longer for all three.
Never remove more than a third of the leaf height in a single mow. If the lawn is 60 mm tall, cut no lower than about 40 mm. Cutting off more than that stresses the grass and can scalp it.
In warm SEQ weather, new roots usually start growing into the soil within the first week or two, and most lawns are firmly rooted by 2–3 weeks. In winter, rooting is slower and can take 4–6 weeks or more.
Light foot traffic, such as walking across to mow or water, is generally fine once the turf passes the tug test. Keep kids’ games, pets and heavy use off it until it is well established, usually around 4–6 weeks.
In the warmer months, about every 5–10 days once you start, following the step-down schedule above. In winter, mow only when the lawn has actually grown.
Yes, once it passes the tug test and has grown enough to need a cut, which may be 4–6 weeks or more after laying. Keep the mower high and don’t mow just because of the date.
Catch them for the first few mows so clumps don’t smother the young turf. Once the lawn is established and you are mowing regularly, short clippings can be mulched back in.
Keep the Starter Care & Maintenance Plan handy for the first six weeks. If you’d rather hand the mowing and feeding over, our Brisbane lawn care services can take it from here. Turfing another part of the yard? The Turf Calculator works out how many square metres you need and what it will cost, or we can quote turf installation for you.
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