When to Use a Turf Cutter
Turf cutters earn their keep whenever existing lawn needs to come up. Typical jobs include:
- Lawn renovation. Removing old, tired, or weed-infested grass before laying new turf.
- New garden beds. Clearing sections of lawn to create garden beds, vegie patches, or planted borders.
- Paving and hardscaping. Preparing the ground for paths, paving, or retaining walls.
- Irrigation and drainage. Lifting turf in clean strips so it can be rolled back after pipe or cable work is finished.
- Lawn transplanting. Cutting healthy turf in one area to lay in another, allowing it to continue to grow rather than go to waste.
- Large-area turf removal. Commercial landscaping, parks, sporting fields, and council jobs where large sections need to come up in a day, not a week.
For a small patch near the back door, a spade might do. For anything bigger than a few square metres, a turf cutter will save hours of labour and deliver a far more even result.
How to Use a Turf Cutter
Using a turf cutter is straightforward, but a few steps make the job easier and reduce the risk of damage to the machine or the operator.
- Soften the soil. If the ground is very hard or dry, saturate it with water the day before to soften it and make cutting easier.
- Mark out the area. Measure the sections you want to remove and mark the edges.
- Set the cutting depth. Adjust the blade to the depth required. Most jobs call for around 25 to 50 mm, enough to get under the roots without digging unnecessarily deep.
- Start cutting. Work in straight lines, letting the self-propelled drive pull the machine forward. Keep a steady pace so the blade cuts cleanly.
- Roll and remove. Once cut, the strips can be rolled up for disposal, composting, or relaying elsewhere.
Good preparation and a steady technique produce clean strips, minimal mess, and a surface ready for whatever comes next.
What to Look For in a Turf Cutter
Not all turf cutters are built to the same standard. When you’re choosing a machine, check for:
- Engine reliability. A Honda engine is the benchmark for this kind of ground care equipment, proven to start easily and run long hours without fuss.
- Low centre of gravity. A low, stable chassis keeps the machine tracking straight and reduces operator fatigue across a large area.
- Vibration-isolated handle. Cutting turf is hard on the hands and arms. A vibration-isolated handle makes a noticeable difference over a full day’s work.
- Adjustable cutting depth. You need to be able to dial in the depth to suit the job, from shallow strips for relaying to deeper cuts for thick-rooted lawn.
- Self-propelled drive. Pushing a turf cutter through hard ground isn’t practical. Self propelled is the standard for any serious unit.
- Solid blade and drive train. The blade and drive system take a heavy load. Quality components last longer and handle tougher ground.
Our Turf Cutter Range
Crommelins supplies Bluebird turf cutters, one of the most trusted names in ground care equipment worldwide. Our two most popular units are:
- 16″ Ings Turf Cutter. A compact, manoeuvrable unit suited to residential and commercial jobs where access and agility matter.
- 18″ Bluebird Sod and Turf Cutter. A larger cutter with Honda engine, low centre of gravity, and vibration-isolated handle. Ideal for contractors, hire fleets, and operators tackling larger sections in a day.
Both machines are self-propelled, built for serious work, and backed by the Crommelins national dealer and service network.
View the full specs for each model on the product pages, or talk to your local dealer for recommendations on which unit suits your work.
