Last Updated on December, 2024
The perfect grass can make your yard look lush and inviting, but the wrong choice can leave you with a mess.
If you’re struggling to choose the perfect grass for your lawn, you’ve come to the right place.
This article explains the best lawn varieties in Australia, their features, and some practical tips for choosing the right one.
Quick Summary
- Buffalo, Zoysia, Kikuyu, Couch, Bermuda, Fescue, and Kentucky Bluegrass are the main types of grass suitable for Australian lawns, each with specific climate, maintenance, and usage characteristics.
- When selecting a grass type, consider climate compatibility (warm or cool-season grass), soil type, intended use (foot traffic), maintenance needs, and budget.
- Growing grass from seeds is cost-effective but slower, while laying turf offers immediate results. Prices vary depending on grass type, with Kikuyu as a more affordable option and Zoysia as a premium choice.
Best Lawn Grass Types in Australia
Below are some of the best grass types for your lawn:
Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass
Sir Walter, Matilda, Sapphire, and Palmetto are the four types of soft-leaf buffalo grass available in Australia.
It’s a warm-season grass with broad, soft leaves and a rounded appearance.
Buffalo grass self-repairs and tolerates warm weather, pests, and diseases well. Hence, it requires minimum maintenance.
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia is another warm-season grass with dense turf, pointy leaf tips, and fine to medium sized leaves. It resembles the Queensland Blue Coach, but has a slightly wider leaf blade.
Zoysia grass has exceptional drought tolerance and requires very little maintenance.
It grows slowly, so it doesn’t require regular mowing. Zoysia is a great grass for home lawns near ponds and coastal areas as it’s salt tolerant.
Kikuyu Grass
Kikuyu grass is an economical option for Australian lawns.
It’s strong, has a high wear tolerance, and grows well in warm and cooler climates. However, it’s ideal for full-sun areas. Therefore, it’s the most common grass on golf courses and horse racing tracks.
Kikuyu grass remains lush green all year round. It grows fast, and requires frequent mowing and high maintenance.
Bermuda Grass
Bermuda is one of the warm-season grasses that require very low maintenance.
It self-repairs, requires low water levels, and shows high shade tolerance. Moreover, Bermuda grass grows well in different soil types and controls soil erosion.
It also helps to maintain an attractive lawn throughout the year. Due to the above reasons, Bermuda is a popular grass for sports fields.
Couch Grass
Couch grasses have fine, pointed, soft leaves and require relatively low maintenance.
It grows very fast. Hence you must mow it once a week during warm months and fertilise it during autumn and winter.
Due to its deep root system, Couch grass has high drought tolerance and is strong enough for high foot traffic.
Fescue Grass
Fescue grass is a cool-season grass that grows well in both summer and winter.
It can tolerate drought conditions as it’s less temperature-sensitive than other turf varieties.
Tall fescue doesn’t require much maintenance, and it shows low shade tolerance. Fescue can withstand moderate foot traffic only, so it’s ideal for your home yard but unsuitable for dog runs.
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass is another cool-season grass known for its deep blue-green colour.
It grows well in cold months and becomes dormant during droughts.
Kentucky grass requires regular maintenance. You must mow, add fertilisers, and water it frequently. Remember, this is not a heavy foot traffic grass.
Benefits of Lawn Grass
Below are some benefits of lawn grass:
- Improves air quality.
- Traps stormwater runoff.
- Improves soil structure by making it open and loose.
- Keeps the environment cool.
- Increases your property’s value.
How to Choose the Right Grass for Your Lawn?
Consider the below factors when choosing the best grass type for your new lawn:
- Climate: Warm-season types of grass grow well in warm climates, undergo winter dormancy, and resist extreme heat.
Meanwhile, a cool season variety grows well in cold climates and cannot withstand heat.
- Soil type: Most grass species grow well in 5.5-6.5 pH soil. Some grass varieties can grow in any kind of soil.
- Purpose: If you are going to use your lawn for sports or dog running, you need to choose a grass variety that can withstand heavy foot traffic.
- Maintenance: To maintain a healthy lawn, you must follow lawn care activities like watering, mowing, and fertilising.
Some grass types require higher maintenance than others. It’s better to choose a grass type with minimum maintenance.
- Cost: The price of all grass varieties is not the same. Some grass types are more affordable than others. Choose a lawn variety that suits your budget.
Is it Better to Grow Grass From Seeds or to Lay Turf?
Seeds are less expensive than turf. Seed is a good option if you have a large lawn but a limited budget.
However, it will take time, and you must provide all the requirements and proper care.
If you have enough money and need instant results, lay turf. Laying turf is much easier than planting seeds.
A turf costs around $7 per square metre for Kikuyu grass and $26 per square metre for high-quality lawn types such as Zoysia.
Contact a local grower for the costs and more advice on laying turf.
Relevant guides:
Summary
Buffalo grass, Zoysia, Couch, and Kikuyu are the most popular warm-season grass types in Australia, and Kentucky and Fescue are cool-season grasses.
Consider your budget, climate, soil type, maintenance level, and purpose when choosing a grass type for your lawn.
Maintain your lawn regularly for a fine texture.
