Discover expert tips to find the perfect lawn variety for your garden and lifestyle needs.
A lush, well-maintained lawn does more than beautify a home—it adds significant street appeal, a factor that real estate agents say can increase property values by drawing in potential buyers. Beyond aesthetics, lawns provide practical benefits. A thick, healthy covering of grass helps cool the surrounding environment, absorbs excess rainwater, and reduces soil erosion, all while remaining the go-to space for children’s play and family gatherings.
Which grass for you?
COUCH (pronounced Kooch)
KEY FEATURES:
In the 1960s and '70s, hybrid couch grass dominated golf courses and lawn bowls, becoming the go-to choice for homeowners seeking durable, indestructible lawns. However, the extensive maintenance required—weekly mowing and rolling by greenkeepers—led to a decline in its popularity for residential lawns, making way for ST-85 buffalo grass.
After 40 years of research in the United States, ‘TifTuf,’ a hybrid couch, was introduced to Australia in 2014. It quickly became the top choice for sports fields and home lawns alike.
Today, turf experts herald this hybrid couch as a game-changer for home lawns, thanks to its exceptional drought resistance, which minimizes water use. This grass boasts a lush, fine texture, 50% shade tolerance, high wear resistance, and moderate maintenance requirements. Notably, it is recognized with a Smart Approved Water Mark for its water efficiency.
"The right lawn can transform your home and garden, elevate your outdoor space, and create an inviting first impression."
KIKUYU (pronounced kye-ku-you)
KEY FEATURES:
Kikuyu was first imported to Australia in 1919 from the Belgian Congo, primarily intended as a feed source for cattle in tropical agricultural regions. Its fast growth and vigorous nature made it popular for home lawns, especially once rotary mowers and weedkillers could keep it in check. Kikuyu’s ability to stay green in winter and tolerate light shade added to its popularity, but its invasive roots became a problem for keen gardeners, often overtaking gardens and veggie plots. This led to its decline in domestic use, though it still thrives in suburban sports fields and large parks.
Now, a new Kikuyu variety, 'Eureka,' has been developed, making it better suited for both warm and cool climates. Its hard-wearing, drought- and frost-tolerant characteristics, alongside its vigorous recovery and dense growth, make it ideal for spaces where resilience is key.
BUFFALO (pronounced buffa-lo)
KEY FEATURES:
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Moderate wear and tear
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50-75% shade tolerant
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Broad-leaf texture
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Low maintenance
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High drought tolerance
In the 1840s, buffalo grass arrived in Australia from the United States aboard the SS Buffalo, giving rise to its common name. It quickly became a popular choice for home lawns across various climates due to its coarse texture, resilience in full sun, light shade, and drought tolerance.
By the 1990s, plant breeders began refining the grass to address its flaws—particularly its coarse blades, poor tolerance to shade, and vulnerability to chemical weed control. This led to the development of softer, more versatile buffalo hybrids. These new varieties offer improved shade tolerance, a finer texture, and better resistance to pests and disease while maintaining drought resilience.
‘Sir Walter’ buffalo is known for its durability, low maintenance, and high shade and drought tolerance. It is pet-friendly and has a deep green color. ‘Sapphire’ buffalo is one of the softest buffalo grasses, featuring a medium broad leaf. It is also low maintenance and retains great winter color. ‘Palmetto’ has a broader leaf that can tolerate high-traffic areas. It is a low-allergy turf that works well in both hot and cold climates
ZOYSIA (pronounced zoy-zeea)
I first encountered zoysia grass in temple gardens in China and Japan, where it stood out for its unique appearance. Growing in rolling, irregular mounds between 3–15 cm high, this lush, lime-green grass was more commonly used as a decorative ground cover rather than a traditional lawn.
When zoysia arrived in Australia in 2018, it initially found similar uses in contemporary landscapes. However, the introduction of new hybrid varieties quickly shifted its purpose. These newer, “no-mow” varieties are particularly slow-growing and ideal for embankments and lightly shaded areas around mature trees. Additionally, zoysia is known for being low maintenance, adding to its appeal. Zoysia 'Nara', developed in Australia, grows faster, is drought-tolerant, and stays green in hot weather. 'Sir Grange' thrives in both full sun and shade, requires less mowing, and demands less fertilizer than most other grasses, making it an excellent choice for modern lawns.
"A thick, healthy lawn cools the surrounding environment, absorbs excess rainwater and reduces soil erosion."
Top Tips to Keep Your Lawn Lush, Green, and Healthy
FEED YOUR LAWN
Every 2–3 months with a complete, preferably organic-based, fertilizer.
RAISE MOWER BLADES
In winter, allow the grass to grow longer to protect the roots. Lower the blades in summer for a closer cut and mow frequently to maintain a neat appearance.
WATER YOUR LAWN
Once every two weeks to a depth of around 5–10 cm during summer. This encourages deep root growth. Avoid shallow, frequent watering, as it keeps roots near the surface, making the lawn more susceptible to drought.
SELECT A TURF
Choose a variety that suits your maintenance preferences and desired appearance.
Did you know?
Mervyn Victor Richardson introduced the two-stroke petrol Victa lawn mower in 1952. This invention revolutionized lawn care, with millions sold by 2008. Today, the rise of quieter, battery-powered electric mowers has made maintaining the quintessential home lawn even easier.
Seed vs turf
Starting a new lawn from seed or turf depends largely on your budget and the time you’re willing to invest. Seed is the more affordable option, with couch lawn seed costing around 50 cents per square metre, while fescue blends are closer to $1.50 per square metre due to their heavier sowing rates.Cool-season grasses like fescue generally require more seed for proper coverage. Seed can take up to 12 weeks to establish and requires regular watering for successful germination and growth.
It's important to note that most seed available is for common lawn types rather than specific varieties. For instance, while you can purchase regular couch seed, premium varieties like 'Santa Ana' or 'Tiftuf' are only available as turf rolls. Lawn rolls cost between $10–$30 per square metre, depending on the lawn type.
Although seed is the more economical option, it still requires the same level of preparation as turf, including soil leveling, drainage solutions, and careful watering. Turf, on the other hand, provides an instant lawn but can be costly and physically demanding to lay, especially over large areas. For this reason, many homeowners opt for a professional service to handle the preparation, supply, and installation for a hassle-free result.