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Understanding what type of lawn you have will help you determine the growing conditions and care required to keep it lush and healthy.
Start by identifying what type of grass you have, which can be a bit of a challenge. Most experts look at the leaf blade to differentiate. Some of the identifying features include leaf width, fold, tip shape (sharp, rounded or boat-shaped) and colours. How they feel to touch (soft or hard) is also useful information. You can also look at how they multiply and spread (above and/or below ground spreading shoots), and even the flower type and seed (if they are seeding).
Most grasses in Australia fit into two categories: cool season or warm season.
As their name suggests, these grasses grow well throughout the warmer months of the year, in temperatures between 20ËšC and 35ËšC. They are suited to warmer regions of Australia, such as New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, which is why they’re also referred to as warm-climate grasses. These grasses will grow in cooler areas, but will discolour and brown in winter. In frosty or on-going cold conditions, patches of turf may die.
All warm season grasses spread via runners or stolons (above-ground stems) that send up new shoots along their lengths. Some varieties also have rhizomes (underground stems) that send up new shoots.
These runners and rhizomes allow the plants to spread, enabling them to ‘self-repair’ and regenerate to cover up wear-and-tear patches, or spread into bare areas. Common warm season grasses include buffalo, couch, kikuyu, zoysia and bahia.
Buffalo is a popular lawn type with broad, flat, dark green or green-blue leaves. Each leaf blade has a V-shape fold in the centre. Older varieties were known for their scratchy, irritating nature, but the newer forms of buffalo are soft to the touch.
Of all the warm-season grasses, buffalo is the most shade-tolerant variety, surviving in areas with three to four hours of direct sunlight a day (60 to 70 percent shade). As for lawn maintenance, it’s slower growing compared to couch and kikuyu, so it requires less mowing in summer.
Buffalo can only be installed as turf rolls or plugs; no seed is currently available. Popular varieties include Sir Walter®, Sapphire®, Prestige®, Palmetto® and Matilda.
Couch is one of the most popular lawns in Australia. (It’s also known as Bermuda grass in the United States.) It has fine leaf blades – finer than other warm season grasses – with a dense growth habit, making it soft and carpet-like underfoot.
It thrives in full sun conditions and, once established, is tolerant of dry conditions. It’s fast growing, spreading via rhizomes and stolons, so will easily self-repair worn patches sustained from wear and tear, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. The vigorous nature of couch grass also means it can creep into neighbouring garden beds, so ensure you control its growth if it’s straying where you don’t want it to grow, and mow regularly in the warmer months to maintain length.
Common couch is available as seed and turf, but hybrid forms and selected varieties are only available as turf rolls. Popular varieties include TifTuf™, Santa Ana and Nullarbor Couch®.
Kikuyu is a deep green lawn with flat leaf blades (4-5mm wide) and pointed tips. Kikuyu is a vigorous grower with strong, deep roots, enabling it to tolerate drought-like conditions once established. This lawn type grows best in full sun and is tolerant of very light shade. Unlike other warm-season grasses, kikuyu retains its deep green colour well into winter. It’s perfect for areas with heavy use, but its aggressive nature means it needs frequent mows in summer. Edges need to be maintained to keep it out of neighbouring garden beds.
Common kikuyu can be installed by seed or turf rolls. Hybrids like Eureka Kikuyu® and Kenda® are only available as turf rolls.
This lawn type is growing in popularity in Australia, thanks to its deep green colour and hard-wearing nature. The leaf blades are fine (slightly wider than couch) and taper to the tips. Originally native to southeast Asia, this grass variety grows in both sun and shade (up 30 to 40 percent shade) and is both drought- and heat-tolerant. It spreads by rhizomes and stolons but is slower growing than most of its warm season counterparts. It is not considered invasive and generally requires less mowing.
Zoysia can only be installed as turf rolls or plugs; no seed is currently available in Australia. Popular varieties include Sir Grange®, Empire™ and Aura.
Bahia isn’t as common as other grass types, but it is an ideal grass for tropical climates. Bahia has long, narrow, bright green blades and a deep root system. Once established, it is tolerant of extended dry periods and prolonged wet soils. It grows best in full sun but is also adapted to growing in shady conditions (up to 50 percent). Bahia is a vigorous grower and requires regular mows to keep it short and contained. This grass type is available as seed.
Cool season grasses are finer in texture than warm season grasses and do not spread or grow laterally (except for the Rhizomatous Tall Fescue). They typically grow in clumps or bunches, and they’re often referred to as ‘bunching grass’. They’re not considered as durable as warm climate grasses, but they can be easily repaired with lawn seed and are highly tolerant of cold and shady conditions. Common cool season grasses include tall fescue, perennial rye, bent grass and Kentucky bluegrass.
This grass is a solid performer in cool climates, retaining its dark green colour year-round. It’s coarsely textured with a deep root system, allowing it to tolerate extended dry periods once established. While it can grow in warmer climates, additional watering may be required during summer to help with heat stress.
Tall fescue grows in upright clumps or bunches and will not self-repair if damaged. However, Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF) has rhizomes, which can spread and fill in bare spots. Tall fescue is available as a major component of most seed blends, where it is mixed with other cool season grasses. RTF is also available as turf rolls.
This cool season grass is highly tolerant of shade, growing well under trees with little light, while retaining its glossy green colour. Perennial rye grass thrives in cool conditions and survives heavy frosts, but it can struggle during the warmer months, especially if grown in warm climates. Watering during the summer months can help with heat stress. This grass variety is a fast grower that requires frequent mowing to maintain a tidy length.
Perennial rye is available as seed and is typically blended with other cool or warm season grasses.
Once you’ve chosen your preferred lawn type, you’ll need to work out the total square metres of the outside area you’re working with. For rectangular and square-shaped yards, multiply the length of the space by the width. However, for irregular shaped areas, you may need to divide your lawn up into basic shapes like a circle, oval or triangle, work out the area of each shape, and then add them up to give you the total area for the entire yard.
Follow these mathematical formulas for the different shapes:
Note: the “major” radius is the longer radius of the oval shape; the “minor” radius is the shorter one.
When ordering turf for squares and rectangles, add five percent to the total. For areas made up of irregular shapes, add 10 percent to the total. These additions will make up for any errors or difficulties in wrapping the turf around bends or corners.
Tip: You can butt the lawn up against a path or driveway, but you may want to leave some room between a hedge or garden beds. Lawns can be invasive and will creep into gardens, so leaving some space and installing garden edging will help keep borders neat and tidy.
Another crucial step in turf preparation is calculating the volume of turf underlay required for your lawn; this is measured in cubic metres. Turf underlay is made up of soil and sand and is the foundation for good lawn growth. You’ll need at least 100mm or 150mm depth of turf underlay (these measurements are equivalent to 0.1 or 0.15 metres). Calculate the square metres of your yard using our tips above, then multiply by the required depth – 0.1 or 0.15 – to determine how much underlay you require.
Check out our wide range of lawn care products for a greener, healthier lawn.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
