Spring is the perfect time to establish a new lawn or renovate your existing one. With warmer weather and the chance of rainfall, it’s a great time to establish a new lawn so it can have a strong root system before the summer heat arrives. But with so many varieties available, how do you choose the right one for your yard?
There are a few key questions you need to ask yourself before selecting a variety for your yard:
How much sun does your area receive?
Not all lawn varieties are suited to areas with shade. Calculating how many hours of direct sunlight your intended lawn area will receive and choosing a variety based on that is the best start. Don’t forget to take into account sunlight levels throughout different seasons.
See here which variety is best for shade.What was the main use for the lawn area?
If you just want a decorative lawn that’s nice to look at, you don’t need to worry. However if you have active dogs or kids that will be regularly playing and using the area, you need to pick a variety that is hardier and will repair quickly.
See here which variety is best for your lawn use.Do you like to spend time mowing your lawn?
Mowing the lawn is another task on our often endless list of chores. If mowing the lawn every 5 days sounds like too much, you might want to consider a lower maintenance variety.
See here which varieties require more and less mowing.Will your lawn be close to garden beds?
One thing you don’t want in your beautiful garden beds is an invading lawn. Some varieties can be harder to contain than others.
See here for less invasive lawn varieties.Are you looking for a drought tolerant lawn?
Short on water or just don’t want to add more costs to your water bill? Choosing a drought tolerant variety will save you money and ensure that your yard is perfectly suited to the South Australian climate.
See here our most drought tolerant varieties.
You can have a go at answering these quick questions at our online lawn quiz here and you’ll be given a recommendation for your area based on the answers provided.
Alternatively, our lawn consultants are happy to chat through our lawn varieties and your area to recommend the best one for you.
What grass type should I choose for a shaded area?
All grass does require some sunlight to survive. When choosing a turf variety, it is important to know how much sunlight the area receives. This is so you can choose the most suitable grass type.
Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo is one of the best performers when it comes to shaded areas in your garden. This variety can thrive in areas with as little as 3-4 hours of direct sunlight per day.
TifTuf Bermuda is also a great option if you have around half the day in shade, it needs around 5 hours of direct sunlight a day to thrive.
What is the most hard-wearing grass type?
If your lawn will receive a lot of traffic from pets, kids, or backyard games, choose a grass with a high wear tolerance. It is not only important to consider how much wear the lawn will receive now but in the future as well.
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is a great performer in high wear areas. It has a fast-repairing nature, so when it does get damaged by pets and kids your lawn will be able to repair itself fast.
Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo is a great performer for many backyard footy games! It can withstand high wear and will stay soft and lush for you to enjoy.
Another turf variety that has can stand up to high wear conditions is Eureka Kikuyu. Eureka Kikuyu is a vigorous grower and can stand up to a wide range of conditions. It has a fast-repairing nature, so when it does become damaged it is able to bounce back quickly.
What is the most low maintenance lawn?
If mowing regularly sounds like a chore to you, it’s best to choose a variety that grows a bit slower and is therefore easier to manage.
Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo is a slower growing variety that is still perfectly suited to family homes in South Australia. It is still hardy and self-repairing but won’t require as much regular mowing due to its slower growth habit.
If you really don’t want to manage a fast growing lawn, we recommend to stay away from kikuyus and couches like Eureka Kikuyu and TifTuf Bermuda.
Which grass is best around garden beds?
If you don’t want your lawn to enter your garden beds, it’s best to pick a slower growing and easier to manage variety.
If you still would like to use your lawn and it will have some traffic on it, Sir Walter DNA Certified is a great choice. A slower growing variety that is easier to manage due to its above ground runner system.
If your lawn is simply for aesthetics and will only have light foot traffic, consider RTF Tall Fescue. As a beautiful boutique cool season lawn, RTF will only grow where you lay it, so no creeping into other areas or garden beds. This is a great option for low maintenance gardens in cool climate areas.
What is the most drought tolerant grass type?
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda is the first grass in Australia to be Smart Drop Certified due to its drought tolerant qualities. TifTuf needs a fraction of the water other varieties require to get established. It can maintain a green colour under drought conditions where other common couch grasses will fail.
Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo too has a high drought tolerance and can stand up to the hot Australian climate. On hotter days, its broadleaf will curl up to help retain moisture. When the lawn does receive its next good water, the leaf will roll out again.
Speak to a lawn consultant
We understand it can be tricky to pick the best lawn variety for your garden, so don’t hesitate to chat to our lawn consultants who can help point you in the right direction.
Call us on 08 8577 8826 or email lawn@theturffarm.com.au
