How to choose the right lawn for your home

Empire

Slower growing than buffalo, couch or kikuyu, this zoysia variety needs less mowing. It has soft, fine leaves for a quality lawn.

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Kenda

Fast-growing so quick to repair, Kenda is a kikuyu variety. Takes sharp frosts but best in full sun.

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Matilda

Non-itchy, soft-leafed buffalo with highwear resistance and good winter colour retention.

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Nara

A native zoysia variety, Nara has lovely fine foliage and the slower growth of the species (requiring less mowing). Less winter discolouration than buffalo.

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Santa Ana

For those who like a short lawn, this fine-leafed couch variety is a great choice. Takes traffic and heat but needs full sun.

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Sapphire

A soft-leafed buffalo variety with finer foliage appearance, tolerates up to 50 per cent shade and has an unusual blue-green colour.

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Sir Walter

A versatile and popular soft-leafed buffalo developed in Australia for sun or shade and good dryness tolerance. A big seller here.

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Tall Fescue

A popular lawn that's good for cooler conditions. Tolerates up to 60 per cent shade and non-running habit means it can't invade garden beds.

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Village Green

A vigorous and hardy new generation of kikuyu that remains active through the year. Excellent self-repairing ability and dryness tolerance with minimal winter discolouration.

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Lay down the law- on turf!

Looks
Grasses have coarse or fine leaves. Buffalo and kikuyu have coarse leaves (though there are finer but not fine- leafed types available). Couch, fescue and zoysia have fine leaves. Fine leaves are usually regarded as the more attractive lawn, but coarser leaves are more hard-wearing.

Wear
Fast growing running grasses, such as buffalo, couch and kikuyu, have the best tolerance to heavy use.

Turf varieties
There is no substitute for local knowledge, so always consult your local turf specialist before selecting a lawn for your garden.

Let the sun shine on!
All lawn grasses love sun. No lawn will grow well with an average of less than four hours full sun a day, and more is better. In shade, use paving or groundcover. Grass such as buffalo 'Palmetto' tolerates up to 65 per cent shade if not subjected to heavy wear.

In too much shade, lawns

1. Grow thinly and lankly (so mow them higher)

2. Are weaker and won't tolerate wear (so keep off them)

3. Are more susceptible to weed infestation (so be vigilant).

Turf or seed?
Turf is the most expensive option for creating a new lawn, but the cost may be worth it for the value of an instant lawn that can be used within two or three weeks. Seed is extremely cheap, but you have to keep off the sown area for a month or more and ensure it's always evenly moist. Even and correct coverage of seed is very important as is choosing the right variety for your climate.

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