Have you often wondered what the differences are between different turf types, or wanted to know how to identify what type of grass your lawn is? In this blog, we take a look at some of the most common types of grasses that are found in Australia and examine their identifying features.
How do I identify the different grass varieties?
Soft Leaf Buffalo
Soft-Leaf Buffalo have a broader leaf blade, are highly durable, easy to maintain and new varieties are soft to touch in comparison to older scratchy varieties.
Buffalo grasses will also have seed heads very similar appearance to asparagus. They usually grow at the same height or just above your lawns leaf height.
Key traits:
- High shade tolerance
- Weed Resistant
- Low maintenance
Sir Walter DNA Certified Soft Leaf Buffalo
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia have a fine leaf blade but is slightly wider than couch, tapering along the blade to a tip. It also has a dense growth providing it with a high wear resistance.
Zoysia seed heads will either be white or purple in colour. They will feel ‘tough’ to touch and will come from one stem with small flowers that hold the seeds.
Key Traits:
- Very high shade tolerance
- Very high drought resistance
- High wear resistance
Sir Grange Zoysia & Zoysia Australis
Hybrid Bermuda (Hybrid Couch Grass)
Hybrid Bermudas have a very fine leaf, are quick growing and highly invasive. Requires regular mowing, an ideal sporting surface as it can be cut quite short.
Couch seed heads are green to purple in colour and will grow on a stem above the grass level. At the top of the stem, there will be a cluster of spikes (usually two to six spikes) that hold the seeds. These spikes are around two to five cm long.
Key Traits:
- High drought resistance
- Very high wear resistance
- High maintenance
Kikuyu Grass
Kikuyu have a medium leaf width, soft bright green blade and love full sun.
Kikuyu produces pollen sacs that rise above the leaf blade on fine white filaments, which are often mistaken for spider webs. These filaments typically appear in small clusters of 2–4 flower spikelets. The seeds themselves develop within the leaf sheath, so they aren’t visible from the outside.
Key traits:
- Highly invasive
- Economical
- High maintenance
Fescue
Fescue have a fine deep green blade, are more frost tolerant being a cool season variety and are slow to establish.
Key Traits:
- Non-invasive
- Low drought tolerance
- High water requirements
How do I know which grass variety I need?
Lawn Solutions is here to make the selection process easier. Choose the 3 most important turf characteristics you require for your area and we will provide a list of options available to your suburb. Check out your options here.
We can even provide you with a quick and easy quote from turf suppliers in your area for the variety you require. Get a quote now.
For turf suppliers in your area click here.
