A lawn is a long term part of the garden. Once the turf is down, changing it means digging it all up again. Picking the right grass at the start saves water, money and a lot of frustration.
There is no single best lawn for every home. The right choice depends on your climate, your soil, how much sun the area gets and how hard it will be used. This guide walks through the main questions to ask before you buy turf or seed.
Start with your climate
In Perth, warm season grasses are the usual pick for a waterwise lawn. The Be Groundwater Wise guide to waterwise lawns is an initiative of the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. It advises choosing warm season and drought tolerant lawn species that suit Perth’s warm conditions. These grasses grow strongly in the hotter months.
The Queensland Government lists buffalo, couch, kikuyu and zoysia as grasses suited to that state’s climate. Its waterwise lawn advice describes them as water efficient. It also suggests choosing a grass suited to your soil type when planting for the first time. These four names come up again and again in Australian gardens.
In a 2020 UWA article, Professor Maria Ignatieva from the UWA School of Design named kikuyu, couch and buffalo as turf suited to Perth’s climate. She also points out that lawns are good for recreation. They can help cool the area around a home in summer.
Think about sun and shade
Shade is where many lawns fail. Professor Ignatieva notes that grass does not grow well under shady trees because it needs sun. In those spots she suggests a groundcover instead. One example she gives is the native Running Postman, which handles full sun to part shade.
Some grasses cope with shade better than others. A 2006 Northern Territory Government agnote written for NT conditions described buffalo as tolerant of shade. It rates kikuyu as moderately shade tolerant. It says zoysia (Manila grass) tolerates moderate shade, especially with some direct sun during the day.
If a patch only gets a few hours of sun, be realistic. Even a shade tolerant grass will struggle under dense trees. A paved area, mulched bed or groundcover may suit that corner better than turf.
Consider how the lawn will be used
A backyard used for football and dogs needs a different grass to a front lawn that is mostly looked at. Wear tolerance and recovery speed both matter. The NT agnote says kikuyu is very tolerant of heavy use because it recovers quickly. It describes zoysia as having high wear tolerance but slow recovery from damage.
Fast recovery has a downside. Grasses that spread quickly can also creep into garden beds. A firm edge between lawn and beds makes upkeep easier. If you are still planning the layout, our guide to landscape construction covers the order of work in a garden build.
Coastal and salty sites
Homes near the coast face salt spray and sometimes salty bore water. The NT agnote describes zoysia as having good salt tolerance and suited to exposed seafront areas. It says buffalo tolerates salt spray. It also describes green couch as highly tolerant of saline conditions.
Soil and water
Soil type affects how well any grass performs. Professor Ignatieva explains that Perth soils are mostly sandy and often repel water. This is because the city sits on ancient sand dunes. She recommends a quality soil wetter on lawns.
The Be Groundwater Wise guide gives more detail on lawn care. It suggests applying a soil wetting agent at least three times a year. It recommends aerating the lawn once a year in spring. It also suggests a slow release fertiliser every two months in the warmer months.
How you water matters as much as which grass you choose. The Queensland advice is to water less often but for longer, which encourages deeper roots. Signs of overwatering include bright green patches, toadstools and moss. If you are curious about the water itself, our article on Perth water quality and home plumbing covers what comes out of the tap.
Timing your watering helps the lawn use what you give it. Professor Ignatieva suggests watering early in the morning or late in the afternoon. She says watering in the hottest part of the day is a major cause of wasted water. She also reminds Perth gardeners to water only on their allocated days and to repair any breaks in the irrigation system.
Mowing height and care
The way you mow can make a good grass look poor. The Queensland Government suggests keeping grass at least 3 centimetres tall. Longer grass shades the roots and reduces evaporation from the soil. Sharp mower blades also help, because a clean cut loses less water than torn grass.
Professor Ignatieva makes a similar point. She warns against cutting the lawn too short. A lawn mown too low struggles and then needs more fertiliser. It is better to find the right height for your grass and stick to it.
Planning around paths and new homes
A lawn rarely sits on its own. It meets paths, patios and garden beds. Our guide to choosing paving for a landscaped garden can help you plan where hard surfaces end and turf begins. Getting those lines right early makes mowing and edging much simpler.
New home owners often inherit a lawn they did not choose. It can be worth living with it through one summer before deciding to replace it. That gives you time to learn where the sun falls and where water pools. Our tips for moving house can help with the early weeks in a new place.
Frequently asked questions
Which grass types are common in Australian gardens?
Buffalo, couch, kikuyu and zoysia are widely grown. The Queensland Government lists all four as water efficient for its climate. In Perth, kikuyu, couch and buffalo are commonly recommended.
Can I grow a lawn under trees?
Grass needs sun, so dense shade is hard on any lawn. Buffalo and zoysia cope with some shade better than many grasses. In deep shade a groundcover or mulched bed is often a better option.
How short should I mow my lawn?
The Queensland Government suggests keeping grass at least 3 centimetres tall. Cutting too short stresses the lawn. The right height can vary by grass type, so check the advice for your variety.
Why does water run off my lawn in Perth?
Many Perth soils are sandy and repel water. A soil wetting agent helps water soak in. The Be Groundwater Wise guide suggests applying one at least three times a year.