A beautiful and well-maintained lawn gives your home an inviting feeling and completes its overall look. There are many types of grass out there that have different characteristics and features. If you’re looking to grow your own lawn, it’s important to know which grass type suits your tastes and personal preferences.
Some grasses are tolerant to drought, while others need to be watered frequently. Even the leaf blades are different because some are narrower and some are wider. Here we’ll be discussing the most commonly used grass types, find out their key differences, and help you decide which grass type fits your needs perfectly.
The Four Most Popular Grass Types Used on Lawns
Most lawns are grown from one of these commonly used grass types. These are couch grass, buffalo grass, kikuyu grass, and zoysia grass. Each have their own characteristics that appeal to different homeowners depending on how they want their lawn to look and feel.
1. Buffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)
Buffalo grass is a popular choice for most owners since it’s very durable and is quite easy to maintain. It is characterized by having a wide leaf blade that’s resistant to wears and tears which is perfect for outdoor activities with your children. The only downside is that it feels scratchy because it’s not as soft as other grass types.
The good thing is that soft-grown Buffalo grass is available which means that you’ll get the wide blade and the durability without the scratchiness of a regular Buffalo grass. There are plenty of varieties of Buffalo grass like Palmetto, Sir Walter Buffalo grass, Matilda, and Sapphire, with Sir Walter being the most common for many homeowners.
Soft Buffalo grass is great if you have any pets who love to roll around on grass lawns. The soft and broad leaves are a good choice if your children play outside on your lawn.
Buffalo grass characteristics:
Wide leaf blades
Durable and wear-resistant
Easy to maintain
Gives your lawn a fuller look
Great for outdoor playing with children and pets
2. Couch grass (Cynodon dactylon)
Couch grass is a type of grass that’s commonly used in wide open areas such as parks and sports fields. It’s the perfect grass type if you’re looking to cover a large surface area because it grows fairly quickly. Couch grass is characterized by having a soft leaf that’s relatively thin. Expect to regularly mow and maintain couch grass since the fine leaf blades are vulnerable to weed growth and pests.
Couch grass is also perfect if you’re looking to setup your backyard garden. The only downside is that the high level of maintenance means you’ll be spending most of your time mowing it down and examining it to control weed growth.
Couch grass characteristics:
Suitable for growing lawns on large surface areas
Soft and fine leaf blades
Requires high levels of maintenance
Vulnerable to weed growth and pests
3. Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum)
Kikuyu grass is another popular grass type that many homeowners choose because of its vibrancy and durability. It’s characterized by having a light green colour that’s pleasing to the eye. The leaf blades are also soft to the touch. Kikuyu grass is also durable and can resist wear and tear just like the Buffalo grass. It’s a perfect year-rounder grass especially in the summer time where the grass comes to life.
The downside to Kikuyu grass is its relatively high maintenance. Mow it often to help keep it nice and tame since it grows quickly as well. Kikuyu grass maintains its light green colour until colder climates strike in early winter. Maintenance is relatively high when it comes to Kikuyu grass so you need to mow it often to keep it nice and tame.
Kikuyu grass characteristics:
Vibrant light green colour
Soft leaf blades
Requires regular maintenance
Durable and wear-resistant
4. Zoysia grass (Zoysia)
Zoysia grass requires the least maintenance out of all the grass types listed here. It completely blankets your lawn with thick grass that makes it hard for weeds to grow and foster. It is characterized by its thick, durable leaves that are incredibly drought resistant and is capable of handling heavy foot traffic.
Zoysia grass has a light to medium green colour and gives your lawn a fuller look. Because it grows into a thick carpet of grass, thatching is common on Zoysia grass. Dethatching it during spring time is highly recommended to maintain proper growth. If you’re looking to grow a lawn that’s dense, durable, and requires little maintenance, then Zoysia grass is a perfect option for you.
Zoysia grass characteristics:
Dense and thick
Resistant to damage
Requires little maintenance
Prone to thatching
Additional factors to consider when choosing a grass for your lawn.
Budget – Setting a budget for which grass you’re going to use for your lawn is very important. All the grass types used here usually cost anywhere from A$8 – A$12 per square meter. The only difference is the cost of maintenance. Grass that requires frequent maintenance will cost more to keep it in good condition and free of unwanted weed growth.
Appearance – Grass with wide blades will give you a fuller, more dense look as opposed to thin, soft ones. Colour is a matter of personal preference so choose one that fits your personal tastes. Kikuyu grass gives off a vibrant colour while Buffalo grass or Zoysia grass keeps it relatively tame with a light to medium green colour profile.
Maintenance – Some grass types are soft and thin, while others are thick and wear-resistant. Soft, thin grass types look better, but require higher maintenance to look good. Thicker grass types are less appealing, but they are durable enough and require minimal upkeep.
Conclusion
A beautiful lawn adds to the exterior look of any home and it all starts with choosing the correct grass type. Consider the colour, the upkeep, and the feel of the grass to help you decide which one you should grow. Keep these four grass types in mind and make sure to take note of its characteristics so you can grow a gorgeous lawn outside your home. If you are interested in a lawn mowing service in Perth, feel free to call Mowing Perth or request a quote.
