Maybe you’ve moved into a new home, and it has a beautiful, established lawn.  Of course, now it’s yours to keep it that way!  Or, maybe you’ve lived in your home for a long time, but have made yourself a new year’s resolution to put some extra effort into creating a beautiful lawn.  Either way, it’s really important to know what type of grass you have before you launch into fertilizing or even routine maintenance.   Why? because different turf types have different requirements when it comes to mowing, feeding, watering and even wear and tear.
With so many grass varieties out there on the market, how on earth are you supposed to know what yours is?  Don’t lose heart – there are ways and means to determine what’s what!
There are two main categories of grasses, and most Australian lawns fit into one or the other: cool and warm-season grasses. Warm-season grasses do best in temperatures of between 20 – 32°C, while cool-season varieties prefer to grow in temperatures of between 15 – 25°C.  So, the first thing to do is identify your local climate – this is going to be vital in determining which varieties of turf do well in your local area.
Warm Season Grasses
Well suited for climates such as Western Australia, Queensland and NSW.
As a group, these are the tough, hardy grass varieties that have better tolerance to heat, drought, and regular mowing.  This category includes grass varieties such as Couch, Kikuyu, Nara zoysia, and Buffalo.  They can be propagated from runners, although by far the most effective and time-efficient method of establishing these lawns is by laying instant turf.Â
Warm-season grasses typically grow with runners above the ground (known as stolons), and a large proportion of varieties also have runners underground (underground runners are known as rhizomes).  Warm-season grasses with both stolons and rhizomes have excellent self-repair qualities, which make them the ideal choice for sports fields, public parks and other heavy traffic areas.
Because these lawns appreciate infrequent, deep soakings, there is often little, if any, extra watering required apart from local rainfall.
Cool Season Grasses
Well suited to climates such as the ACT, Tasmania, Victoria, SA and some of NSW.
This category includes grass varieties such as Sapphire Buffalo Grass, Rye, and Fescue. Many of the cool-season grasses can only be grown from seed. Therefore, they require more water and are not so tolerant of wear and tear or frequent mowing.  However, they are generally considered less invasive, and easy to repair, because any bald patches can simply be re-seeded.Â
Your local turf specialist can help when it comes to exactly identifying and recommending treatment programs for your lawn. It’s important to seek professional advice when deciding which lawn care products to use on your grass. After all, your lawn is a living eco-system and it must be treated carefully to maintain optimum health.
The team at River’s Edge Turf are intimately familiar with the different grass varieties and can identify your grass type quickly. Call us today on 02 4579 9009 and talk to one of our friendly staff.
