Grass Types And All Essential Grass Information

Bermuda Grass

Recommended Use: Best applied to hot, dry or tropical areas - recommended for landscaping, golf courses, sport fields, parks and recreation areas - ideal for homes with children and pets. Can take more wear than most other grasses and stays healthy. Should not be sown in shady areas as it requires full sun. 

Temperature Tolerance: Excellent heat tolerance. Poor cold hardiness.

Drought Tolerance: Highly drought Tolerant. Also responds to irrigation in dry periods. If not irrigated, it will go dormant. 

Mowing: Mow regularly to 1-2 inches for a good lush, green lawn. 

Fertilizer Requirements: Does not require much fertilising at all. Fertilise 1 or 2 times a year, spring and autumn, with a fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.

Disease, Weed & Insect Tolerance: As it is a prolific grower, it can compete with weeds and is usually hardy against disease and insects. 

Centipede Grass

Recommended Use: Good general purpose grass for lawns. Very popular as its maintenance requirements are low. Can take up to roughly 60% shade during the day. Not very tolerance to wear. 

Temperature Tolerance: Good grower in full sun. Not so tolerant to lower temperatures. 

Drought Tolerance: Centipede grass is sensitive to drought. Luckily a fast recovery rate allows it to return to full health quickly. If not irrigated, it will go dormant.

Mowing: Mow regularly to 1-2 inches for a good lush, green lawn. 

Fertilizer Requirements: Does not require much fertilising at all. Fertilise 1 or 2 times a year, spring and autumn, with a fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.

Disease, Weed & Insect Tolerance: Aggressive enough to compete with weeds, reducing the need for chemical controls. Minimal disease and insect problems that can be chemically controlled.

Fine Fescue

Recommended Use: Used a lot for back yards. It is slightly tolerant to the shade but recommended to have mostly sun. Can take average wear but will not recover well from severe wear.

Temperature Tolerance: Due to the thin blade, it can survive in colder and hotter temperatures

Drought Tolerance: Very good drought tolerance and if not irrigated, it will go dormant.

Mowing: Mow regularly to 1-2 inches for a good lush, green lawn. 

Fertilizer Requirements  Does not require much fertilising at all. Fertilise 1 or 2 times a year, spring and autumn, with a fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.

Disease, Weed & Insect Tolerance: Aggressive enough to compete with weeds, reducing the need for chemical controls. Minimal disease and insect problems that can be chemically controlled.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Recommended Use: Needs a lot of sun and must have irrigation maintained. Can withstand medium wear and recovers quickly.

Temperature Tolerance: Thrives in cool temperatures and will tolerate very cold winters.

Drought Tolerance:  Moderate drought tolerance and if not adequately irrigated, it will go dormant. 

Mowing: Mow regularly to 1-2 inches for a good lush, green lawn.

Fertilizer Requirements: Does not require much fertilising at all. Fertilise 1 or 2 times a year, spring and autumn, with a fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.

Disease, Weed & Insect Tolerance: Most new varieties of Kentucky Bluegrass have a higher disease tolerance. If insects or weeds are appearing, chemicals can be used when well established.

Ryegrass

Recommended Use: Ryegrass is best sown in areas with cool temperatures and moist environments. It is tolerant to shade and can withstand moderate wear with great recovery. 

Temperature Tolerance: Excellent cold tolerance and will be fine in heat as well.

Drought Tolerance: Very good drought tolerance and if not irrigated, it will go dormant.

Mowing: Mow regularly to 1-2 inches for a good lush, green lawn.

Fertilizer Requirements: Has low to medium fertiliser requirements. Fertilise 1 or 2 times a year, spring and autumn, with a fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.

Disease, Weed & Insect Tolerance: Most new varieties of Ryegrass have a higher disease tolerance. If insects or weeds are appearing, chemicals can be used when well established.

Tall Fescue

Recommended Use: Tall Fescue is a tough lawn ready for wear and recovers well. Prefers full sun but can withstand a bit of shade.

Temperature Tolerance: Excellent heat tolerance. Not as cold hardy but will still bear with the temperature.

Drought Tolerance: Very good drought tolerance and if not irrigated, it will go dormant.

Mowing: Mow regularly to 2-3 inches for a good lush, green lawn.

Fertilizer Requirements: Has low to medium fertiliser requirements. Fertilise 1 or 2 times a year, spring and autumn, with a fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.

Disease, Weed & Insect Tolerance:  As it is not as aggressive as other grasses, chemicals can be used to kill off weeds. 

How To Plant A Zoysia Grass Lawn

• Zoysia lawn is a perfect option for you if you live in a warm area that experiences common droughts. As Zoysia Grass is very thick, it is commonly used on golf courses for fairways and tees. This is because it allows the ball to sit up high on the grass and not in it.
  
  When planting Zoysia Grass, there are several different options for new growth. You can either grow it from seed, sod or plugs and as it is a slow grower, plugs are used most often.
  
  It is essential to use a good quality top soil or lawn mix when planting as it will promote new growth and help your lawn get off to a great growing start. After applying seed, sod or plugs, it is essential to keep the area well watered to allow the grass to grow and adapt to its new environment.
  
  When the grass reaches normal mowing height, you can cut it down to 2-3 inches. This is the preferred height for Zoysia Grass. Fertilising or not catching the grass when mowing will promote growth and feed the lawn.
  
  
  When the weather cools down, Zoysia Grass will go dormant and commonly brown until the growing season starts. If you live in a cool area, we don't recommend using Zoysia grass!
  

  
  

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How To Cure Your Craving For A Perfect Lawn - Breaking Lawn

In this modern age we are addicted to keeping our lawns lush and green. The amount of money, water, fertiliser and time we put into our lawns is incredible when they are actually very illogical. 

An Emmy winning journalist and comedian Charlie Berens has created a video that covers the basics (and not so basic) of the impracticality of having a lawn. If you hate your grass, this video is for you! 

See more information about care for your lawn HERE.

Lawn Mowing Without a Catcher

Mowing your lawn can be a real hassle when always having to catch and empty the grass every few minutes.

Hand Mower With a Catch

A large amount of people don't realise that not bagging your lawn clippings is actually very beneficial to your lawn. While it has its setbacks such as thatch, it's definitely worth it when looking for a luscious green lawn.

By not catching your lawn clippings, you're doing your grass a favour and returning the nutrients back into the soil to be reused. This is great for your lawn as it means it acts as a natural fertiliser and moisture holder on those hot dry days throughout summer.

Methods For Dethatching A Lawn

Dethatching Rake.

Lawn dethatching has become more and more popular over the years. Especially now that a large portion of people are not catching the grass they mow. By not using a catcher in a lawn mower, the cut grass acts as a fertiliser as well as a moisture sponge. This allows the grass roots to reuse nutrients and make the most of the moisture on a hot day.

Ride on mower with dethatching attachment.

As the thatch strangles the lawn, it also puts a lot of stress on the grass making it more susceptible to insect damage and disease.

There are a few different ways to dethatch a lawn, however, most commonly used is a unpowered dethatcher. While this is cheap, it certainly isn't the fastest way.

Petrol Dethatcher.

Petrol or electric dethatchers are becoming more and more popular with time. Not only are they fast and efficient, but the new technology over the years is incorporating other tools such as aerators into them as well.