How Do I Choose the Right Grass?

Key Considerations:

• What’s the local climate like? Do you get regular frosts?
• What type of soil do you have? Is it sandy, or slow-to-drain clay?
• How much sun (or lack of) will the grass get?
• What will you use the lawn for? Will you have kids or pets playing on it?
• How much spare time do you have? Would you rather be doing something else at the weekend?

There’s a lot of variation between grass species; they all have different strengths and dislikes. So, if you think about the questions above while you're browsing through the 'pros and cons' below, it really helps to identify the 'winner' grass that'll suit you best. This will be the prime choice to remain healthy, resilient and stand the test of time.

Pros: Grows all year round, will germinate at temperatures as low as 3°C. Fast germination, establishment and growth. Very resilient, will cope with repeated traffic. Tolerates a range of soil types.

Cons: Better in full sun. Prefers regular fertilising. May need summer watering.

Pros: Contains fertiliser, to speed repair of bare patches and establish grass quickly. Germinates at temperatures as low as 3°C. Fast germination, establishment and growth. Highly resilient, copes with regular traffic. Tolerates a range of soil types.

Cons: Better in full sun. Prefers regular fertilising. May need summer watering.

Pros: Highly resistant to wear & tear. Excellent for high traffic zones and play areas for kids and pets. Fast germination, establishment and growth. Tolerates a range of soil types.

Cons: May need summer watering. Prefers regular fertilising. Best in full sun.

Pros: Highly frost tolerant, best drought tolerance among cool season varieties. Copes with extended wet conditions. Happy in a wide range of soil types, including poorly drained areas. Moderately shade tolerant, but happier in full sun.

Cons: Slow growing, slower to recover from wear and tear.

Pros: Highly shade tolerant, but also happy in full sun. Exceptional frost tolerance. Very attractive fine, soft blades, deep green colour. Maintains colour throughout the year. Still looks great when long, so you can skip a mow.

Cons: May need summer watering. Prefers drier climates. Can struggle with pets or repeated traffic.

Pros: Highly drought tolerant. Excellent coastal grass. Vigorous grower, forms dense, weed-resistant turf. Resilient and self-repairing, will cope with high traffic.

Cons: Frost-sensitive. Goes dormant in winter. Needs regular mowing to keep it looking good. Sowing requires warm weather.

Overview of Grass Types

Conveniently, lawn grasses can be divided into two main groups: Cool Season grasses and Warm Season grasses.

Cool Season Grasses make the most of a temperate or cool climate, looking best during their autumn and spring growing seasons. They are mostly soft, fine-textured grasses with intense green colour; they're quick and easy to establish from seed. They can generally cope with frost, moist soils and low sunlight hours; some species offer excellent shade tolerance. They aren't particularly drought tolerant, so they do need watering during hot summers.

Warm Season Grasses are perfectly adapted for a warmer climate, looking their best in late spring, summer and early autumn. They tend to grow better North of about Hamilton; or in coastal regions with no frost. They're very drought tolerant and hard-wearing, but need plentiful sunlight and warmer temperatures to thrive. These species are slower to establish and tend to go dormant over winter, but during their warm growing season they need regular (and low height) mowing to keep them looking tidy.