While the term grass is often thrown around as a catch-all term for the turf you see almost everywhere you go, the simplicity of the name betrays quite a complex and varied species of plant. There are many different types of grass all over the world and even within Australia. Dozens of types can be bought from your local home and garden shop, and there are even more out there in the wild that simply cannot be reproduced in large quantities. With all that in mind, it is important that the types of lawn you choose can actually survive your climate, so here are three things to consider when you are in the market for some grass.
Cold Or Warm Weather Grass
Grass can fall into two categories when it comes to the type of temperature it likes to live in: cold or hot weather grass. Cold weather grass generally has thicker blades to catch more sunlight and can survive even in the shadiest regions of your garden with little to no problems. Hot weather grass has thinner blades and is often more comfortable underfoot, but it has explosive growth which can put some owners off. There are a handful of types of grass that can survive both, such as buffalo, but generally, it makes sense to choose a grass that fits your climate and not risk getting one that would be out of its element.
Commercial Or Residential
Commercial grass either needs to be decorative, like the manicured grass you see out the front of a high-end business, or built extremely tough, such as those used in horse racing, sports and so on. Zoysia and Kikuyu are two types of lawn that are commonly used in high-traffic areas, with both able to have spot repairs done in the event the ground gets churned up. Residential grass should generally be on the lower maintenance side of the ledger, as no one really wants to spend every weekend mowing. Bermuda is always a classic choice for homes, but you might find one more to your liking in store. Just remember to ask how quickly it grows and how prevalent weeds are in it.
Shade
Shade might not seem like a big deal, but it can make or break your garden. Most people will wonder why they have 'dead zones' where grass never seems to take, and generally, these are due to shade. If you want the grass to grow in the shade, you need to pick a grass that doesn't need a lot of light. These types of grass generally grow slower and have thicker blades (similar to the cold weather variants mentioned above). Most ryegrass variations will do well in the shade, as will the aforementioned zoysia.
For more information about different types of lawn, reach out to a local turf supplier.