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Hi @paula24,
Great to hear you’ve just had your soil prepared – that’s an excellent first step. When it comes to choosing grass seed, the best option will depend on how you plan to use the lawn and how much maintenance you’re happy to do.
Kikuyu is a popular choice if you’re after a hardy, fast-growing lawn. It establishes quickly, tolerates wear and tear well, and copes with full sun. It does need regular mowing during the warmer months because of its vigorous growth, but it’s a reliable option for many Aussie backyards.
Couch is another great option, especially if you want a fine-textured lawn. It loves full sun, creates a dense, soft surface, and is ideal if you don’t mind a bit of maintenance – it will need regular mowing and occasional fertilising to keep it looking its best.
If you’re after a low-maintenance, family-friendly lawn with a softer feel underfoot, you might also consider laying buffalo turf instead of seeding. Buffalo varieties like Sir Walter are excellent for sun and part-shade areas, but they are usually only available as rolls of turf rather than seed.
If you can tell us a little more about how you’ll be using the space – for example, whether you have a dog, children playing on it, or if the area will be a regular thoroughfare – we can provide more tailored advice. That said, Kikuyu or Buffalo are generally the hardest-wearing options.
Please let me know if you have questions.
Mitchell
Thank you so much for your response. Property will be rented. Ideally low maintenance evergreen grass would be good. House is in gisborne. Landscaper didnt put fertilizer in soil but apparently he told me doesnt need it that the grass seeds has it in it.
Thanks for the extra details @paula24. Since the property will be rented, a low-maintenance, evergreen option is definitely a smart choice. In Gisborne’s cooler climate, Kikuyu is a good, hardy option as it’s tough and self-repairing, making it ideal for areas that may get some wear and tear. However, it can slow down a little in winter.
It’s also worth noting that while some grass seeds come coated with starter fertiliser, adding a quality starter lawn fertiliser when sowing can give the grass the best chance to establish quickly.
Mitchell
I actually saw these two options on your website. I have attached pictures
Paula
The first one you’ve attached looks like ryegrass @paula24, which is quite different from Kikuyu. Ryegrass establishes quickly, has a nice dark green colour, and is great for cool climates like Gisborne, but it generally needs more maintenance than Kikuyu. It also doesn’t self-repair as well and can thin out over time, so it may need overseeding every year or two to stay looking good.
The second option you’ve found is a lawn repair seed mix. These products are designed for patching and filling in bare or damaged areas in an existing lawn rather than establishing a brand-new lawn. They usually contain fine-bladed grasses that germinate quickly but aren’t as robust or long-lasting as something like Kikuyu.
It really depends on which seed you choose. Ryegrass can be sown now as it germinates well in cooler soil temperatures, making it suitable for late winter and early spring planting. Kikuyu, on the other hand, prefers warmer conditions to germinate successfully, so it’s best to wait until the soil warms up in mid to late spring for reliable results.
Mitchell
It's best to wait for the weather to start warming up, @paula24. Ideally, mid-spring would be a good time
Mitchell
