Selecting the Right Turf Grass For Your Lawn Areas

Selecting the correct Turf Grass for landscaped areas around your home can be a challenge. The main factor that needs to be considered when choosing the turf or lawn type for your garden areas is Sunlight.

Sunlight (or to the contrary, shade) is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting the turf grass for your home.

In the Australian climate (and particularly here in Sydney), the main Warm Season turf grasses available to homeowners are Durban Grass, Buffalo (or St Augustine Grass as it is known in North America), Zoysia, Couch (or Bermuda Grass as it is known in North America) and Kikuyu.

Now, in order of shade tolerance you have Durban Grass (which can just about tolerate full shade without too much trouble), then next you have Buffalo (which can tolerate a fair bit of shade but needs a few hours of sunlight each day), then Zoysia and Couch (they can handle some shade but need around 6 hours of sunlight each day, and finally you have Kikuyu (which hates shade, and needs full sun to perform well all year round).

Once the above information is considered, then you can choose the turf grass based on your preference for colour and aesthetics.

We have seen garden situations where the predominant turf is Kikuyu, however, because the garden plants have grown since the original landscaping was completed the lawn areas have become covered extensively with shade. Consequently, the under performing Kikuyu lawn has become an eyesore for the homeowner.

The advice we give the homeowner is to create more sunlight for the lawn areas by trimming and pruning garden plants, or alternately, replace the kikuyu lawn with a more shade tolerant Lawn grass.

For more specific information on Lawn and Turf Grass Types go to: http://www.LawnGreen.com.au/what_turf_grass_is_that and http://www.LawnGreen.com.au/lawn_green_s_waterless_weed_and_feed_lawn_care

And while you are there please register online for Lawn Green's Free Report "The 5 Secrets To A Great Looking Lawn."