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Types of Grass – Couch and Buffalo

There is nothing better than an area of lawn in your garden and the most popular choices in Australian households are couch or buffalo.  But which one is right for you?  Read on to learn more about the characteristics of these grasses.

Couch Grass

Couch grass is a hardy grass that can be used in many domestic applications.  Generally speaking it is a softer textured grass, with a finer leaf.

Greenlees Park couch is a semi-dwarf couch that grows horizontally, forming a very firm surface.  It is hardwearing and has excellent heat tolerance, as well as being able to retain its colour in winter.  However, it does require regular fertilising and moving, and it does not tolerate shade very well.

Santa Ana couch is a lovely blue green in colour and has a fine leaf.  It loves warm conditions so it is ideal for lawns that have a hot, north facing position.  It’s great for use in high traffic areas and it can tolerate smog, pollution, and salty soil.  It also needs less water than other grasses but it does need to be fertilised in order for it to grow as well as it can.

Wintergreen couch is a medium to low density lawn that grows in filtered sunlight and can be used for most things around the home.  It is budget-friendly and durable, being very heat and drought resistant.  It retains its colour throughout the winter months and is resistant to both pests and disease.  However, it does need fertile soil to grow well.

Buffalo Grass

Buffalo grass is resistant to extreme conditions, being able to tolerate both cold and drought conditions.  It is a good choice for a lawn if you are looking for a grass that provides uniform cover and also looks great.  It prefers low to moderate levels of water and good garden drainage. 

Palmetto buffalo is a tough, soft leafed grass that is available Australia wide. It has excellent winter colour, and when established, can generally out-compete weeds.  Palmetto performs well in full sun, yet thrives in shaded areas where other grasses fail.  It only needs two to four hours of direct sunlight.  While no grass is able to survive in complete shade, Palmetto performs better than many other types.  It is drought resistant because of its large, deep root system, and because it uses water efficiently.

Sapphire soft leaf buffalo has the same performance as other types of buffalo but it has a finer texture.  It grows quickly, recovers quickly from wear and also has good winter colour and a deep root system.  Because sapphire buffalo has a very tight mat, it leaves little room for weeds to grow.  It also has less thatch than other varieties of buffalo.

Sir Walter is one of the most famous types of buffalo and it is drought resistant, works well in hot climates, and is very hardy.  It tolerates shade well and maintains its colour for longer than other buffalo species. Because it is the softest buffalo, it is ideal for children to play on.  Sir Walter is less likely than other grasses to grow into the garden beds, and does not require as much mowing as other types of grass.

Shademaster buffalo, as the name implies, is great for shaded areas, as it has a broad, soft leaf.  It is the most cost effective of all the buffalo grasses and it provides a thick ground cover.  Because it is so dense, it inhibits weed growth.  Shademaster also grows quickly, meaning that it recovers quickly from wear and tear.

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