What is the Best Grass for Melbourne Homes?

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Understanding the best grass to grow in Melbourne’s ever-changing climate

When creating a beautiful and lush lawn for your Melbourne home, choosing the right type of grass is crucial. With Melbourne's unique climate, selecting a grass species that can thrive in varying weather conditions throughout the year is important. From hot, dry summers to cool, damp winters, Melbourne's climate can present challenges for maintaining a healthy lawn. 

In this blog, we'll explore some of the best grass types for Melbourne homes and discuss how their unique characteristics can help your lawn withstand the demands of the local climate. Whether you're looking for a low-maintenance option or a grass type that will give your lawn a vibrant green colour, we've got you covered.

Turf vs Seeds - Which Should I Choose?

You may wonder whether laying turf or sowing seeds will provide the best backyard grass type in Melbourne. 

When it comes to durability and surviving the tough climate conditions Melbourne sometimes has to offer, we recommend choosing quality turf varieties designed for cool and hot climates. 

Reasons to choose turf:

• Consistent - turf creates an even look without patches or lumps
• Convenience - once you’ve established your turf, it’ll be ready to use
• Variety - choose the type of turf that works for your home 
• Resilience - seeds can be washed away by heavy rain, whereas turf will stay in place regardless of temperature or weather conditions. 

Choosing the Best Grass for Melbourne Lawns 

Finding the perfect grass type for your new lawn may be challenging, especially when you consider the differences between cool and warm season grass varieties. However, Lilydale Instant Lawn provides lawn seed that makes laying turf an easy process. 

Some popular types of grass commonly used to perfect Australian lawns include:  

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo Grass 

Sir Walter Buffalo turf is drought, wear and shade tolerant. This makes it a highly versatile option that can thrive in a wide range of conditions, including Melbourne’s climate during summer.  

• Ideal for the Melbourne climate 
• Requires minimal watering thanks to a deep root system
• Relatively low maintenance
• Extremely drought resistant

TifTuf Bermuda Grass

TifTuf Bermuda turf is a Couch grass is an extremely hardy variety that is perfect for high-traffic areas. This includes sports fields, golf courses and busy family backyards. It is a warm season grass that can thrive under all conditions. 

• Very high drought tolerance
• Excellent turf quality 
• High wear tolerance
• Ideal for Melbourne conditions

Sir Grange 

When looking for cool season grasses, Sir Grange turf is well-suited to a Melbourne winter climate. It thrives in shady areas with partial sun, zero to no traffic, and an irrigation system that keeps it watered. 

• Requires Full sun 
• A vibrant dark green colour 
• Requires minimal mowing
• Low drought and wear tolerance

Eureka Premium VG Kikuyu Grass 

Eureka Kikuyu turf has been uniquely developed to suit the Melbourne climate. It has a strong growth which makes it ideal for high levels of wear, such as in busy backyards. 

• Medium drought tolerance
• Very high wear tolerance
• Low maintenance requirements
• Higher level of winter activity than other Kikuyu varieties

Seasonal Maintenance 

Even the best grass for Melbourne’s changing climate requires seasonal maintenance. Understanding how to get the best out of your grass all year round will ensure your home’s lawn continues to flourish. 

Summer 

Your lawn is most likely to grow actively during summer. Therefore, proper maintenance is required to ensure it produces a vibrant, stunning colour. 

• Regular mowing is required depending on the turf variety you choose. 
• Water your lawn to prevent the turf from drying out - especially on hot days.
• Apply a slow-release fertiliser such as Lawn Solutions Fertiliser or Oxafert

Autumn 

Autumn is a slower-growing and cooler month for most turf varieties. While it no longer requires as much watering, there are still maintenance steps to take to prepare your grass for winter. 

• Increase your mowing height to prepare for winter dormancy. 
• Aerate your lawn to improve nutrient and water consumption during winter.
• Manage shade on your lawn by clearing fallen leaves with a garden rake.

Winter

As your turf enters winter dormancy, the grass will tend to grow less and lose some colour. To keep your garden looking pristine during the cooler climate, there are some things you can do. 

• Reduce watering and mowing your turf.
• Apply Colourguard Plus to improve any colour loss and protect from frost.
• Apply a slow-release fertiliser such as Lawn Solutions Fertiliser or Oxafert 

Spring 

Spring is the perfect time to establish your lawn and install turf in any outdoor area of your property. As the climate is becoming warmer but not too heated, your turf will require regular maintenance.  

• Mow your grass frequently depending on the variety of turf you have installed. 
• Aerate your soil to improve the nutrient and water consumption of your lawn’s roots
• Remove any weeds from the area. 

Finding the best grass for Melbourne and its changing climate is easy when you team up with Lilydale Instant Lawn. From advice about seasonal maintenance to help in establishing your lawn, we’ve got you covered.