Prestige Buffalo Vs Sir Walter Buffalo
There is a changing of the guard in Australia's Buffalo lawn market with the 25 year-old variety Sir Walter being superseded by newer innovations in turf genetics - Prestige ...
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Couch grass is now arguably one of the most popular lawns in Australia and well-known by most homeowners for being a highly attractive ornamental variety.
Couch breeds like OZTUFF®Couch & Stadium Sports Couch offer homeowners a hard-wearing and tough lawn that is ideal for coastal areas and poolside due to its high salt-tolerance.
Previously Couch grass had a reputation for being a weed but through extensive breeding, this lawn has many key benefits to offer.
Couch is a warm-season grass that is now known for its drought and wear tolerance, softness underfoot, greener colour and water efficiency. With a fine leaf blade that produces dense growth, Couch grass is ideal for a wide variety of uses and copes well with high wear situations such as backyards and sporting fields.
One of Couch grass’ most favoured features is its natural dark green colour and ability to maintain good colour even in poorer quality soils compared to all other turf varieties. The shade tolerance of Couch lawn is about 10%, which is similar to Kikuyu grasses. However, Couch lawn thrives and stays alive for longer than other turf varieties in hot, dry conditions.
Aussie home-owners choose a couch grass lawn for a variety of reasons:
The robust deep-rooted system of Couch grass gives it an advantage over other varieties during drought and stressful conditions.
Once Couch lawn has dried-off due to lack of water, it is one of the first turf varieties to easily recover.
The variety’s high drought tolerance makes it an ideal choice for areas where water restrictions are commonly imposed.
A hard-wearing grass can tolerate the wear and tear of lots of traffic and quickly repairs when damaged.
Hard-wearing grasses are ideal for families wanting a place for children and dogs to play or where the lawn is used as a walkway.
The ability of Couch grass to develop a moderate thatch layer provides greater wearability and recovery.
Couch grasses extensive deep root system aids in its wear tolerance making it an ideal option for homeowners with kids and pets.
Many homeowners prefer a particular leaf that resonates from childhood or where they have seen turf in different areas such as sports fields or gardens.
Different grasses have different leaf widths, folds, tip shapes and colours which offer different soft to touch underfoot and aesthetic appearances.
The Fine leaf classification is the narrowest of all the leaf types. Couch grasses today have a finer leaf blade than most other turf varieties making it soft to touch and dense underfoot.
The finer leaf of Couch lawn also means there is less water evaporation – another reason it is ideal for hot, dry conditions.
Couch grass dark green colour has seen it stand out compared to other lawn varieties and maintains its colour for longer.
This dark green colour is also maintained even when Couch grass is planted in poor quality soils.
Couch grass is also able to maintain the dark green colour in soils where nutrition is considered inadequate for other lawn varieties.
Couch grasses have the highest salt tolerance compared to most other lawn varieties making it ideal for coastal areas and pool sides.
Salty soils can prevent lawns from absorbing both water and nutrients, however, Couch grass has the ability to cope with low water and nutrients giving it a high salt tolerance.
OZTUFF Couch is the most salt-tolerant Couch on the market and suitable for beachfront properties and pool sides.
myhomeTURF has two top Couch grass varieties that would suit any homeowner:
Read more about each couch variety below.
OZTUFF®Couch – Toughest yet. Nothing outwears Oz Tuff.
This home-bred Couch grass is true to its name and one of the toughest lawns on the market. Its robust deep-rooted system makes it more drought-resistant and wear tolerant than other grasses. OZTUFF Couch is also soft to touch thanks to its fine leaf texture.
Where it grows: OZTUFF Couch is well-suited in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and Victoria. Your local grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Expect to pay: Between $8 and $10 per square metre. To get more OzTuff pricing info, visit our OzTuff information page and get 3 quotes from your local growers today.
Stadium Sports Couch – Life is short, play on Stadium. This Couch grass while know for being a great sport’s Couch variety is ideal for homeowners who need a hard-wearing lawn.
Stadium Sports Couch’s also stays naturally green for longer with low maintenance and fertiliser application. The variety also thrives in warm, humid conditions.
Where it grows: Stadium Sports Couch grows well in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and Victoria. Your local Grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Expect to pay: Between $8 and $10 per square metre. To get more Stadium Couch pricing info, visit our Stadium® Sports Couch info page and get 3 quotes from your local growers today.
As Couch grass has seed heads that are usually only produced during the establishment period or when under stress, the seed is not viable, meaning it will not reproduce in your neighbour’s yard. The unviable seed head of Couch grass, outside of its establishment period, also results in less mowing and edging.
A lawn care & maintenance routine for your Zoysia lawn should include:
Much of the Couch lawn’s growing energy is directed laterally therefore, the lack of upright growth coupled with its fine leaf structure, significantly reduces mowing frequency.
During summer and spring: Mow Couch grass twice a month at a height of about 18mm-25mm.
During winter and autumn: Mow Couch grass once a month (sometimes less) at a height of 25mm-30mm (5mm – 10mm higher in shaded areas).
Newly laid Couch grass requires a deep watering at least once a week.
Once the deep-rooted system of your Couch grass has been established, you can water thoroughly only when needed (for example, when slight wilting is visible).
If you want to learn more about watering, make sure to read out guide to watering a new lawn.
Once your Couch grass is established during summer water every 7 – 10 days (on sandy soils more often) and with much less water in cooler months.
If water restrictions are enforced and your Couch grass browns off slightly, it will green up quickly when you can water again, or if it rains.
Watering your Couch during winter will also improve winter colour.
Couch grass requires much less fertiliser to maintain its green – so don’t overfeed instead save.
During the warmer growing season, you only need to fertilise your Couch grass every 10-12 days.
The dense growth characteristics of Couch grass act like a mulch, therefore inhibiting weeds from growing. Couch lawn is also very tolerant to herbicides but check the label before application or consult your Local Garden Centre.
Lawn pests that may be found in Couch grass include Lawn Grub (for example, Web Worm or Army Worm) and the African Black Beetle.
However common turf pests (such as Couch Mite and Lawn Grub) and diseases are less active within OZTUFF Couch.
If lawn pests are found in your Couch grass then apply a suitable pesticide according to the label’s directions. Consult your Local Garden Centre if you require further advice.
Dollar Spot is one fungal disease which can affect different Couch grasses.
Dollar Spot can develop rapidly in humid weather so is more prevalent in northern New South Wales and Queensland from November to March.
The best way to control Dollar Spot in Couch grass is to aerate and/or dethatch your lawn to prevent humid conditions from prevailing.
If this method does not work then use a recommended fungicide on your Couch grass – always ask your Local Garden Centre for advice.
Couch grass can be grown in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Your local Grower suppliers can easily be found with our online supplier locator tool.
Couch grass can be planted at any time of the year but establishes quicker during spring when the growing season is rife.
Price wise – Between $8 and $10 per square metre. To get more Couch pricing info, get 3 quotes from your local grower today.
