   |
||
| A Rented Garden? | ||
| If however you decide to plant a lawn - because you have a large block or just that grass is great for kids to play on - then you should opt for one that is tough, competes well with weeds, can stand drying out (you should not expect renters to water as frequently as you would, the owner); and one that doesn't grow too high, too fast. | ||
|
The first consideration though is to choose a lawn suited to your climate. Couch is suitable for all areas. In the Mediterranean style climes (Adelaide, Perth) your other choices are buffalo or kikuyu. In tropical climes blue couch, buffalo, or broad-leaf carpet grass. |
||
|
advantages |
disadvantages |
|
|
couch |
good traffic and drought tolerance |
poor shade tolerance |
|
kikuyu |
good all-round toughness |
very aggressive in garden beds |
|
buffalo |
good drought and shade tolerance |
harsh feel (Velvet buffalo is better for family rentals) |
|
kentucky bluegrass |
fair drought tolerance |
not recommended for medium low rainfall areas |
|
tall fescue |
good wear tolerance |
best of the winter grasses for water use, but warm season grasses are to be more recommended for their toughness |
|
broad-leaf carpet grass |
good for shade |
poor drought and wear tolerance |
| As a tenant the good news is that infrequent, but deep, lawn watering is best. This encourages a deep rooted drought hardy lawn and discourages weeds. Also it is best to mow high. As with most plants, root length and leaf length are directly proportional. Cutting high ensures drought tolerance and less work. |  |
|
| |
||