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drought tolerant grass variety

Choosing a Drought Tolerant Grass Variety

Jan 24, 2020

Choosing a drought-tolerant grass variety can make all the difference when it comes to the health and appearance of your lawn during the dryer months.

New year – new projects to plan! Thinking about transforming your front or backyard this year? With a hot dry summer so far and predictions of a hotter dryer climate into the future, selecting the right drought-tolerant grass variety has never been more important.

We know this region and the best available grass varieties better than anyone else – let us guide you on how and what to choose to ensure you select the best drought-tolerant turf for the climate in your location.

Online turf comparison tool

Trying to decide which turf variety is right for your needs can be tricky. The best place to start is with our online Turf Comparison tool.

Here you can choose what is most important to you – from Overall Performance to specifics like Shade Tolerance and Drought Tolerance.
Choosing Drought Tolerance ranks Sir Grange as the top performer, followed by Tiftuf.

Let’s look more closely at these two varieties to see why they are the most drought tolerant for our region.

Sir Grange

sir grange

Originally developed for the golf industry, sir grange is our best drought tolerant grass variety.

This premium fine-bladed variety is able to tolerate shade, drought, sub-freezing temperatures and full sun. Chosen out of 10,000 different varieties of turf, Sir Grange stands out from the crowd thanks to its ability to withstand whatever the Australian climate can throw at it.

Featuring low maintenance characteristics such as:

  • The ability to be mowed at a range of heights
  • Requires 75% less nitrogen & 50% less mowing than other varieties
  • The ability to handle full sun and a range of temperatures from high to subfreezing
  • Great shade tolerance (only needs 3 hours of sun a day)
  • Weed and insect resistant

If you purchase sir grange turf, you’ll be issued with a Lawn Solutions Australia Certificate of Warranty. This certificate is your guarantee that you are receiving genuine Sir Grange.

As a member of the Lawn Solutions Australia house of brands, your purchase of Sir Grange will also be covered by our nationwide warranty. Learn more about the benefits of buying from an LSA accredited grower

Tiftuf

tiftuf

The second best drought-tolerant grass variety we offer is TifTuf.

Tiftuf Bermuda is a sterile hybrid warm-season Bermuda grass that has superior drought and wear tolerance.

Featuring a fine leafed blade that provides a soft feel underfoot and a dense lateral growth pattern, Tiftuf is ideal for a wide range of applications from the family backyard to the local sports field.

The density of the growth enables the lawn to be heat tolerant and hardy, handling situations from foot traffic, pets and sports well.

Another great feature of TifTuf is its ability to retain colour. This is thanks to a higher level of gibberellic acid which is the main element required to create the green colour during photosynthesis. Because Tiftuf has raised gibberellic acid levels it retains colour into winter (so long as you don’t get big frosts) and greens up quickly in spring with better results than you would see from other varieties.

This ability to retain colour, the low maintenance requirements and high density makes Tiftuf Bermuda Grass a highly suitable choice if you’re looking for a drought-tolerant grass variety.

We’re so confident in the quality of our turf varieties that we provide a 10-year product warranty. As a member of the Lawn Solutions Australia house of brands, your purchase of Tiftuf will also be covered by our nationwide warranty.

Learn more about the benefits of buying from an LSA accredited grower

Once you’ve selected and ordered your turf, it’s time for installation! See exactly how to lay and look after your new lawn here.

What about water restrictions?

water restrictions

Before watering your lawn be sure to check and follow the water restrictions in your council area. As of January 2020, Sydney, Wollongong and the Southern Highland are all on Level 2 water restrictions.

When it comes to watering your lawn or garden, level 2 water restrictions mean that you’re allowed to water your garden before 10am or after 4pm using one of the following:

  • A watering can
  • A bucket
  • A timer-controlled drip irrigation system ( this is only allowed to be used 15 mins per day per watering zone)
  • A compliant smart watering system
  • During these restrictions, you cannot use a sprinkler, mist sprayer or hose at any time (even if they are attached to a smart watering system, timer or trigger nozzle).

Not sure what this means for you and your lawn? Find out more about how to make your lawn more drought resistant and visit the official Sydney Water website for the most up to date information.

Keep it green with Colourguard PLUS

colourguard

Worried about the appearance of your lawn during the dry months? Try Colourguard PLUS!

Colourguard PLUS is a grass colourant designed to instantly improve the appearance and health of your lawn.

Featuring a liquid fertiliser, colourguard PLUS will provide your lawn with a dose of vital micro-nutrients while reducing the need to water your lawn during drought and hotter weather. Like sunscreen for your lawn, colourguard PLUS protects your lawn from harmful UV rays.

Featuring a 100% organic and non-toxic formula, colourguard PLUS is absorbed by the grass leaf blade to provide natural green colour for up to 3 months after application.

Click here to learn more about colourguard PLUS including the benefits, application instructions and useful information.

Still not sure what the best drought tolerant grass variety is? Get in touch with one of our friendly team members to discuss which grass variety would be best suited to your personal circumstances.