Understanding Different Lawn Types

Every lawn is different. The type of grass growing on your property plays a major role in how often it should be mowed, how high it should be cut and the maintenance required throughout the year.

At Yard Property Maintenance, we understand the characteristics of the most common lawn varieties found throughout Melbourne's South East and tailor our mowing techniques to suit each one.

Maintaining the correct mowing height and schedule helps create a healthier lawn, encourages stronger root growth and improves the overall appearance of your property.

​

Buffalo Grass

Buffalo grass is one of the most popular lawn varieties throughout Melbourne because of its soft texture, drought tolerance and ability to grow well in both sunny and partially shaded areas.

Buffalo lawns benefit from regular mowing throughout spring and summer while avoiding being cut too short.

Regular maintenance helps:

• Encourage thicker growth

• Reduce weeds

• Improve colour

• Maintain a soft, healthy lawn

• Prevent excessive thatch build-up

Buffalo is an excellent choice for family homes thanks to its durability and year-round appearance.

​

Kikuyu Grass

Kikuyu is a vigorous, fast-growing grass commonly found on larger residential properties, acreage blocks and commercial sites.

During warmer months, Kikuyu can grow extremely quickly and usually benefits from more frequent mowing to keep it under control.

Regular mowing helps:

• Maintain a tidy appearance

• Prevent runners spreading into garden beds

• Encourage dense turf

• Reduce excessive seed heads

• Improve overall lawn health

Because of its rapid growth, Kikuyu responds particularly well to scheduled maintenance programs.

​

Couch Grass

Couch grass is known for producing a fine, dense lawn with excellent wear resistance.

It thrives in full sun and responds well to regular mowing throughout the growing season.

Professional mowing encourages Couch grass to produce a thick carpet-like finish while reducing weeds and maintaining an attractive appearance.

Correct mowing height is particularly important for Couch lawns, helping promote healthy growth without placing unnecessary stress on the turf.

​

Tall Fescue

Tall Fescue is commonly used where improved drought tolerance and year-round colour are desired.

It grows differently from Buffalo and Kikuyu, requiring slightly different mowing practices to maintain its health.

Keeping Tall Fescue at an appropriate height encourages deeper root systems and improves its ability to cope with Melbourne's changing weather conditions.

​

Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial Ryegrass is valued for its rich green colour and quick establishment.

It performs particularly well during the cooler months and is commonly used in high-quality residential lawns, parks and sporting facilities.

Regular mowing keeps Ryegrass looking neat while encouraging thick, healthy growth throughout the growing season.

​

Choosing the Right Lawn Maintenance Schedule

Every property grows differently.

Several factors influence how often your lawn should be mowed, including:

• Grass variety

• Time of year

• Rainfall

• Sunlight

• Soil conditions

• Fertiliser use

• Irrigation

• Property usage

Rather than following a fixed schedule, we recommend maintenance based on your lawn's actual growth rate.

This approach helps keep your lawn consistently healthy while avoiding unnecessary mowing.

​

Lawn Mowing Throughout the Seasons

Melbourne's changing seasons have a significant impact on lawn growth.

Adjusting your mowing schedule throughout the year helps maintain healthier grass while reducing unnecessary stress on your lawn.

​

Spring Lawn Care

Spring is the fastest growing period for most lawns.

Warmer temperatures and increased rainfall encourage rapid growth, making regular mowing essential.

During spring we commonly recommend:

• Weekly or fortnightly mowing

• Lawn edging

• Weed management

• Garden clean-ups

• Mulching where required

Keeping lawns regularly maintained during spring helps establish thick, healthy turf before summer arrives.

​

Summer Lawn Care

Hot weather can place significant stress on lawns.

Rather than cutting grass too short, we maintain an appropriate mowing height to help retain moisture and protect the lawn from excessive heat.

Summer lawn care often includes:

• Regular mowing

• Lawn edging

• Weed control

• Removal of excessive growth

• Monitoring lawn health

Correct mowing techniques help improve drought tolerance while keeping your property looking neat throughout the warmer months.

​

Autumn Lawn Care

Autumn is an excellent time to repair lawns after summer.

Cooler temperatures allow grass to recover while preparing it for slower winter growth.

Autumn services often include:

• Lawn mowing

• Leaf removal

• Weed control

• Garden maintenance

• Mulching

Regular autumn maintenance also reduces the amount of work required once spring returns.

​

Winter Lawn Care

Although grass grows much more slowly during winter, occasional mowing still plays an important role in maintaining your property's appearance.

Winter maintenance helps:

• Keep lawns tidy

• Remove winter weeds

• Maintain property presentation

• Prepare lawns for spring growth

Many customers also combine winter lawn mowing with hedge trimming, pruning and general garden maintenance.

​

Common Lawn Problems We Can Help Manage

Healthy lawns require more than regular mowing.

Many Melbourne lawns experience common problems throughout the year, and while mowing alone won't solve every issue, proper maintenance plays an important role in keeping turf healthy.

​

Clover

Clover often appears when lawns become thin or stressed.

Maintaining a thick, healthy lawn helps reduce the opportunity for clover to establish.

​

Bindii

Bindii produces painful seed heads that make walking barefoot uncomfortable.

Routine mowing before seed heads develop, combined with appropriate weed management, can help minimise its spread.

​

Winter Grass

Winter grass commonly appears during cooler months and can spread rapidly if left untreated.

Regular lawn maintenance helps identify outbreaks early so appropriate control measures can be implemented.

​

Broadleaf Weeds

Broadleaf weeds compete with healthy turf for water, nutrients and sunlight.

Keeping lawns dense through regular mowing and ongoing maintenance helps improve their natural resistance.

​

Nutgrass

Nutgrass is one of the more difficult weeds to control and often requires specialist treatment.

Early identification is important for limiting its spread.

​

Moss

Poor drainage, excessive shade and compacted soil can encourage moss growth.

Improving lawn health and maintaining appropriate mowing practices helps create conditions that favour healthy grass instead.

​

Patchy Lawns

Patchy growth can result from drought, heavy wear, pests, poor soil or inconsistent maintenance.

Regular lawn care helps encourage stronger recovery while improving the overall appearance of your lawn.

​

Compacted Soil

Heavy foot traffic can compact soil, making it more difficult for grass roots to access water and nutrients.

A consistent lawn maintenance program helps identify areas that may benefit from additional lawn care treatments.

​

Lawn Care Tips From The Professionals

Simple maintenance habits can make a significant difference to the long-term health of your lawn.

We recommend:

• Mowing regularly rather than waiting until grass becomes overgrown.

• Keeping mower blades sharp for a cleaner cut.

• Avoiding mowing during extreme heat where possible.

• Watering deeply rather than lightly and frequently.

• Removing weeds before they spread.

• Scheduling regular maintenance during the growing season.

• Combining mowing with edging and garden maintenance for the best overall presentation.

Small improvements made consistently throughout the year can help create a healthier, greener and more attractive lawn.