Buffalo vs Couch vs Kikuyu: Choosing the Right Lawn for Your Perth Property

09 Oct Buffalo vs Couch vs Kikuyu: Choosing the Right Lawn for Your Perth Property

So you are standing in your backyard, looking at that patch of bare dirt or the weak grass trying to hold on. You know you have to decide what lawn to put down, but honestly? It all feels a bit much.

Here is a fact most Perth homeowners never realise until it becomes too late: the lawn you choose now will either be your best friend or biggest regret for the next decade. With Perth’s climate being what it is – considering scorching summers, water restrictions seemingly tightening every year, and soil as unforgiving as a brick – you can’t afford to get this wrong.

Here is a breakdown of the three most popular types of lawn for Perth properties. Let’s work out which one is going to be best suited to your needs. There’s no fluff and there’s no sales pitch. This is real information that you can actually use.

Why Your Lawn Choice Actually Matters More Than You Think

Before we get into a comparison between Buffalo, Couch and Kikuyu, let us try to understand why this choice is so important. The lawn is not simply something green to look at. It’s a living system that has to function properly with Perth’s environment, your water usage and the time you’re willing to spend on maintenance.

Make the wrong choice and pay for it. Invest in constant watering bills, pay in hours of trying to keep it alive and then tearing it all out to start again. That is not something anyone wants to deal with.

The right choice? A lawn that thrives instead of just surviving. A lawn that looks good even if you do not pamper it every weekend. A lawn on which children or pets can play without making bald patches all over seems so difficult to attain but easy when the right grass is chosen.

Buffalo Grass: The Low-Maintenance Champion

Let’s begin with Buffalo since, in fact, it is the most popular choice among Perth homeowners at present. And there are very good reasons for that.

Buffalo grass has gained a reputation as being the “lazy man’s lawn”. That is not an insult; in fact, it’s a compliment. This type of grass truly does need less water and maintenance than most other options available, making it absolutely perfect for Perth’s climate and our imposed water restrictions.

Here’s what you should know about Buffalo grass:

• Shade tolerance: Grows well under partial shade as compared to Couch and Kikuyu. Suitable in areas where trees or structures leave shadows across the lawn.
• Appearance: Has a broad, soft leaf, giving it a lush, carpet-like appearance. Some people consider it coarse when compared with finer types of grasses.
• Water efficiency: Capable of surviving long dry spells after it has been fully established. Shows less browning during dry periods.
• Growth rate: Not as fast as Kikuyu; therefore, mowing is not very frequent, freeing up your weekends.
• Wear recovery: Does not recover quickly from intensive foot traffic or pet damages – bare patches take long to fill in.
• Popular varieties: Sir Walter, Palmetto, and Sapphire – each offers different characteristics for specific property conditions.

Buffalo is a forgiving grass. Leave it for one week during summer and return to find your lawn still green. That is why most people in Perth have opted for Buffalo lawns on their properties; moreover, the installation cost falls within the middle range – more than Kikuyu but less than premium Couch varieties of grass.

Martin Cuthbert Landscapes has installed many Buffalo lawns over 40 years and counting, with genuine importance in selecting the variety based on property conditions.

Couch Grass: The Sports Field Favourite

Couch is what you see on most sports fields and golf courses. That should tell you something right there about its characteristics.

This grass is tough. Really tough. It handles foot traffic better than Buffalo ever will, which makes it great if you’ve got active kids, regular gatherings, or just don’t want to tiptoe around your own backyard. The recovery rate is impressive too – if you do damage to it, Couch bounces back faster than other types.

Here’s what you need to know about Couch grass:

• Durability: Thrives under heavy foot traffic situations. Quickly regenerates from damage. Suitable for households with high activity levels.
• Appearance: Has a finer and denser texture, forming a tight, uniform surface, giving it a manicured, professional look.
• Maintenance Demands: Grows very fast. At least weekly mowing is required during the high growing season or else it becomes uncontrollable.
• Water Requirements: Should be well irrigated to maintain its greenness. High reticulation usage accompanied by huge water bills during summer months.
• Shade tolerance: None. Needs full sun and quickly dies off in areas of tree or building shadows.
• Best varieties: Wintergreen or hybrid Couch varieties work well in Perth; some hybrids offer better drought tolerance.

The variety that works best in Perth is typically a blend of Wintergreen or similar Couch varieties. Some homeowners also go with hybrid varieties that offer better drought tolerance, though these can be more expensive upfront.

Kikuyu: The Aggressive Spreader

Kikuyu is one of those grasses people either love or hate – never finding much middle ground. Let us begin on the positive side; it grows fast – really, really fast! If there is a large area to be covered quickly or some patches that need filling, Kikuyu will outdo any competition by completing the task first.

Here are a few more details about Kikuyu:

• Fast coverage: Grows and spreads faster than any other type of grass. Good for quick results or to cover up bare patches.
• Deep rooting system: Once established, it can hold well during dry spells because it normally develops a very deep root system.
• Economical: Still the cheapest option available if you need to cover a large area on a small budget.
• Spreads aggressively: Never stays within its boundary of the lawn area but continuously creeps into garden beds and pathways.
• High maintenance: Needs frequent mowing (sometimes twice a week) and constant edging to keep it within limits.
• Water demands: Needs substantial watering during the growing season to look decent.
• Coarse appearance: Much coarser texture than Buffalo or Couch – it will never give that manicured look.
• Shade tolerance: Needs plenty of sun – minimal performance in shaded areas.

That aggressive growth habit that makes Kikuyu spread quickly? It doesn’t stop at your lawn boundaries. You’ll be constantly edging and controlling it. Some people describe maintaining Kikuyu as being in a constant battle with their lawn.

Making Your Decision: What Actually Matters for Your Property

Right, so you know the strengths and weaknesses of each grass type. Here’s a quick summary to match them with your needs:

• Low maintenance/water efficiency: Best all-rounder for Perth properties. That would be Buffalo.
• Durability (kids & pets): Couch handles wear better but demands higher maintenance.
• Tight budget: Kikuyu is cheapest to install but requires constant management.
• Shade areas: If there are trees or structures blocking sun, Buffalo is the only real option.
• Water restrictions: Buffalo survives best on minimal water – Couch is a high-frequency watering lawn.

Two days per week watering and a total winter ban from 1 June to 31 August comprise Perth’s permanent water efficiency measures. These are the groundwater conservation restrictions of the Water Corporation. Choose a type of grass that can survive drought so you will be within regulations, yet your lawn stays alive.

Make sure it fits your lifestyle and property conditions, whatever you choose.

The Installation Process Matters As Much As Your Choice

Here’s something that often gets overlooked: the grass type you choose is only part of the equation. How it’s installed makes an enormous difference to how well it performs.

Soil preparation is crucial. Perth’s predominantly sandy soil has limited capacity to retain water and nutrients, which makes proper amendments with organic matter and soil conditioners absolutely necessary before laying turf.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirms what we see on every job—if your soil isn’t right, it doesn’t matter what grass type you choose.

At Martin Cuthbert Landscapes, we’ve been installing lawns across Perth for over 40 years. Professional installation might cost more upfront, but it saves you money and frustration in the long run.

Long-Term Maintenance: Setting Yourself Up for Success

Once your lawn is in, the real work begins. Well, not real work if you’ve chosen the right grass type for your situation. More like ongoing management.

All three grass types benefit from proper fertilising schedules, though the frequency varies. Buffalo needs less frequent feeding than Couch or Kikuyu. Aeration helps too, especially in Perth’s compacted soils.

Mowing height is more important than most people think. Each type of grass has its optimal height range. Cutting it too short puts stress on the lawn and makes it struggle to recover from heat and drought conditions. Buffalo should generally be kept at 25-40mm, Couch can be taken down as low as 10-30mm, and Kikuyu also prefers the same heights as Buffalo.

Weed control is an ongoing process, but a healthy lawn will suffice in controlling most common weed species. Allow your lawn to establish itself and maintain it in good health. Get on top of the weeds early; it makes life much easier down the track.

Professional Help: When It Makes Sense

Look, not everyone has the time or interest or even physical capability to get out there and manage their lawn up to some high standard. That’s fine. That’s literally what professional landscape maintenance companies exist for.

Martin Cuthbert Landscapes provides full garden and lawn maintenance services. These can include initial installation, regular mowing and maintenance, or just seasonal care. Professional help is available if you want it, whether your needs are with the initial installation, regular mowing and maintenance, or just seasonal care.

Sometimes the best investment is not to do it yourself but to have professionals who understand Perth’s climate and soil conditions. Particularly if you have a larger property or perhaps your conditions are challenging – considerable shade, poor soil, heavy slope – then this applies even more in your case.

Trust Your Gut (But Make It an Informed Gut)

This is not about finding the objectively ‘best’ grass type. This is about finding the best grass type for your specific property, the way you live on that property, and your priorities.

Buffalo suits most Perth homeowners because it holds a good compromise between looks, maintenance requirements, and water efficiency. Couch is brilliant if you’re after that premium look and you’re willing to put in the work. Kikuyu makes sense where budget and quick coverage are the priorities.

Whichever you choose, do it right. Prepare the soil well, plant at the correct time, and maintain properly thereafter. Any of these grasses will perform their best under Perth conditions. Your lawn forms part of your total landscape area; selecting a grass type that suits companion plants (considering natives) results in an integrated outdoor environment.

If you are still not sure or would like to discuss the specifics of your property, contact Martin Cuthbert Landscapes. We shall inspect your property and discuss your preferences for a type of lawn before recommending the best-suited one for you. Sometimes it helps to have experienced eyes on the problem.

Your lawn is going to be there for years. It’s worth taking the time now to get the decision right.