Establishing a warm season lawn in Perth or WA such as kikuyu or couch from seed can be a cost effective way to grass large areas however there are a few down sides to this grass establishment method.
- Seed requires a large amount of water to germinate and stay alive. Particularly in the early weeks each germinated seed/plant has limited stores to draw on so if a single watering is missed and the plant dries out it can die.
- Seeds can be variable meaning the appearance of each plant may vary producing a less than desirable appearance and in some cases reduced disease resistance.
- An even distribution and growth pattern can be difficult to achieve without the right equipment and full coverage can take more time.
In addition to this seed often comes in mixes including rye grasses which may be undesirable in the long term.
We have the experience and equipment if you require a large area seeded and do offer this service commercially and for owners of larger properties.
Our recommendation for homeowners, larger property owners, shires, schools and anyone looking to establish grass by a method cheaper than roll-on turf is to use stolons or shredded grass.
Stolons are the “runner” and rhizome of the grass plant so the new lawn is established from vegetative material of existing lawn (or turf). So your new lawn has the exact same appearance and qualities (such as disease resistance) as the lawn it was harvested from.
Most stolons are quite long (10cm plus) and when planted will put out roots from multiple points. Stolons are quite thick and have greater energy and water stores to draw on than seeds.
Stolons often still have viable leaves and roots that survive transplanting too and if these structures don’t survive they contain additional stores for the stolon to draw on.
We have extensive experience establishing lawns from stolons and all the advice you need and can provide healthy viable stolons for all the turf varieties we grow;
Wintergreen couch – takes approximately 8 weeks for coverage and a further 4 weeks for the grass to knit up and become a mature lawn.
Empire Zoysia – takes approximately 12 weeks for coverage and a further 6 weeks for the grass to knit up and become a mature lawn.
Bison Soft Leaf Buffalo – takes approximately 10 weeks for coverage and a further 5 weeks for grass to knit up and become a mature lawn.
Sir Walter Buffalo – takes approximately 10 weeks for coverage and a further 5 weeks for grass to knit up and become a mature lawn.
Ki-couchi – takes approximately 7 weeks for coverage and a further 4 weeks for grass to knit up and become a mature lawn.
Kikuyu – takes approximately 7 weeks for coverage and a further 4 week for grass to knit up and become a mature lawn.
We do strongly encourage you to install a correctly designed in-ground reticulation system if you plan to establish lawn and from stolons and good soil preparation is well worthwhile.
Typically we do not recommend planting stolons after Anzac Day but seasons change each year so please speak to us for current advice.