If you are laying a new lawn or replacing a patchy one in the Hills District, the grass type you choose matters more than almost anything else. The wrong grass in the wrong spot means constant fighting: too much shade, not enough water, or a lawn that needs more mowing than you have time for.
The Three Main Grass Types in the Hills District
Most Hills District lawns are one of three grass types: Buffalo, Kikuyu, or Couch. Here is how they compare.
Sir Walter Buffalo
The most common choice in the Hills District — and for good reason. Buffalo is shade-tolerant, hard-wearing, and creates a dense, carpet-like lawn. It handles our clay soils well and is more drought-tolerant than most people think. It stays greener longer into dry spells than Kikuyu.
Best for: Properties with mature trees and partial shade, families with kids and pets, homeowners who want a softer lawn underfoot.
Watch out for: Buffalo is sensitive to some common herbicides. Never use a generic weed killer on Buffalo without checking the label. Mowing height matters — cut it too short and you will kill it. Keep Buffalo at 35-50mm in summer.
Kikuyu
Kikuyu is an aggressive grower — and that can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your situation. It spreads fast via underground runners, which means it repairs itself quickly from damage and fills bare patches on its own. But it will also invade garden beds if not kept in check.
Best for: Full-sun properties, high-traffic areas, homeowners on a budget who want a tough, self-repairing lawn.
Watch out for: Kikuyu needs frequent mowing — at least weekly during the growing season. It does poorly in shade. It can look yellow or pale if underfed. Regular fertilising makes a big difference.
Couch
Couch is the fine-leaf option — the grass that gives you that golf-course look. It thrives in full sun and handles low mowing heights that would kill Buffalo. But it is high-maintenance: it needs regular feeding, consistent mowing, and full sunlight.
Best for: Open, sunny lawns where appearance is the priority. Homeowners willing to invest time in maintenance.
Watch out for: Couch does not tolerate shade at all. It goes dormant and brown in winter. It needs more fertiliser than Buffalo or Kikuyu to stay looking good.
Hills District Soil: What You Need to Know
Most Hills District properties sit on clay soil. Clay holds water and nutrients well but compacts easily — especially under foot traffic. Compacted clay stops water from soaking in and restricts root growth. Annual aeration helps relieve this.
If your soil is particularly heavy clay, Buffalo generally handles it better than Couch. Kikuyu will grow in almost anything but will struggle if the soil is both clay-heavy AND shaded.
If you have Buffalo grass, read our detailed Sir Walter Buffalo care guide. Whatever grass type you have, proper fertilising makes a big difference — timing matters as much as the product.
Quick Comparison
| Buffalo | Kikuyu | Couch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shade tolerance | Good | Poor | Very poor |
| Drought tolerance | Good | Good | Moderate |
| Wear tolerance | Good | Excellent | Moderate |
| Mowing frequency | Weekly | Weekly | Weekly |
| Winter colour | Stays green | Stays green | Browns off |
| Self-repair | Slow | Fast | Moderate |
Not sure what grass you have or what would work best for your property? We can tell you in about five minutes.