What grass do I have?
Quick answer
Look at the leaf width, the runners and how it feels. Buffalo has broad, flat leaves and surface runners only. Kikuyu has medium, slightly hairy leaves and runners above and below ground. Couch has fine leaves and spreads above and below ground. Zoysia has stiff, dense leaves and grows slowly. Our grass identifier walks you through it.
Why this happens
Knowing your grass type is the first step to almost every lawn decision: how short to mow, when and how much to feed, how much shade it can cope with, and, most importantly, which weed killers are safe to use.
Most Australian home lawns are one of four warm-season grasses: buffalo, kikuyu, couch or zoysia. In cooler areas you may also find cool-season grasses such as tall fescue or ryegrass. Three quick checks narrow it down.
| Leaf | Runners | Feel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | Broad, flat, rounded tip | Thick, on the surface only | Soft and springy (soft-leaf types) |
| Kikuyu | Medium, slightly hairy | Above and below ground, fast | Medium |
| Couch | Fine and narrow | Above and below ground | Fine and dense |
| Zoysia | Narrow to medium, stiff tips | Above and below ground, slow | Firm, dense, springy |
Check a leaf
Pull a few leaves and lay them side by side. Width is the clearest single clue: buffalo is obviously broad, couch is obviously fine.
Follow a runner
Go to the edge of a path or garden bed. If runners lie on the surface only, it’s likely buffalo. If they also travel under the soil and pop up in beds, it’s kikuyu or couch, or a slow-moving zoysia.
Still not sure?
Lawns are often mixed, especially older ones. Use the grass identifier on the Identify page, or ask LawnMan with a close-up photo of the leaves and a runner. Once you know, save your grass type: answers, the Lawn Calendar and product suggestions will use it.
What you may be seeing
- Broad leaves with rounded tips (buffalo)
- Fine, dense leaves (couch)
- Stiff, prickly-tipped leaves (zoysia)
- Fast runners invading beds (kikuyu or couch)
What you can do
Look at a single leafCheck first
Broad and rounded points to buffalo; fine points to couch; medium and slightly hairy points to kikuyu; stiff points to zoysia.
Follow a runnerCheck first
At an edge, see whether runners are only on the surface (buffalo) or also underground (kikuyu, couch, zoysia).
Feel itCheck first
Walk on it barefoot: soft and springy, fine and dense, or firm and stiff.
Use the identifierCheck first
Answer three questions on the Identify page to narrow it down.
Save your grass type
Set it on this device so answers, the calendar and product suggestions match your lawn.
What not to do
- Assuming the whole lawn is one grass. Older lawns are often a mix.
- Guessing before choosing a herbicide. The grass type decides which products are safe.
How much do I need?
A label rate of "20 mL per 100 m²" means: Rate 20, mL, per 100 m². Per hectare? Use 10,000 m².
How much you need
Enter your lawn area and a rate to see how much product and water you need.
What's next
Related grass types, weeds, pests and diseases
Related questions
Related guides
Didn't answer your question?
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Who wrote this, and what it's based on
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Sources
- Turf varieties, Turf Growers Association of Western AustraliaMain warm-season turf grasses. Accessed 3 October 2026.