Story Title: Lawn Selection
Episode: Food and Garden Special
Date: 4 April 2010
Presenter/Author: Neville Passmore

A picnic at the local park is something we can enjoy for much of the year in Perth. When you're sitting on the grass it's worth thinking about how much we enjoy that cooling carpet.

Lawns bring us many joys; they look inviting, provide fresh air, absorb pollutants and capture carbon at ground level. But lawns can also gobble up heaps of water.

However a number of varieties have been identified in University of WA tests to be waterwise. One is Kikuyu and it's a great standby for ovals and parks, it's drought tough and has a lovely soft green colour. Keep in mind it's a bit invasive for the home garden.

At home I have two waterwise varieties which are better suited to the home garden environment. These are Palmetto, a soft to the touch buffalo grass, and Zoysia Empire, a slow growing toughie from Brazil.

Planting the right amount of lawn to suit your needs and using a drought tough variety is the key to using green grass smartly at home.

Save 6 inside and outside the home.

Contact
Water Corporation
629 Newcastle Street
Leederville  WA  6007
Phone: (08) 9420 2420
www.watercorporation.com.au
www.save6.com.au/