Best Lawn Seed in Australia: By State and Season 

What is the best lawn seed? The best grass seed for your lawn depends on where you live, how much sun and wear it gets, and when you’re sowing. Australia’s climate ranges from cool and wet in Tasmania to hot and tropical in the Top End, so a seed that thrives in Melbourne may struggle in Darwin. Find your area below for the best lawn seed for your state.

Quick Cheat Sheet: If you need…    

• Fast establishment: Choose a Ryegrass blend
• A lawn that stays green in a cooler winter: Choose Ryegrass, Fescue or cool-season blends
• Shade tolerance: Choose Fescue blends
• A hard-wearing lawn in full sun: Choose Couch or Kikuyu
• Drought tolerance: Choose Couch or Kikuyu

Warm season or cool season seed?

Cool-season grasses (Ryegrass, Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, Bentgrass) grow best in cooler weather and stay green through winter. They suit southern Australia and Tasmania, as well as cooler highland areas such as Canberra, Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Armidale and the Blue Mountains.

Warm-season grasses (Couch, Kikuyu) grow best in warm weather and are hardy and drought tolerant. They’re popular right across Australia, including the southern states, where they germinate best when sown in late spring and summer. In cooler areas they can go dormant and lose some colour over winter, then green up again as the weather warms.

When to sow lawn seed

Spring and Autumn are the best time to sow most lawn seed, but you can sow any time of the year, including Summer and Winter. 

Cool Season grasses (Ryegrass, Fescue): Sow in spring or autumn. They can also be sown in winter, although germination is slower.

Warm-season grasses (Couch, Kikuyu): Sow in late spring and summer, once temperatures are consistently warm. In northern areas, they can be sown earlier in spring. Warm Season grasses won't germinate in very cold soil temperatures.

See how to sow lawn seed for step-by-step instructions.

Best lawn seed for Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Perth

Victoria, SA, ACT, southern NSW and southern WA

Spring: A great time to sow a new lawn or thicken an existing one. Cool-season blends establish well as temperatures rise. For 100% Couch and Kikuyu, wait until temperatures are consistently warm, as they’re slow to germinate in the cold.

Summer: It’s possible to sow seed in summer. Couch and Kikuyu are the best choice, as they’re hardy varieties that germinate quickly in warm weather. A cool-season blend such as Ryegrass or Fescue can still be sown in shaded or cooler spots, or into an existing lawn. In summer the surface dries out quickly, so water more often to keep the seedbed constantly moist.

Autumn and winter: Choose a cool-season variety such as Ryegrass or Fescue. Autumn is ideal, as the soil is still warm. Germination is slower in winter, so be patient and keep the seedbed moist.

See our seed suggestions for:

Best lawn seed for Brisbane and northern NSW

Queensland, northern NSW and northern WA, including Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and north of Perth

Spring: It warms up faster here, so you can sow 100% Couch and Kikuyu a little earlier than in the south. They’re drought tolerant and hardy.

Summer: Summer is a great time to sow seed. Couch and Kikuyu are the best choice, as they’re hardy varieties that germinate quickly in warm weather. A cool-season blend such as Ryegrass or Fescue can still be sown in shaded spots, cooler highland areas or into an existing lawn. In summer the surface dries out quickly, so water more often to keep the seedbed constantly moist.

Autumn and winter: Winters are mild, so most seed types can be sown year-round. Warm-season grasses establish best before temperatures drop.

See our seed suggestions for:

Best lawn seed for Tasmania 

Hobart, Launceston and all of Tasmania

Tasmania’s cooler climate suits cool-season blends, which germinate and thrive in Tassie conditions year-round. Spring and autumn are the best times to sow. We can send seed to Tasmania and include the paperwork for Tasmanian Biosecurity.

Spring: A great time to sow a new lawn or thicken an existing one. Cool-season blends establish well as temperatures rise.

Summer: It’s possible to sow seed in summer. Cool-season blends such as Ryegrass and Fescue are the best choice for Tasmania’s milder summers, in sun or shade, and also when sowing into an existing lawn. In summer the surface dries out more quickly, so water more often to keep the seedbed constantly moist.

Autumn and winter: Choose a cool-season variety like Ryegrass or Fescue. Germination is slower in autumn and winter, so be patient and keep the seedbed moist.

See our seed suggestions for:

Best lawn seed for the Northern Territory

Darwin, the Top End, Alice Springs and surrounding areas. 

The Top End needs hardy, drought-tolerant warm-season seed.

Spring: Temperatures are already warm, so it’s a good time to sow Couch and Kikuyu. In the Top End it’s the end of the dry season, so water often to keep the seedbed constantly moist.

Summer: Couch and Kikuyu are the best choice, as they’re hardy varieties that germinate quickly in warm weather. In dry spells the surface dries out quickly, so water often. In the wet season, avoid sowing just before heavy downpours, which can wash seed away.

Autumn and winter: In the Top End, the dry season brings warm days and little rain, so Couch and Kikuyu can still be sown with regular watering. In Central Australia, including Alice Springs, winter nights are cold and frosty, so sow warm-season seed before the weather cools, or wait until spring.

See our seed suggestions for:

Everything you need for a great lawn

Thicken an existing lawn: Sowing seed into your existing lawn improves coverage, thickness and colour. See how to overseed your lawn.

Don’t forget starter fertiliser: KickStart Starter Fertiliser improves germination and root growth when sowing. (Cannot be sent to WA.)

Feed your lawn: Every lawn needs nutrients as growth picks up. Buffalo, Couch and Kikuyu lawns especially benefit from a good spring feed.

Get ahead of pests and weeds: Prevent lawn pests and tackle weeds before they take over.

Pro tip: feed twice in spring and twice in autumn

For a thick, stadium-green lawn that survives the summer heat, one spring feed won’t cut it. Feed once in early spring, as soil temperatures warm up, to kick-start recovery after winter. Feed again in late spring, before summer, to build resilience against heat stress. Then repeat in autumn to prepare your lawn for winter. See How to Fertilise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best lawn seed in Australia? 

There’s no single best lawn seed for everywhere. Cool-season blends of Ryegrass and Fescue suit cooler areas like Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Tasmania, and stay green through winter. Warm-season grasses such as Couch and Kikuyu are hardy and drought tolerant, and are grown right across Australia, from Brisbane and the NT to the southern states, where they’re best sown in late spring and summer. Find your area above for our recommendations.

Can I sow lawn seed in winter? 

Yes. In southern states, choose a cool-season variety like Ryegrass or Fescue, and expect germination to be slower. In warmer northern areas, most seed types can be sown year-round.

Should I choose the same seed as my existing lawn?

When overseeding, yes. Matching your existing grass helps the new seed blend in. Not sure what you have? Our Lawn Seed Guide can help you identify your lawn.

Can you send lawn seed to Tasmania and WA?

Yes. We include Tasmanian Biosecurity paperwork with Tasmanian orders. Seed can be sent to WA, but our phosphorus fertilisers, including KickStart, can’t. WA customers can use Nitro Green Iron Boost Fertiliser instead.

Not Sure Which Seed Is Right for You? 

Our Lawn Seed Guide can help you identify your existing lawn and choose the best seed for your situation.