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sowing new grass seed

Sowing new grass seed is a simple and rewarding way to rejuvenate your lawn, repair patchy grass, or start a lush green space from scratch. Whether you’re looking to establish a resilient family lawn or create a fine-textured showpiece, a few key steps can help your grass thrive in New Zealand conditions. From choosing the right seed variety for your location to understanding the best time to sow and how to care for your young grass, this guide walks you through all you need to know to ensure success with sowing new grass seed.

An exquisite Tall Fescue lawn.

Tall Fescue

5 from 3 customers

Tall Fescue is an excellent lawn grass choice for New Zealand homeowners seeking a dark green, tough, and attractive lawn. It is widely used by ready lawn producers thanks to its durability and tolerance to a range of soil types and growing conditions. One of the standout features of Tall Fescue is its resistance to black beetle damage, which makes it superior to Ryegrass and Fine Fescue in many regions. This grass thrives in New Zealand’s climate and delivers year-round colour and performance when properly maintained. For these reasons it is a popular choice and the type usually used by producers of ready lawn. When sowing Tall Fescue grass seed the rate is 50 grams per square metre. If you are over-sowing existing grass, use 75 grams per square metre. Tall Fescue is a turf species that can be grown in all regions of NZ.

A stunning Amenity Ryegrass lawn.

Amenity Ryegrass Seed (Lawn Seed)

5 from 4 customers

Rye Grass Seed lawns are quick to establish and features dark green leaves year-round. Our Amenity Rye Grass is a popular turf variety that is typically used where a hard-wearing lawn that establishes quickly is required such as sports grounds or high foot traffic areas. The grass seed should be spread at 50 grams per square metre when a the soil has been worked to a good tilth. Use 75 grams per square metre if you are over-sowing existing grass. Rye Grass seed lawns can be grown in all regions of NZ and is a popular and hardy option compared to other lawn seed options.

An immaculate Fine Fescue lawn in a modern and formal garden.

Fine Fescue Lawn Seed

Fine Fescue lawn seed is ideal for homeowners seeking a lush, fine-textured lawn that thrives in shaded areas and requires minimal maintenance. This...

From$39.18
Kikuyu lawn featuring a lush and dense tuf.

Kikuyu (Blended Kikuyu Lawn Seed)

A Kikuyu lawn is suited to warmer regions and coastal areas where hot and humid summers are less well suited to other turf species. The variety of...

From$45.12
A Kikuyu grass lawn bordered by a garden.

Pure Kikuyu Seed

Kikuyu grass is suited to warmer regions and coastal areas where hot and humid summers are less well suited to other turf species. The variety of...

From$60.00
The best lawn fertiliser in NZ with moss killer.

Lawn Fertiliser

Achieve a vibrant, healthy lawn with our premium Lawn Fertiliser, specially formulated for New Zealand conditions. This fertiliser not only...

From$5.00
Chrysopogon zizanioides grass plants growing alongside a stream.

Chrysopogon zizanioides (Vetiver)

Chrysopogon zizanioides, commonly known as Vetiver Grass or Khus Grass, grows as a clump with lush, dark green foliage and can reach 1.5 m tall and 1...

From$20.18
Baumea articulata (Jointed Twig Rush) with upright, green foliage, growing in water.

Baumea articulata

Baumea articulata, commonly known as the Jointed Twig Rush, is an attractive, NZ native grass grown for its aesthetics and ability to handle and...

From$18.83
Carex dipsacea plants as a mass planting in a garden.

Carex dipsacea (Teasel Sedge)

Carex dipsacea is a fine-leaved, clump-forming sedge native to New Zealand. It features slender, green to bronze-tinted foliage and grows to...

From$15.53
Poa cita grass plants on a plateau overlooing the sea.

Poa cita

Poa cita, commonly known as Silver Tussock, is a clump-forming NZ native grass with delicate, green foliage that wafts gracefully in the breeze. It...

From$14.18
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Festuca 'Banks Peninsula Blue' (Blue Fescue Grass)

Festuca 'Banks Peninsula Blue' is a striking ornamental grass valued for its fine, steel blue foliage that forms neat, compact clumps. This hardy...

From$14.18
Lomandra Tankia with lush green foliage bordering a path.

Lomandra 'Tanika'

Lomandra Tanika is a hardy, Australian Native grass that is commonly known as Mat Rush. This grass features fine, deep-green foliage and a graceful...

From$24.23
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Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass)

Cymbopogon citratus (aka Andropogon citratus), commonly known as Lemongrass Grass or Citronella Grass, grows as a clump and produces flavoursome and...

From$20.18
Typha orientalis (Raupo) plants with brown seed heads.

Typha orientalis (Raupō)

Typha orientalis, commonly known as Raupo, is a vigorous and erect, NZ native grass. It is found throughout New Zealand in shallow, fertile waters...

From$14.51
Carex buchananii with lush brown foliage growing as a specimen plant in a rock garden.

Carex buchananii (Buchanans Sedge)

Carex buchananii, commonly known as Leatherleaf Sedge, is a striking New Zealand native grass-like plant with delicate, upright, copper-bronze...

From$13.43
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Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Oatgrass)

Helictotrichon sempervirens, commonly known as Blue Oatgrass, is a lovely and popular ornamental grass featuring distinct, blue foliage. It grows as...

From$16.88
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Isolepis cernua (Fiber-Optic Grass)

Isolepsis cernua (aka Scirpus cernua), commonly known as Fiber Optic Grass, grows as a tidy clump to about 25 cm tall and the same wide with green...

From$16.13
Carex flagellifera Green plant with lush and colourful foliage.

Carex flagellifera Green

Carex flagellifera Green is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, green leaves as it grows to...

From$15.53
The best new lawn fertiliser in NZ.

New Lawn Fertiliser

Establishing a new lawn requires the proper nutrients to ensure robust root development and healthy growth. Our New Lawn Fertiliser, featuring...

From$5.00
Anemanthele lessoniana grass with colourful, orange and green foliage growing in a pot.

Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's Tail Grass)

Anemanthele lessoniana, also known as Pheasant's Tail Grass or New Zealand Wind Grass, is a graceful, clump-forming ornamental grass native to New...

From$21.53
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Cortaderia fulvida (Austroderia fulvida)

Cortaderia fulvida, commonly known as Toetoe, is a large and vigorous NZ native grass. It bears long and narrow, mid-green leaves which are held with...

From$16.13
Hakonechloa albostriata plant with variegated foliage.

Hakonechloa macra 'Albostriata'

Hakonechloa macra 'Albostriata', commonly known as Japanese Forest Grass, is a stunning ornamental grass. It features variegated green foliage with...

From$22.88
Ophiopogon japonicus Silver Mist grass in a garden.

Ophiopogon Silver Mist (Silver Mondo Grass)

Ophiopogon 'Silver Mist' is a dwarf silver Mondo Grass, and features fine, grass-like foliage that is variegated dark green and white. It typically...

From$6.08
An elegant Miscanthus sinensis grass with cream-coloured flower plumes and lush green foliage.

Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis is an ornamental grass that grows as a clump of narrow, arching, green leaves. The colouring gives a light silver-green effect to...

From$21.53
Carex flagellifera Red plants.

Carex flagellifera Red

Carex flagellifera Red is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its colourful and attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, copper-red...

From$13.43
Apodasmia similis growing in a rock garden.

Apodasmia similis (Oi Oi)

Apodasmia similis, commonly known as Oioi or Jointed Wire Rush, is a hardy native grass-like plant found throughout New Zealand. It is ideal for...

From$13.43
Chionochloa rigida plant growing beside a path.

Chionochloa rigida (Snow Tussock)

Chionochloa rigida, commonly known as narrow-leaved snow tussock, is a hardy New Zealand native grass prized for its delicate, upright foliage and...

From$15.53
Lomandra Green Allure plant with lush, green foliage.

Lomandra Green Allure

Lomandra Green Allure is widely used in landscaping projects across NZ. It is commonly mass planted as a ground cover or on a bank, included in...

From$20.18
Carex 'Everlime' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.

Carex 'Everlime' (Lime Grass Plant)

Carex ‘Everlime’ (Japanese Sedge) is a popular evergreen sedge valued for its graceful arching green foliage edged with bright lime cream margins...

From$26.33
Orange foliage on Carex testacea.

Carex testacea

Carex testacea, commonly known as Orange Sedge, is a striking New Zealand native grass admired for its fine, arching foliage that turns a brilliant...

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Lomandra 'Arctic Frost' plant in a pot with variegated foliage.

Lomandra Arctic Frost

Lomandra Arctic Frost is a hardy ornamental grass featuring variegated blue and cream foliage held upright with a gentle arch. Growing to...

From$20.93
Dactylis glomerata plant with a cat.

Dactylis glomerata (Cat Grass)

Dactylis glomerata, commonly known as Cat Grass or Catnip Grass, is a popular grass that is loved by cats. It features flowing, green foliage held as...

From$21.53
Tall Fescue

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Anemanthele, Apodasmia, Baumea, Carex, Chionochloa, Chrysopogon, Cortaderia, Cymbopogon, Dactylis, Festuca, Hakonechloa, Helictotrichon, Isolepis, Lomandra, Miscanthus, Ophiopogon Poa and Typha, or related Categories - Fertiliser, Grass Seed Grasses and Mondo Grass.

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Choosing the Best Grass Seed for Your Lawn

Selecting the right type of grass seed is the foundation of a healthy lawn. Consider your climate, location, and desired lawn appearance before you buy. If you’re after a hard-wearing lawn that copes well with heavy use and drought, Tall Fescue is a popular choice in New Zealand. For a classic, resilient look with rapid germination, Amenity Ryegrass Seed (Lawn Seed) is ideal for high-traffic areas and speedy coverage. If you prefer a fine, manicured finish, Fine Fescue Lawn Seed creates a beautifully soft lawn suited for ornamental or shaded areas.

Warm regions and coastal gardens often benefit from kikuyu varieties—both Kikuyu (Blended Kikuyu Lawn Seed) and Pure Kikuyu Seed offer outstanding drought tolerance and a spreading growth habit, making them excellent for sun-soaked, low-maintenance lawns.

The Best Time for Sowing New Grass Seed

Timing is crucial when sowing new grass seed. In most of New Zealand, sow grass seed in autumn or spring when soil temperatures are mild, and rainfall is more reliable. This gives your new grass the best start, as cooler temperatures reduce stress and encourage root development. Avoid sowing during cold winter months or in the heat of summer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Sowing New Grass Seed

  1. Prepare the Site: Clear the area of weeds, old grass, and any debris. Loosen the top 10–15 cm of soil and rake it to a fine level.
  2. Fertilise: Incorporate a quality starter lawn fertiliser to provide the nutrients your new seed needs.
  3. Sow the Seed: Spread your chosen seed evenly across the soil, either by hand or using a broadcast spreader. Aim for consistent coverage.
  4. Lightly Rake and Firm: Gently rake the seed into the soil surface, then press lightly with a roller or your feet to ensure good contact.
  5. Water: Keep the area consistently moist with light irrigation until germination. Avoid heavy watering, which may wash seed away.

Aftercare for New Grass Seed

Continue watering daily until seedlings are well established, then reduce frequency but increase the amount per watering to encourage deep rooting. Keep off the lawn until the grass reaches about 5–7 cm high, then give it a light first mow. Feed with a gentle lawn fertiliser a few weeks after germination to support rapid growth.

Common Challenges in Sowing New Grass Seed

Birds, weeds, and patchy emergence are common hurdles. Use bird netting if birds become a problem and keep on top of weed invasion until your new lawn is strong. If you notice bare spots, simply reseed as required.

With the right preparation and care, sowing new grass seed can transform your lawn into a resilient, green haven. From Tall Fescue to Pure Kikuyu Seed, discover the best grass seed for your garden and enjoy a beautiful lawn year-round.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

You know Corokia 'Frosted Chocolate' and Gardenia Veitchii, but have you met Pseudopanax lessonii (Coastal Five Finger), Aspidistra lurida, and Acer 'Armstrong'? These beauties are worth a closer look.
–The Plant Company

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