Roll on lawn and grass guides for Cape Town gardens. Choosing the right grass matters more here than in most of the country, because a lawn has to survive a dry windy summer, a wet winter, and often a fair amount of shade from surrounding walls and trees. The species that thrives on a full sun Constantia lawn is not the one to lay in a shaded Newlands courtyard.

The articles below compare Kikuyu, Buffalo and LM Berea, the three grasses most commonly laid in the Western Cape, and set out where each one works. We cover soil preparation before the rolls arrive, watering through the first three weeks while the lawn knits, mowing heights, and what to do about the bare patches that show up in shade. There is also guidance on timing, since lawn laid going into a Cape summer needs a very different watering plan to lawn laid in autumn.

If you already know which grass you want and need a price and a delivery date, our roll on lawn page has current rates per square metre and covers supply and installation.