Buffalo Grass – Turf Varieties and Features

Buffalo Grass Features

• Buffalo grass has Up to 70% Shade Tolerance
• Broad Leaf
• Beautiful Dark Green Colour
• Hard wearing
• Good drought tolerance
• Very Good weed resistance
• Good Pest resistance
• Self-repairing
• Kid and Pet Friendly
• Low allergenic
• Low maintenance
• Holds colour well through Winter
• Good water efficiency
• Moderate salt tolerance

Buffalo grass has been for many years a great solution for lawns and other turf requirements. The reasons are many but with striking good looks and colour which is maintained through the Winter months, shade tolerance of up to 70% which most other turf types can be envious of, low maintenance and good weed and pest resistance buffalo turf is one of the best choices.

Buffalo lawn is the most widely used grass for shaded areas across Australia

Buffalo lawn keeps weeds out because of its density and by blocking sunlight from them and out-competing them for nutrients and water. Herbicides such as Turf Control https://alcturf.com.au/product/turf-control-herbicide-weed-killer/ have been shown to be safe and effective to use on buffalo grass, however it is advisable not to apply during the establishment phase of 3-4 months.

Buffalo grasses are less invasive than Couch grass runners

Buffalo grasses are less invasive than some other grass varieties. This is because it grows by stolons only whereas couch grass and Kikuyu spread by rhizomes and stolons. It grows by spreading and branching its stolons. It develops roots and leaves at the nodes.

Buffalo lawn is a warm season grass and is perennial. It is also fairly tolerant of cold and frost.

Buffalo Grass is Hardy

In general Buffalo grass is considered hardy in that it grows well on various soil types and soil with less than ideal levels of nutrients and fertility. Buffalo grass responds well to increased levels of nutrients and fertiliser.

A Buffalo lawn is moderately drought tolerant. It can tolerate extended periods of little water and then when water becomes available again it can regain its colour and start growing again.

Reproduction of buffalo grass is mainly asexual and commercial growing is by vegetative propagation. Even when farming practices and natural conditions facilitate seed production, seed yield is low. It doesn’t produce large quantities of seed which is viable.

Modern Buffalo grasses such as Palmetto, Sapphire and Sir Walter have a lovely soft leaf which is soft underfoot. However, they are also designed to be tough to handle wear and tear from children and pets.

Buffalo lawns grows fairly quickly, particularly in the Summer months which enables it to repair itself quickly if it get damaged.

Managing weeds in Buffalo Lawns

The management of weeds in buffalo lawns is important to maintain plant health and quality. Keeping up with watering, fertilising and mowing helps to maintain the health of buffalo grass, which in turf makes it much more effective in out-competing and keeping weeds out. If the health of the lawn has suffered through wear, disease, insects, lack of water and nutrients then the chances of weeds appearing increases. Some weeds which can appear in buffalo grass include clover, dandelion, bindii, cats ear, kikuyu, nut grass, couch and winter grass.

We recommend Turf Control as a good general weed killer as it can also be used for buffalo lawns.

For a pre-emergent herbicide and fertiliser we recommend Rely Pre-Emergent Lawn Herbicide.

For Nutgrass we recommend using Tempra Nutgrass Killer – For selective post-emergence control of Nutgrass and Mullumbimby Couch in Turf.

Managing Pests in Buffalo Grass

When it comes to pests and pathogens it is again a healthy, well maintained lawn which is going to be the strongest at fighting back and also recovery.

Some of the pests include Army Worm, Web Worm, Cut Worm, African Black Beetle, Beetles, Nematodes, Ants, Mole Crickets, Grass Hoppers, Aphids, Clover Mites and Spider Mites.

We recommend the use of Acelepryn for effective general insect control in buffalo grass.

We also recommend Amgrow Patrol Lawn Pest Control Granules.

Managing runners sprouting along top of Buffalo lawn and dethatching

This can be caused by too much of a thatch build up which in turn forces the runners to grow vertically instead of laterally. The way to stop this is to keep on top of your mowing regime which will keep your thatch level to a minimum. You may need to mow a bit lower than normal to get rid of some of the thatch but be careful not to go too low with a buffalo lawn as you could cause too much damage to the stolons/runners. Also be sure to keep on top of your other lawn care such as watering, fertilising, weed and grub control.

How to care for your Buffalo Lawn

Mowing Buffalo Grass

Buffalo Grass can be mowed with a cylinder mower or a rotary mower.

To keep your buffalo lawn looking great and healthy it is a good idea to mow regularly to a height of between 25-50mm. However, if it is a particularly shaded or higher foot flow area then increase the height to between 50-70mm.

How to water a new Buffalo Lawn

You must lay your new turf immediately upon delivery. Water straight away with a minimum of 25mm. You can put a cup down where the sprinkler is hitting and when it reaches the 25mm you can then move it to another area to water. You must keep your new buffalo grass moist during the establishment period which is generally 2-4 weeks but this can vary according to weather conditions and seasons.

Keep an eye out for any edges showing signs of drying out as this means that you need to increase the amount of water you are applying.

When you check to see if your buffalo grass has set down roots firmly you can gently try lifting a corner. If it is firmly rooted then you won’t be able to lift it up. At this pint you can reduce the amount of water that you are applying.

Once your lawn is firmly established which is about after 8 weeks then you can reduce watering but water deeply and leave longer periods in between watering to train your lawn to set down deeper roots which in turn will make it more drought tolerant, stronger and healthier.

How to fertilise Buffalo Grass

Fertilising Buffalo Grass in Autumn

Autumn is the most important time to fertilise your lawn as it gives your lawn a much needed boost ready for the Winter. It can extend growth, density and colour which in turn will help to keep out weeds and disease during the cooler months and also keep it looking nicer.

Fertilising Buffalo Grass in Spring

Spring is also a good time to fertilise your buffalo grass lawn as it gives it a boost as it starts to become more active again after the Winter slow down.

Fertilising Buffalo Grass in Summer

Fertilising your lawn in Summer will help it to maintain a beautiful nice and even growth pattern. Again it helps to keep it healthy and with that beautiful dark green colour that we all love.

Best fertiliser for a buffalo lawn

We recommend using Lawn Play Allrounder https://alcturf.com.au/product/lawn-play-all-rounder-lawn-fertiliser-4kg/

Lawn Play All Rounder Fertiliser 4kg (Covers 400sqm)

SLOW RELEASE FERTILISER

Covers up to 400m2

For Lush Lawns throughout the whole year
Makes grass greener within days
Encourages dense growth to prevent weeds
Includes beneficial microbes to build healthier soil
Suitable for ALL lawns (incl. Buffalo, Couch and Zoysia)

TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
Measure the area of your lawn and apply at a rate of 1kg – 2.5kg
per 100m2 with a fertiliser spreader.
Water in as soon as possible.

Our Buffalo Grass Varieties

Palmetto Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass is the number one selling buffalo grass in the World.

Palmetto is beautiful

Palmetto has a beautiful broad long soft leaf which is a nice dark green colour. It has a dense structure which enables it to keep those pesky weeds at bay. It is also great for children and pets as its dense structure means it can handle higher levels of wear. Palmetto is also good at recovering fairly quickly from damage as it is a medium level grower. It will send its runners out over the damaged area and set down new roots at its nodes which allows it to reproduce itself. Palmetto Buffalo Grass is also low allergenic which also makes it very suitable for children and pets. This is due to the fact that it produces low seed head. It likes full sun but also thrives in shady areas and only requires 2-3 hours direct sunlight per day. Palmetto performs well in heat and humidity.

Like all soft leaf buffalo grass varieties Palmetto can be planted any time of year. Palmetto also has more active Winter growth which keeps it much stronger and with a better colour during this time.

A good level of drought tolerance

Due to its deep root structure Palmetto has a good level of drought tolerance by being able to access more moisture. In fact, Palmetto has shown in trials against other buffalo varieties to be the most drought tolerant.

This helps it to use less water than some other turf varieties. Palmetto also needs less fertiliser requiring only 2 application per year.

Palmetto also grows slower than some other buffalo varieties making it more low maintenance and less mowing.

It has a good resistance to pests and a reasonably low thatch making it even more appealing.

It is not as invasive as some other varieties because it reproduces via its stolons as opposed to rhizomes travelling underneath the ground.

Palmetto Soft Leaf Buffalo meets the Australian Standard No# AS5181: 2017 for Erosion Control – Use and installation of turf as an erosion, nutrient and sediment control measure.

Palmetto Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass is protected by Australian Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR).

With its many advantages you can see why it has attracted the tagline ‘At Home in Every Home’. This is because Palmetto really is the almost grow anywhere grass.

Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass – The softest of Summer Feelings underfoot

Sapphire has high wear tolerance, high shade tolerance and is low maintenance.

Sapphire buffalo grass is a proven strong performing lawn which has a slight blueish hue making it a beautiful lawn. It also has a slightly finer leaf than other buffalo’s but is also one of the softest underfoot. It is hard wearing and self-repairing making it the ideal lawn for those with children and pets. On top of that, Sapphire is a more low maintenance lawn requiring less mowing than some other varieties.

Sapphire is good at handling colder weather and holds its colour well during the colder months.

Sapphire has a deep root system which allows it to be more water efficient. Those deep roots help it to tolerate drought for longer.

It is not as invasive as some other varieties due to the fact that it reproduces via its stolons as opposed to rhizomes travelling underneath the ground.

Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass meets the Australian Standard No# AS5181: 2017 for Erosion Control – Use and installation of turf as an erosion, nutrient and sediment control measure.

Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo is protected by Australian Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR).

Sir Walter Buffalo Grass has high drought resistance and shade tolerance of up to 70%. It also has high wear tolerance and is low maintenance.

Sir Walter Buffalo turf grows well in full sun bu can also handle shade very well only requiring 2-3 hours direct sunlight per day. It is also tolerant to extreme heat and can handle drought spells very well due to its deep root structure. It is also very tolerant of colder weather and can handle frost.

Even though Sir Walter is tough it is also soft and looks great with a very nice dark green colour broad leaf.

Other benefits of a Sir Walter lawn is that it is soft yet tough, low allergy, pest and weed resistant, which means it is a great option for children and pets.

If Sir Walter does get damaged it is able to repair itself reasonably quickly due to its stolons being able to cover bare patches by reproducing itself.

Sir Walter is not as invasive as some other varieties due to the fact that it reproduces via its stolons as opposed to rhizomes travelling underneath the ground.