A Quick Glance on the Versatile Features of Buffalo Grass

           Image Source: https://aviewturf.com.au/buffalo-grass/

Some property owners in Australia want to give their property a greener look, but they don't like to invest time in maintenance, looking after and caring. Buffalo grass is an ideal solution for them, as it requires very low maintenance when established, and this is the top USP of this native North American grass. Several things are there to understand about this turf, and we have covered the most important ones here in this post.

BUFFALO GRASS AT A GLANCE

Classification: warm-season grass

Spreads by: stolons

Shade tolerance: very low — best suited for full sun

Drought resistance high

Foot traffic tolerance: very low, but light use or rare heavy use is ok

Maintenance needs: low mowing frequency — once per week or less

Mowing height: 2-4 inches or leave unmowed

Potential for disease: good tolerance against diseases and insects

Soil pH: 6.5-7.5

Soil type: native soils, not sandy soils

WHAT IS BUFFALO GRASS?

Buffalo grass is a native of western and central regions and as the name suggests, it was mainly used for grazing animals, but currently, it is the top favourite to have a lush green lawn in front of their property. It is a very low-maintenance grass that can survive in every kind of weather easily. It has several features that make it an ideal solution for any local ecosystem. Some of them are listed below.

Low maintenance, once established

Less water once established than other turf grasses

Few insect and disease problems

A downside associated with soft leaf buffalo grass is that it has a very open growth habit. This is a boon in disguise, actually, as turfs and grasses with open growth habits can battle weeds easily. However, if weeds are more prevalent in your region, it will be essential to use weed control products and weedicides to clear the weeds.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PROS AND CONS OF BUFFALO GRASS?

PROS

Establish via seed, sod, or plugs

No water once established, although it will go dormant in summer without some rainfall or supplemental irrigation.

Low fertiliser requirement once established

No significant disease or insect issues

A soft, barefoot grass

CONS

Not a fire-safe grass

Open growth habit means weeds are a constant battle

Higher seed costs and extensive water needs make establishing a lawn expensive

CARING FOR BUFFALO GRASS

As far as mowing is concerned, you will have to take some very basic steps to maintain this grass by mowing. The top three steps to take in this regard are listed below.

Higher-Quality Lawns: Mow Every Week At 2-3 Inches

Low-Maintenance Lawns: Mow Every Three To Four Weeks At 3-4 Inches

Unmowed Lawns: Mow Once Per Year In Spring At 3-4 Inches.

How Do You Identify Kikuyu Grass?

Image source: https://aviewturf.com.au/kikuyu-grass/

Good quality grass can transform your dull-looking lawn into a lush green oasis. When choosing a suitable turf, most people opt for Kikuyu turf, as it stands out as the most popular and resilient option. However, identifying kikuyu grass is a challenge in itself, but by following some valuable tricks and determining the features, this identification becomes very easy. In this blog post, we explore some useful ideas for identifying kikuyu grass, but initially, we go through the top characteristics.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF KIKUYU GRASS?

Kikuyu grass is a perennial grass, and it grows very well under cool and warm temperatures when the conditions are humid. The good thing is that it can survive high temperatures as well. If left unmowed, Kikuyu grass will reach almost 18 inches. This turf can grow up over the fences into the trees and shrubs. When mowed, the Kikuyu grass can survive the cutting height of less than half inches.

HOW TO IDENTIFY KIKUYU GRASS?

According to the vendors of palmetto buffalo turf, identifying kikuyu grass is not easy as you will find the leaves in very light green colour. These leaves can be 1 to 10 inches long and pointed from the top. The leaf blades are flat and 1/8 to 1/4 inches wide.

WHAT DOES KIKUYU GRASS LOOK LIKE?

Kikuyu grass has creeping stems, and they form a dense mat of green vegetation. The leaves are primarily short and have a coarse texture.

IS KIKUYU GRASS HARD TO MAINTAIN

This is a complete myth, and the fact is that this grass will be easiest to maintain, but it will require regular attention and upkeep. For example – mowing will become a weekly task to keep the grass attractive. Some details related to maintenance are presented below.

• Cut to as low as 1″ (2cm) in winter

• Let it grow a bit longer in hotter months.

• Watering is essential for a new Kikuyu lawn.

• Once established, this robust lawn will withstand long periods of drought.

HOW ARE KIKUYU GRASS AND BUFFALO GRASS DIFFERENT?

The appearance of these two grasses is wholly different and very helpful in identifying them. For example – kikuyu grass has medium leaf blades, but buffalo grass comes with broad leaves. Kikuyu is bright green in colour, and buffalo grass comes with a deep green colour.

Why Is Palmetto Buffalo The Top-Selling Grass In Sydney?

Image Source: https://aviewturf.com.au/palmetto-buffalo-grass/

A lush green lawn in front of your property is enough to rejuvenate you every morning and when you return from a tiring day. This is possible only when you have chosen the suitable turf based on your region's climate and soil type. One turf that works regardless of the environment and soil is palmetto. This is why Sydney buffalo lawns with palmetto are seen on every property.

It is a high-quality grass known for its outstanding winter colour and less water and maintenance-related requirements compared to other turf varieties. Here are the top reasons why the Palmetto Sydney buffalo has attained so much name, fame and popularity.

WHY PEOPLE IN SYDNEY LOVE PALMETTO BUFFALO GRASS?

SUPER SOFT

This feature is not found in any other turf, including other varieties belonging to the buffalo turf family. It doesn't have scratchy barbs and is super soft to touch and feel. This makes it a fabulous choice for residential lawns across Sydney.

OUTSTANDING IN WINTERS

Palmetto Sydney buffalo turf is known for its outstanding performance in the winter season. It maintains its green appearance in the most challenging winter seasons when other turfs of the buffalo family get pale. Studies show that palmetto buffalo grass has 76% better green colour than other Sydney buffalo turfs.

LESS MOWING REQUIRED

You will save a lot of time with this turf, as it does not require too much mowing. This is particularly beneficial if you want turf that requires less maintenance or you travel more and have less time to dedicate towards maintenance.

GREAT WEAR TOLERANCE

Compared to other turfs used in Sydney buffalo lawns, palmetto has excellent wear tolerance, as it grows fast on the ground. If you want a functional and fabulous lawn, you can invest in Palmetto Sydney buffalo turf.

INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE IN FULL SUN

Another reason behind the popularity of palmetto grass is that it performs exceptionally well in full sun conditions. At the same time, you will find it performing equally great in shaded areas. It only requires 4 hours of direct sunlight, and this fact makes it the most shade-resistant turf in the market.

Some other factors that contribute immensely to the popularity of palmetto buffalo turf are – 

• It is ideal for beachfront homes and homes on barrier islands

• You will not have to spend a fortune on fertilizers and herbicides

• It has a deep root system that makes it a drought-resistant turf

• It is a low-allergenic variety available economically

• It creates a dense turf under the foot without any significant thatch issue

Buffalo vs. Kikuyu Grass – Which Is the Ultimate Winner?

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In any typical Australian lawn, you will find the most common turfs available in Australia, like Kikuyu and Buffalo. These are the two most prominent varieties in every property with a garden or a lawn. Both these types are popular for their distinctive features and characteristics. This factor hardens the selection process, but we have developed the blog post to guide you in choosing the right one based on your requirements.

COLOUR AND APPEARANCE – KIKUYU GRASS AND BUFFALO GRASS

In terms of overall appearance, these two grasses are completely different. One grass type has a light hue, while the next one boasts dark green colour, and this makes them two different sides of a spectrum. Eureka Kikuyu grass, in particular, offers the perfect sun-kissed look with its light shade. Sir Walter DNA-certified buffalo grass is another option known for its excellent colour retention properties.

DURABILITY FACTOR – BUFFALO Vs KIKUYU

Eureka Kikuyu grass is known to resist high traffic very easily due to its medium coarse leaf. Also, it is highly resistant to all kinds of wear and tear experienced after children and pets have spent hours playing on it. Kikuyu grass is known as a stable turf due to its reliability and strength.

Sir Walter buffalo grass and palmetto grass are equally tough competitors in terms of self-repairing. Just like the Kikuyu turf, buffalo turf will also bounce back easily upon getting damaged.

HEAT AND DROUGHT TOLERANCE – BUFFALO Vs. KIKUYU

Australian weather is the biggest challenge for any grass, and the hot weather can dry any turf in a few days. This is where Kikuyu and palmetto grass can be beneficial, as they are incredible performers in drought-like conditions. Eureka Kikuyu can retain its colour all year round due to its deep root system that delivers water from deep inside the soil. Sir Walter and palmetto are also known for great wear tolerance properties, and they can manage to survive even during the hottest and driest summer season.

PERFORMANCE – BUFFALO Vs KIKUYU

If you are searching for the best-performing lawn, buffalo and Kikuyu grass are the answers. However, Kikuyu grass will require more maintenance and hence, it is ideal if you have adequate time for maintenance. The good news is that Kikuyu is known for its weed and pest resistance, and these factors will not influence the quality at all.

Reviewing Different Buffalo Grasses for Your Buffalo Lawn

Buffalo grass is one of the most common and also the most popular grasses used in Australia. You will see buffalo lawn Sydney on a very frequent basis, as it is a warm-season grass that suits Australian weather conditions. This grass comes in different varieties, and the most common is the DNA-certified Sir Walter buffalo grass. In this post, we will outline some details of buffalo grass, how to identify it and the types available commonly in the markets.

Image Source: http://aviewturf.com.au/buffalo-grass/

WHAT IS A BUFFALO GRASS?

One of the most unique turf types available in Australia is buffalo grass, and it is also known as the only grass native to Australia. It is suitable for lawns and gardens due to qualities like superior drought and cold tolerance. Vendors say that as compared to other warm-season grasses, a buffalo lawn Sydney will have better cold tolerance.

HOW TO IDENTIFY BUFFALO GRASS?

Since it is available in different types, you will find buffalo grass varying in looks and feel a lot. Typically, most buffalo grasses have broad leaf blades that are always lush green in colour. They are low-growing grasses that are spread by stolons. Newer varieties, such as the one mentioned above, DNA Certified Sir Walter is soft to the touch and non-allergenic as well.

TYPES OF BUFFALO GRASS AVAILABLE FOR BUFFALO LAWNS SYDNEY

DNA-CERTIFIED SIR WALTER

This one is the most popular buffalo grass in Australia for various reasons. It is drought, shade and frost tolerant and has quick self-repair properties as well. It is also a very low-allergen grass that makes it ideal for residential properties, where kids love to play outdoors.

SAPPHIRE BUFFALO GRASS

Sir Walter buffalo grass performs incredibly well in high-traffic areas, but on the contrary, sapphire buffalo grass is a good choice for shade tolerance in low-traffic areas. It is not a very fast-growing grass and does not require frequent mowing.

PALMETTO BUFFALO GRASS

This is the closest competitor of DNA Certified Sir Walter grass, as it holds its colour during the winter season very impressively. It generates a minimal amount of thatch and is entirely resistant to different weather conditions.

MATILDA BUFFALO GRASS

Like palmetto buffalo grass, this variety is also known for maintaining its green winter colour in the full sun. This grass prefers sunlight and has the robustness to withstand high wear and tear.

Out of all these buffalo grass varieties, Sir Walter buffalo grass is ideal for your buffalo lawn Sydney, as it is native to Australia and well-suited for the summer heat and frosty winter season.

Two Most Popular Kinds of Buffalo Turfs

One thing that has gained popularity purely due to marketing is the idea of having a lawn in front of the property. Turf suppliers have successfully managed to make people realise the importance of a lawn or turf and that in terms of turfs, buffalo turf is the best. 

The problem is that there are different kinds of buffalo turfs available and the decision of getting the best one can be taken only after knowing about all of them like kings pride, palmetto buffalo and others too and this is what we are trying to do here in this write-up. 

KING’S PRIDE -

The buffalo turf is known for its fantastic winter colour and in other words, it can be said that it stands out the most under light winter frost. Other than this, you will also find this buffalo turf performing to its best under the shade because it has unmatched shade-tolerance properties. 

This doesn’t mean at all that it will not survive at all in the full sun. Moreover, the look after related hassles are also not too much because you will not have to worry at all about this grass getting damaged. Yes, it will recover really fast in case; some damage is caused by your kids and pets.

PALMETTO BUFFALO -

This turf can be termed as the most popular grass in Australia and this is mainly due to its drought-resistant properties. Then, the popularity is due to one more reason that this turf can survive successfully in the dry climate of Australia. 

In terms of colours, you will find this turf a bit lighter and then, talking about thatch, this turf has the fame of the lowest level of grass thatching. As compared to other turfs, this palmetto has a really slow growing speed and due to this, it does not have that much maintenance related requirements. 

You can also grow this grass in partial shade or full sun. In all kinds of weather conditions, you will find that Palmetto turf keeps its vibrant colour.

People may know also: Useful Technical Information Regarding Kikuyu Grass

Differences between Sir Walter Vs Palmetto Buffalo Turf

Different types of buffalo turfs are available in the markets and their users are always in a kind of argument about their turf being the best. Yes, all buffalo turfs are very useful and great and the only thing is that their features and characteristics fluctuate from each other and this differentiates them from each other. 

Here in this blog post, let us have a look at the top differences between Sir Walter vs. Palmetto Buffalo Turf.

LEAST AMOUNT OF THATCH -

A thin layer of thatch is always important for the turf, as it offers insulation during extreme weather conditions and temperature fluctuations. Thicker layer of thatch is not appreciated at all because it can heat up the turf and damage it. 

The good thing is that both the turfs in question here, i.e. Palmetto buffalo turf and sir Walter comes with a very thin or say, the ideal layer of thatch. Experts suggest palmetto if you are considering this factor of thatch at the time of buying a new turf.

SHADE TOLERANCE -

Experts say that the area, where turf is to be installed matters a lot and this can be actually decisive in the life of the turf. In terms of shade tolerance, Sir Walter fares marginally better than Palmetto.

However, before getting the installation done, you will have to confirm as to what kind of conditions, it will be subjected to and whether it will it have to deal with full shade, partial shade, or full shade.

SUN TOLERANCE -

All plants require sun and both these turf types are a no exception at all. However, this too has to be kept in mind that too much of sun can be damaging for turfs and hence, sun tolerance is something to look at while getting turf installation done. Turf suppliers say that palmetto buffalo turf is in a category of its own when it comes to "sun tolerance" and Sir Walter is nowhere close in the competition. 

People may know also : Lawn Care Tips for Healthy Turf Supplies Sydney