Kikuyu Grass Vs. Buffalo Grass – Which One to Choose and Why?

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

So many different grass varieties are incredibly popular in Australia. The top names are Sir Walter Buffalo Grass and Kikuyu Grass. These two names are the most preferred and recommended, and they differ in several ways. People often get confused about selection, and we have come up with a post discussing the main differences between the Sir Walter buffalo grass and Kikuyu grass.

DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF SHADE TOLERANCE

Kikuyu grass thrives in almost all conditions, and it is not necessarily a shade-loving grass. But yes, it can hold itself in some shade for sure. On the other hand, Sir Walter DNA-certified buffalo grass can perform very handsomely in shaded areas. It can survive well in regions that experience a minimum of 3 hours of sunlight daily.

DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF DROUGHT TOLERANCE

Australia experiences dry and hot weather conditions for most of the year, and it is essential to consider this factor when selecting the turf. Areas like New South Wales are scorching, and the good thing is that both Kikuyu and buffalo are great for dry weather and drought-prone regions. Kikuyu grass features large prostrate runners that seek moisture from inside the ground. These runners have an awe-inspiring growth rate, and they establish faster than others. On the other hand, buffalo grass is also known as a superior drought-tolerant turf. The buffalo grass lawn features a good quality deep root system that penetrates well into the subsoil to fetch moisture.

DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE

Homeowner's first choice is a low-maintenance grass that doesn't require investment of time and money. Regarding maintenance, Sir Walter buffalo grass and Kikuyu grass are equally impressive as they don't require much attention after growing successfully. There will be no need to use chemicals for lawn care. On the other hand, Kikuyu grass withstands heavy foot traffic very quickly, and it can even survive in dry conditions without too much watering. Kikuyu is also known for its invasive nature, and in some cases, it can become a headache to deal with it.

DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF WEAR AND TEAR

Kikuyu grass has superior wear tolerance and recovery rate compared to buffalo grass lawns. Prostate runners present in this turf give it a deep root system. This turf is also the quickest-growing variety that can recover from activities like kids and pets playing on the lawn, home parties, etc. Sir Walter buffalo grass lawn is also hard-wearing and has a strong, deep root system that maximises nutrient intake. It is perfect for areas where kids and pets love to play on the lawn. 

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.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Kikuyu Grass

Picking suitable grass is a challenge for property owners, mainly when there is a never-ending range available in the markets. Upon seeking suggestions from turf suppliers, you will get Kikuyu grass as the top answer. It is a popular option in Australian gardens, as it has a very aggressive growth and has the quality to adapt to a range of conditions. In this blog post, we will learn some key characteristics of Kikuyu grass, but let us first understand what this grass is.

Source: https://aviewturf.com.au/kikuyu-grass/

WHAT IS KIKUYU GRASS?

Kikuyu grass is an exciting turf option available to the people of Australia. It is known as one of the hardest and most cost-effective options available in turf supplies Sydney. This grass is a part of the poaceae family and was imported from Belgian Congo. In the beginning, it was not a very much trusted option in terms of lawn grass but yes, it was acknowledged for its medicinal benefits. The juice of kikuyu grass has blood clotting qualities that can reduce excessive bleeding really fast.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF KIKUYU GRASS

There is a long list of advantages of using Kikuyu grass. One thing you have to keep in mind is that it grows really vigorously and thrives really fast.

Here is a small list of the advantages and disadvantages of using Kikuyu grass.

ADVANTAGES:

Kikuyu grass has strong, deep roots, which makes it incredibly resilient.

This variety of grass repairs incredibly quickly.

It is ideal for areas with lots of foot traffic.

It is great for gardens with children or pets.

This grass is incredibly drought tolerant, needing little supplementary water. 

The deep roots also make it great for erosion control.

Kikuyu grass produces an ocean of bright green – becoming the envy of your neighbours.

DISADVANTAGES:

It tends to turn yellowish during the winter, which some growers don’t like.

It’s an incredibly aggressive grower.

It can become invasive and affect other plants.

Kikuyu is not shade tolerant and will die off quickly when not receiving sufficient daily sunlight.

Buffalo Grass – An Incredible Choice for Commercial and Residential Gardens and Lawns

For several decades now, buffalo grass has remained the most preferred grass for the people of Australia because of certain features. The top quality is that it can grow in dry areas, and even in the absence of top supplies Sydney, you will find this turf thriving well. In other words, even with little or no irrigation at all, this turf can generate magnificent lawns in a residential and commercial set-up. Several features are there that set this turf apart from all other types available in Australia.

Source: https://aviewturf.com.au/

SEEDING BUFFALO GRASS

An adequately organized seed bed is what you will require if you want to see this grass successfully thriving. Some people rely on the 'scatter' technique, and if you do too, it is recommended that a thin layer of soil is placed on top of the seed. With a warm climate and minimal irrigation, you will find it growing well. Yes, one thing to note here is that the planting has to be done early enough before the cold season.

FERTILIZATION OF BUFFALO GRASS

Compared to couch grass and Kikuyu grass, buffalo grass will perform well in proper fertilization. It has to be ensured that too much fertilizer is not applied as it might damage the turf and hamper its steady growth. The right amount of fertilizer is essential, followed by the right kind to speed up the growth process. According to the vendors of turf supplies Sydney, proper and on-time application of fertilizer ensures the strengthening of the roots.

IRRIGATION AND MOWING

Once this turf is established fully, it will not require too much irrigation to thrive. In fact, it can perform well once irrigated each period. Deep irrigation is needed once every 2 to 4 weeks to improve the quality of the lawn and keep grass free from any weed invasion.

In contrast to other turfs, buffalo grass will offer you a lawn that stays green throughout the year, even when the lawn owner is careless about irrigation and mowing.

Maintenance and Look after Related Guidelines for Kikuyu Grass

 With the advancement of the summer season, property owners start thinking about lawn care and preparing a lawn. Most of them rely upon Kikuyu grass, as it is an ideal grass for Australian conditions. If you already have this grass installed on your lawn, you will have to maintain it as per the guidelines of the turf supplier. Yes, there are several guidelines that these professionals offer to ensure that you maintain this turf well and prolong its life significantly. Some summer lawn care tips are discussed here in this post.

KIKUYU GRASS CARE IN SUMMER – LAWN CARE TIPS

MOWING REGULARLY

One top tip related to Kikuyu turf maintenance in summer is related to mowing regularly. Experts recommend mowing this grass almost every week to prevent it from spreading in areas where it should not be. Regarding mowing, turf suppliers always recommend mowing with the catcher and never leaving mulch in the lawn.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Regarding fertilizer application, turf suppliers and vendors recommend fertilizing lightly while using slow-release lawn fertilizer. This fertilizer application is recommended lately because you are not going to mow the grass every second day. Watering should be done heavily and infrequently if there is no rain. To maintain the lawn further, you should grab a bag of river sand to fill in the divots and bare patches.

CLASSIFICATION 

Just like several other recreational turfs and grasses, Kikuyu grass is also classified as warm-season grass, and an important thing to know is that warm-season grasses are totally different from cool-season grasses in the way they grow. Cool-season grasses grow from seed with a single stem, but warm-season grasses grow by runners. Examples of cool season grasses are dry grass and fescue variety. On the other hand, warm-season grasses grow with above-ground runners known as stolons, and then there are rhizomes as well to help them succeed at a breakneck speed. Couch grass and Kikuyu grass are the two best examples of warm-season grasses available in Australia.

Lawn Care Tips to Follow in the Spring Season

People who have lawns, but no knowledge whatsoever regarding this have no idea regarding the right time to maintain their lawn. Most of them believe that there is no ideal time, but vendors of turf supplies Sydney say that the spring season is the right time for undertaking any kind of maintenance. 

As far as spring maintenance of the turf installed in your lawn is concerned, there are a number of steps to take and here in this write-up, we take a look at some of them. 

Source: https://mysldesigns.com/spring-lawn-care-tips/

CHECK THE MOWER BLADES -

Before starting the mowing process on your turf, you need to make sure that the mower blade is in a perfect shape and sharp enough to perform mowing as per your choice. If you see that the blades are worn out and may not be able to perform as per the requirement, it’s necessary to get them replaced at the earliest. 

Note – Blunt blades leave the lawn looking ragged and not clean cut.

CONDUCT A PH TEST ON YOUR SOIL -

According to the vendors of Sydney turf supplies, the ideal pH for a soil is 6.5, but even if its between six and seven, there is no need of any kind of remedial action. But yes, if the ph is say around four or as high as 8 or 9, in that case, functional actions would be required and the home remedy to this is applying lime to the soil to make a perfect ph balance.

In case the ph is high, you can purchase sulphate based fertilisers from the vendors of turf supplies Sydney and apply it. But in case the ph is unexpectedly high, it’s recommended to get sulphate treatment done for the soil.

CHECK YOUR LAWN FOR MOSS-

The presence of moss in your lawn signifies poor drainage and also, poor compaction. The remedy to this is aerating the entire lawn for better compaction and this will also improve the drainage of the soil to give better results in terms of lawn growth and lushness of the grass.

People may know also: Useful Technical Information Regarding Kikuyu Grass

Kinds of Mulch Materials That You Can Get at Turf Supplier

There is a totally different level of satisfaction achieved watching a lush green lawn in front of the property. The greenery simply soothes the mind and rejuvenates the senses, but these things come at a cost. Apart from the grass, so many more turf supplies Sydney are needed and a lot in terms of maintenance depends on these supplies that include mulch as well.

For your lawn, there are different kinds of mulch options available and experts say that before investing in one, you need to study about them and know their pros and cons. 

Here in this write-up, you will get some in-depth knowledge regarding the types of mulch options and their features. 

TYPES OF MULCH MATERIAL - 

WOOD CHIPS -

In terms of Sydney turf supplies, this is the most commonly found mulch material and this is also available in bulk at stores of turf supplies Sydney as well as nearby located hardware stores too. The top features are that it is very inexpensive and a very long-lasting material that will only add to the benefits of your lawn.

SHREDDED BARK -

This mulch material is also given the name of "gorilla hair" and it is mostly used around non-native trees or shrubs or even on the slopes or hills. This is an extremely versatile option, but the downside is that it is not as frequently available as wood chips and also, it decomposes really fast. 

Last but not the least, this option is extremely impressive in terms of improving the overall aesthetics of the lawn.

STRAW -

You will find this option very commonly available at the vendors of Sydney turf supplies and that too, at very nominal prices. Just like shredded bark, this version too has a drawback that it decomposes really fast, but when used, it can be really advantageous for vegetable gardens. 

This mulch material is known for its future of temperature control, but the decomposition rate is really high and also a matter of concern.

People may know also : Useful Ideas on Maintaining Palmetto Buffalo Turf

Lawn Care Tips for Healthy Turf Supplies Sydney

There might be several unique qualities and USPs in your property, but if there is a well-maintained, lush green, rich lawn, it will surpass all others quite easily. Yes, this will become the most major attention grabber for the passers-by and for the property-owner, what is better than waking up in the morning and having greenery in from of the eyes. 

However, for enjoying all this, a huge amount of hard work would be required alongside high-quality turf supplies Sydney. 

Proper care and maintenance on the timely basis will ensure that you get the opportunity to enjoy this luxury. 

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR LAWN?

According to the vendors of Sydney turf supplies, some very easy steps are involved in keeping the lawn healthy, but the only stipulation is that they have to be taken at the right time and in the right quantity. One of these steps is the mowing of the lawn and regarding this step, experts say that if done on a regular basis, it will promote lush, green growth.

Regular mowing also helps a lot in nipping out unnecessary weeds and the common suggestion is that the turf should be mowed at least once in a week in the summer season. During the spring, autumn and winter season, mowing once in two weeks is recommended. 

Dealers of turf supplies Sydney say that regular trimming encourages the roots to spread ad this is beneficial for the overall health of the turf.

WATER YOUR LAWN -

Watering Sydney turf Supplies in a regular basis is recommended, but over-watering is not promoted because this can impact the turf negatively. It is recommended to use either rain water or the gray water from your bathroom and wash basins. 

For keeping the lawn hydrated throughout the day in the hot summer season, you can go with sprinklers and pray for the rain, because that is the best remedy in terms of watering. 

People may know also : Crucial Tips on Turf Grass Installation and Maintenance