Buffalo grass is known for its hardiness and tolerance to a wide varieties of conditions in Australia like drought stress and frost.
Buffalo turf, also known as St Augustine and stenotaphrum secundatum offers good weed control and have some shade tolerance. A buffalo lawn shouldn't have insect problems.
Buffalo grass forms a thick sod that roots very deep into the soil. The blades are bluish-green with lighter coloured stripes across them. In summer when the plant gets more water, it turns brownish-red in colour making it a popular choice for those who want to add some zing to their lawns. It grows at an average rate of about 30 centimetres per year and needs an average level of care.
Buffalo grass (bluestem) is a cool-season bunchgrass and can grow in wet soils along riverbanks, lakeshores and billabongs. It is also known as buffalo-thatch. This type of turf can grow fairly tall if not mowed short and is an excellent choice for parks, yards and golf courses because of its low maintenance needs. Chinch bug can be commonly found in these grasses and are the main culprits of any damage.Buffalo has seed heads on the tip, stems and grass blades.
Buffalo grass needs only medium amounts of sunlight and can withstand drought conditions well because of an extensive root network that reaches downwards up to 2 metres into the ground. It does have severe problems with growth in full shade so avoid planting it under trees or at the base of walls which may block extra light from reaching them.
Buffalo grass is a hardy type of turf that grows in clumps and forms thick sod. It has bluish green leaves with lighter coloured stripes across them. In summer, when the plant gets more water, it may turn brownish red in colour making it a popular choice for those who want to add some zing to their lawns. The blades are long and flat with wide wings on either side of the blade at its base. Buffalo grass is a bunch grass and spreads out in clumps to form wide patches. The height of the blade ranges from 15-25 centimetres long while the width at its base is around 0.5-1.5 centimetres wide.
Sir Walter is a variety of buffalo grass (bluestem) that has been bred for the lawn. It differs from the normal buffalo grass in that it is finer and denser, making it suitable for manicured lawns. Sir Walter does not grow as tall as normal buffalo grass and its leaves are lighter in colour than regular buffalo grass. Also, when watered regularly, it turns to a bright red which makes it stand out in any lawn setting.
Buffalo grass species grows best in well-drained soil types with ideal soil temperatures. The ideal soil ph should be 5.0 so ensure a soil test. These species can grow with seed and survive on infertile soil with low nutrition content as it gets its nutrients from the deep layers of the earth through its extensive root system. Buffalo grass also tolerates a wide range of conditions and is resistant to pests, insects like mole crickets and diseases. The only time you should worry about your lawn being under stress is when drought conditions prevail for long periods, killing off other plants around it. Do not over-water buffalo lawns as they get enough moisture from rainfall.