Are You Considering Buffalo Grass?
Buffalo Grass is indigenous to the coastal areas of South Africa. It is a strong lawn with coarse texture and broad leaves, it has a deep green colour. It is slow growing and therefore is a low maintenance lawn.
It grows best in full sun and semi-shade.
Although it is a warm season-grass it is considered a top performer in this category. Holding its own against harsh, cold winters.
It has a reputation for being a great option for lawns, because of its hardy, low-maintenance and drought tolerant nature. It requires less water than other grass options. Buffalo requires very little maintenance especially in Summer due to its slow growing qualities
This is a great option for erosion control as the Buffalo has a deep root system.
This grass also thrives well in most soil types and is very adaptive and therefore a great choice.
When mowing, it is best to keep the grass relatively long, not going below 3cm. In shaded conditions we recommend a minimum mowing height of 5cm. In summer it should only need to be cut twice a month.
Caring for your Buffalo grass
Pests & Disease
Although these varieties of grass are fairly resistant to pests and diseases, it is still good to monitor signs of:
- Buffalograss False Smut (fungal disease)
- Brown Patch (fungal disease)
- Webworm
- Armyworm
- African Black Beetle
Water
Buffalo grass is considered more low-maintenance and water conscious (with minimal requirements) over some of the other varieties out there.
With this type of grass, it is best to water quickly and frequently (to avoid over saturating the soil).
What to expect in winter
Being a warm-season grass, you can expect dormancy but with proper care, you can maintain a green colour in winter.
What to expect in summer
In hot, summer months you can expect to bump up your maintenance regime. Growth kickstarts again, so more monitoring and frequent watering is required.