Are You Considering Buffalo Grass?
Buffalo grass is bluish green, shortgrass indeginous to the North American region.
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.
This is a great option for erosion control, as the fine blades of Buffalo grass have a deep root system.
The great thing about choosing this specific grass for your garden is that it thrives in most soil types and is very adaptive.
This grass will do well in the (dappled) shade in your garden. It performs well in a fair amount of shade, but will suffer in full shade.
Less invasive than other grasses, this turf is more prone to weeds than other species. If the grass is in condition, it is competitive enough to keep weeds at bay.
When mowing, it is best to keep your grass relatively long, not going below 3cm. In shaded conditions, we recommend a minimum mowing height of 5cm.
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.