Your Complete Guide to Buffalo Grass in Australia

What Is Buffalo Grass?

How To Identify Buffalo Grass

Which is the Best Buffalo Grass?

How to grow Buffalo Grass

How long does it take to grow?

Growing tips for Buffalo grass

Weeds in Buffalo Grass

How To Control Weeds

What’s The Best Weed Killer For Buffalo?

Care Guide for Sir Walter Buffalo Grass?

The Best Place To Buy Buffalo Grass

Buffalo grass is one of the most common warm-season grass varieties in Australia.

You may know the most popular of buffalo grass varieties, DNA Certified Sir Walter Buffalo Grass.

From different varieties of buffalo lawn to ongoing care, our complete guide outlines everything you need to know about buffalo lawns.

What Is Buffalo Grass?

Buffalo grass is incredibly unique as it is the only grass native to Australia that is also used as turf grass.

Its suitability as a lawn grass was discovered due to its superior drought tolerance and cold tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses.

As a wild grass, it is considered a weed in many states but also holds an important role in pastures used by grazing animals.

How To Identify Buffalo Grass

Buffalo grass can vary in look and feel depending what variety it is.

Typically, most warm-season buffalo grasses have a broad leaf blade that is a lush green colour. They are a low growing grass that spreads by stolons.

Newer varieties of buffalo turf grasses, such as DNA Certified Sir Walter grass, are also soft to the touch and non-allergenic.

Which Is The Best Buffalo Grass?

When comparing different Buffalo turf grasses, you need to consider which one will be right for your space, needs and climate.

DNA Certified Sir Walter

DNA Certified Sir Walter lawns are Australia’s favourite lawn variety for a reason! They’re drought, shade and frost tolerant, quick repairing and low allergenic.

Sapphire

While Sir Walter lawns perform better in high-traffic areas, Sapphire Buffalo grass is a good choice for shade tolerance in low traffic areas.

They also require mowing less frequently.

Palmetto

Another alternative to Sir Walter, Palmetto Buffalo grass holds its winter colour in full sun, has a small amount of thatch and is also resistant to a variety of weather conditions.

Matilda

Another buffalo variety that can maintain it’s green Winter colour in full sun, Matilda Buffalo turf perfers sunlight but is able to withstand high wear and tear.

How To Grow Buffalo Grass

Luckily, as buffalo grasses, like Sir Walter Buffalo Grass, is native to Australia, it is well suited and grows well in the heat of Summer and the frosty Winter.

What’s The Best Growing Season?

As with most warm-season grasses, buffalo lawn will grow best in Spring and Summer. During these seasons, you will need to start mowing more often, but your lawn will thrive.

How Long Does It Take To Grow?

DNA Certified Sir Walter Buffalo turf will already be partially grown before it arrives at your doorstep – one of the key benefits of choosing turf rather than seeds.

However after 4 weeks of laying turf, depending on the weather, your new lawn should be established.

Does It Grow In The Shade?

Sir Walter lawn is well known for it’s shade tolerance, making it the ideal choice for small yards where the fence or house casts a shadow for parts of the day.

Does It Grow In The Winter?

While Sir Walter Buffalo Grass won’t actively grow in Winter, it is known for its ability to maintain its green colour throughout most of Winter.

Can I Grow Buffalo Lawns From Runners?

Interestingly, you can actually grow buffalo lawns from runners. While this is not recommended for an entire lawn, it is a great way to repair bare patches.

How To Fix Dead Patches

As well as using runners, you can fill dead patches with new turf or by adding topsoil and encouraging your existing lawn to fill the area.

In order for these methods to work, you do need to make sure you have addressed the reason the dead patch appeared in the first place.

Growing Tips For Buffalo Grass

There are endless tips we can give you for helping your healthy lawn flourish.

Perhaps the most useful for growing a new lawn is that good preparation goes a long way. Ensuring the soil and area is well prepared will give you the best outcome on the installation day.

Click here to see our complete Guide on How To Grow Buffalo Grass 

Weeds in Buffalo Grass

The wonderful thing about a healthy soft leaf buffalo lawn is that it will generally outcompete invasive weeds that pop up.

However, if you’re lawn is in the shade or a high traffic area, you may find that weed will creep in.

How To Control Weeds

Luckily, most weeds are easy to control in Australian backyards with Sir Buffalo turf.

How you control weeds will largely depend on the type of invading weed. Depending on the type of weed, you can:

• Control it through mowing before grows seed heads
• Use a natural method of weed control
• Or, apply weed killer

What’s The Best Weed Killer For Buffalo Grass?

Some weed killers can actually cause damage to buffalo grasses such as Sir Walter.

Always check the label to ensure that your chosen weed killer is suitable and won’t cause damage.

The best weed killer will depend on what sort of weed is invading. However, a good place to start is Lawn Lover’s Buffalo Lawn Weed Control.

Care Guide For DNA Certified Sir Walter Buffalo Grass

While Sir Walter lawns are incredibly hardy and resistant to the strain caused by the Australian climate, they still need some care to ensure they thrive.

How To Mow Buffalo Grass

In the height of growth period (Spring to Summer), you will need to mow weekly. Sir Walter lawns thrive when they are maintained at a height of 20-25mm.

How To Fertilise Buffalo Grass

Regularly fertilising your soft leaf Buffalo lawn will help to maintain it’s growth and vibrant green colour. For best results, fertilise your Sir Walter lawn at the beginning of each season.

How To Water Buffalo Grass

Buffalo grass is an incredibly drought tolerant grass which means that it desn’t require as much water as other varieties.

Typically, you can let the rain do the watering for you and just water your lawn if it hasn’t rained in a couple of weeks. Perhaps more in Summer.

How To Green Up Buffalo Grass

Regularly fertilising your lawn is the key to maintaining good winter colour for longer.

However, if you’d like your lawn to be greener, and quickly, you can use a lawn paint such a ColourGuard Plus.

How To Make It Thicker

Sir Walter has a thick growth habit naturally so good care and maintenance will encourage your lawn to grow thicker.

Where Is The Best Place To Buy Buffalo Grass?

Here at Buy Turf Online, our Sir Walter Buffalo turf is DNA Certified by Lawn Solutions Australia, guaranteeing its genetic purity and premium quality.

Shop now for our competitively priced and premium quality soft leaf buffalo grass.

While we may be a bit biased, the best place to buy buffalo grass is right here, at Buy Turf Online.

You can place an order for DNA Certified Sir Walter Buffalo Turf through our shop, or by talking to our friendly staff on 1800 806 304.