Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass

What Is Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass?

The Number 1 Choice – DNA Certified Sir Walter Buffalo Grass

Installing a New Sir Walter (DNA Certified) Lawn

Maintaining and Caring for a Sir Walter Lawn

Wrap Up

Soft leaf buffalo grass is a widely popular grass type across Australia due to its fast growth habit, vibrant green colour and broad leaf grass blades.

Not only does this make for a beautiful lawn, but soft leaf buffalo grass varieties are easy to maintain and the perfect surface for kids and pets to relax and play.

Find out why soft leaf buffalo grass is such a popular lawn choice in Australia, the number 1 buffalo grass choice and how to look after a new soft leaf buffalo lawn.

What Is Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass?

Soft leaf buffalo grass is soft underfoot, a vibrant green colour and easy to maintain. With good shade tolerance and water efficiency, it’s easy to see why this warm-season grass is an ideal all-round choice for Australian homes.

What Makes Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass Special?

There are a number of reasons buffalo lawns are a top choice for warm season grass lawns. This includes its shade tolerance, good winter colour, weed resistance and erosion control.

Shade tolerance

Soft leaf buffalo grasses possess remarkable shade tolerance among warm-season lawn varieties in Australia, primarily due to their wide leaves that capture more sunlight than other grass varieties.

The top shade-tolerant Buffalo grasses, such as the DNA Certified Sir Walter lawns, can thrive even under conditions where shade makes up to around 70% of the daily exposure.

While all grass types require some direct sunlight each day to avoid potential die-off, buffalo grasses are more shade tolerant than other varieties of grass.

Winter Colour

Having a green lawn throughout the winter, even in winter, is an alluring factor for many Australians when they’re choosing the right grass variety for their homes.

With good winter colour, your buffalo lawn will maintain its green hue during the colder months, minimising browning or loss of green colour as temperatures drop.

Popular buffalo varieties, such as Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo grass, excel in preserving their winter color, making them some of the most attractive lawns all year round.

Wear Tolerance

Buffalo grass’s deep roots, along with its rapid stolon and runner growth, enable it to recover swiftly from wear and tear.

This wear tolerance ensures that buffalo grass can endure frequent usage, making it an ideal choice for families with pets and young children in most Australian backyards.

Perfect For Slopes

Due to its long roots and rapid growth, buffalo turf grasses makes a great choice for slopes and hillsides.

While mowing on slopes can be a challenge, growing a grass variety with a tight growth habit will minimise erosion and soil runoff in your garden.

Hypoallergenic

Soft Leaf Buffalo Grass In Different Climates

Not only does buffalo turf grasses have superior characteristics that make for an alluring lawn, it’s also an excellent choice for the Australian climate.

While the climate across Australia is vastly different, many soft leaf buffalo turf varieties have characteristics are suited for Australia including good drought tolerance and salt tolerance.

Drought Tolerance

Thanks to the extensive and deep root system of buffalo grasses, they efficiently use water resources and maintain their lush green appearance for more extended periods during dry spells.

Buffalo grass stands out as one of the few warm-season grasses that doesn’t brown off during drought conditions without additional watering.

However, during prolonged droughts, providing some water becomes necessary. Additionally, buffalo varieties recover quickly and fully once drought conditions subside and water restrictions are lifted.

Salt Tolerance

Buffalo grasses exhibit resilience in areas with a small level of salt exposure, making them suitable for coastal regions or locations near saltwater pools.

While they are more resistant to salty air, it’s important to avoid irrigating your buffalo lawn with saltwater.

The Number 1 Choice – DNA Certified Sir Walter Buffalo Grass

Of all the soft leaf buffalo grasses, DNA Certified Sir Walter Buffalo Turf is the number 1 choice in Australia with over 60 million square metres installed across Australia.

Sir Walter turf is a gorgeous grass, born and bred under our Australian sun.

When it comes to thriving in Australian climates, there’s no grass that outperforms Sir Walter buffalo lawn, making it the top choice for shaded areas.

Moreover, Sir Walter buffalo lawn boasts exceptional drought resistance and remains vibrant during the winter season. As a result, the lush, appealing green of your Sir Walter lawn will endure well into the colder months.

While other grass types may develop a purplish or brown hue on their leaves during winter, Sir Walter turf retains its rich green color throughout the season.

Sir Walter is a superior quality, soft leaf buffalo grass, perfect for the Australian home.

Born and bred for Australia’s tough climate, Sir Walter is a Lawn Solutions Australia turf variety. We’re confident of its quality, which is why we offer a 10-year guarantee.

Sir Walter Buffalo Turf vs Other Lawn Varieties

So, how does Sir Walter Buffalo turf compare to other grasses? Read our comparison guides with other popular lawn choices to find out exactly how it compares.

• Sir Grange vs Sir Walter
• Sir Walter vs Eureka Kikuyu

Installing a New Sir Walter (DNA Certified) Lawn

If you’re considering planting soft leaf buffalo grass in your yard, follow these steps to create a lawn that will leave your neighbors envious.

Soil Preparation

Begin by preparing your soil. Eliminate any unwanted grass or weeds and thoroughly till the soil. Boosting your soil with organic matter like compost is advisable.

For optimal results, apply a quality turf underlay on top, which will aid in drainage, leveling, and fertilisation before laying your turf.

Turf Installation

Now, it’s time to lay your Sir Walter turf. Commence with a straight row along a driveway or fence line, then stagger the subsequent rows in a brick-like pattern to prevent the seams from aligning.

Ensure that the turf rolls are placed closely together to prevent them from drying out in between.

Watering & Post-Installation Care

After the installation, thoroughly water your turf until it’s saturated down to the soil beneath. Maintain moisture for a couple of weeks to facilitate root establishment.

During the initial establishment period, avoid walking on the newly laid turf. It requires a period of peace and minimal disturbance.

In hot weather conditions, water your turf at least twice a day to prevent it from becoming parched. It’s acceptable to water during the midday if your turf is excessively drying out.

Maintaining & Caring For A Sir Walter Lawn

Maintaining your DNA Certified Sir Walter lawn is crucial to keep it looking lush and green all year round. The good news is this turf requires minimal upkeep compared to other varieties.

Mowing

To maintain a thriving lawn, it’s recommended to mow it at 20mm to 25mm. In areas with limited sunlight, such as shaded spots, consider raising the mowing height as a longer leaf blade enhances sunlight absorption, promoting the lawn’s health despite reduced light exposure.

In the rare event that Buffalo thatch begins to build up, a modest trim of the lawn in spring is usually sufficient to address the issue and keep the thatch at a manageable level.

For a Sir Walter lawn, aim to mow every 7-10 days during the warmer months and adjust to a lower frequency in cooler weather conditions.

Watering An Established Buffalo Lawn

Once your buffalo lawn is established then we recommend infrequent and deep watering as the roots will grow longer to reach a water supply deeper in the soil.

With a deep root system, your lawn with be more drought tolerant as it can draw upon this water supply during dry, hot conditions.

Fertilising

In order to ensure the vitality and wellbeing of your Sir Walter lawn, you should follow a fertilisation plan throughout the year.

It is crucial to opt for a slow-release fertiliser for your buffalo lawn so that your lawn can continue to reap its benefits over time.

However, if you desire a rapid green-up of your lawn throughout the year, consider applying a nitrogen-rich fertiliser to promote a lush and vibrant appearance.

Make sure that you water the fertiliser in thoroughly after application, especially in the summer heat.

Weeds, Pests and Diseases

Compared to other lawn varieties, Buffalo grasses exhibit greater resistance to most pests, weeds, and diseases. However, should issues arise, it is recommended to take the following measures.

Pests

Stay vigilant for potential lawn grub infestations, such as Web or Army Worm, and watch for signs of African Black Beetle. Apply pesticides specifically designed for buffalo lawns and strictly adhere to the label’s instructions.

Weeds

If you detect the presence of weeds, you should attempt manual removal. However, in cases where weeds are widespread across the lawn, apply an appropriate herbicide that is safe for use on buffalo grass.

It’s important to note that any application of weed killers, particularly those targeted at broad leaf weeds, may pose a risk of damaging or killing Buffalo grass.

This is because the same principle that selectively targets the poison to broad leaf weeds can have a similar effect on the broad leaf blades of buffalo grass.

Diseases

The majority of buffalo grass varieties display significant resistance to diseases. Nevertheless, one disease that can potentially affect buffalo grass is Brown Patch.

Brown Patch is a fungal disease that thrives in warm and damp conditions, causing the development of brown, circular patches on your buffalo grass.

These patches can range in size from small to several metres in diameter.

To control Brown Patch on your Buffalo lawn, it is advisable to take precautions such as avoiding evening watering, removing thatch, and applying moderate amounts of a balanced fertiliser.

If symptoms persist, consider the use of a recommended fungicide.

Wrap Up

DNA Certified Sir Walter & soft leaf buffalo grasses stand out from the crowd, offering a blend of lushness, resilience, and versatility that has made it a favorite among homeowners and landscaping enthusiasts.

Its unique qualities, from shade tolerance to drought resistance, set it apart as an ideal choice for various climates and conditions.