The Benefits Of Buffalo Grass
If you're a homeowner and you're looking to beautify your front and backyard areas with rolling reams of lush green grass then you may want to consider the benefits of installing a quality lawn of Bouteloua dactyloides, more commonly known as Buffalo Grass.
A little history of Buffalo Grass
The humble Buffalo Grass variety has been used on Australian lawns for over 180 years with the earliest recorded cultivation being listed from the 1820's. Gregory Blaxland was recorded as the first person to cultivate Buffalo Grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) at Brush Farm House, predating the first recorded cultivation in the USA by almost 60 years!
Buffalo Grass is said to originate from three main areas around the world; the Americas, Africa and the Mediterranean.
Why choose Buffalo Grass?
For the harsh Australian climate Buffalo Grass is a perfect match. Most varieties do well in drought conditions and they have impressive wearing abilities as well as remarkable softness for their durability.
What Buffalo Grass is right for your lawn?
If you have decided that Buffalo Grass is the right choice for your new lawn then the next step may be the hardest; what type of Buffalo Grass is right for my property? Buffalo Grass comes in a range of varieties that are well suited for broad and niche property types.
Below I have a compiled a list of the most commonly used Buffalo Grasses in Australia and the differences between them.
Sapphire Buffalo Grass
Sapphire Buffalo Grass is Australia's most shade tolerant Buffalo Grass variety.
Benefits of Sapphire Buffalo Grass: Excellent winter colour, excellent sun and shade tolerance, fast recovery and rapid growth.
Palmetto Buffalo Grass
Palmetto Buffalo Grass has the following best traits; very high drought tolerance and recovery, lowest levels of thatch, seeds the least amongst Buffalo Grass varieties, holds the best winter colour, and it is slower growing.
Benefits of Palmetto Buffalo Grass: Impressive drought resistance, low maintenance, rapid damage recovery, and hard wearing.
Shademaster Buffalo Grass
Shademaster Buffalo Grass is the slowest growing Buffalo Grass and will therefore require the least amount of mowing and maintenance.
Benefits of Shademaster Buffalo Grass include; excellent shade tolerance, hard wearing, ideal for high traffic areas, low price, and low maintenance.
Deciding on what to use for your lawn?
This article is not designed to give you a comprehensive look at Buffalo Grass varieties but what it does aim to do is inspire you to go to your local turf supplier and sit down and figure out which Buffalo Grass variety is going to suit your plan and budget.
About the Author
Award Turf Supplies http://www.awardturfsupplies.com.au is a family owned and operated business with over 40 years of combined farming history. Our turf farm is operated on 100 acres of land located on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. We specialise in the cultivation and supply of quality weed free lawn. We take pride in the cultivation of our turf varieties.
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