Buffalo Lawn Seed Blend
The McKays Buffalo Blend contains one of the very few drought-tolerant North American Buffalo types of grass suitable for lawn use. It is also the only Buffalo variety available in seed in Australia.
Buffalo grass is a warm-season grass, thriving in the warmer climates of Australia. Once established it has an exceptionally fine, medium-dark green leaf that is very soft to walk on. This is a different look from the broadleaf turf-type varieties.
McKay’s Buffalo Blend is an excellent summer active lawn, greenest during the hottest months of the Summer. Working in combination with the Perennial Ryegrass in this blend, it has good shade, drought, and frost tolerance. Being a runner variety of grass, Buffalo is also exceptionally durable, possessing the ability to self-repair from heavy use and damage.
Buffalo lawns remain dormant longer than other warm-season grasses in the Winter and will brown off with the first frost. The Perennial Ryegrass in this mix becomes active in the cooler temperatures to provide both protection for the Buffalo during dormancy and a green Winter lawn.
The Buffalo Blend is a great, affordable option for establishing a magnificent Buffalo lawn from scratch. Our Buffalo Blend is an excellent choice for anyone looking to create a lush patch of Buffalo heaven. You can have a thriving Buffalo lawn in a matter of weeks for a fraction of the cost of turf and we have 100’s of happy customers to prove it!
Seeding rates:
New Lawns: 30 grams per square meter (3kg/100m2).
Overseeding: 20 grams per square meter (2kg/100m2).
For more information see below for Description and Features to see if this grass suits you!
Please Note: This seed is compliant with WA Biosecurity Requirements and has already undergone quarantine inspection. There is no additional charge or requirements for this seed when ordering from the McKays Grass Seed WA site.
Blade
Medium-Fine
Colour
Medium
Growth
Runner
Growth Rate
Medium-Fast
Description
Buffalo grass in North America is not the same species of grass commonly known as “Buffalo” in Australia. It should not be confused with Stenotaphrum Secundatum varieties such as ‘Sir Walter’ or ‘Palmetto’.
McKays Buffalo Blend contains a mix of Buffalo (Bouteloua dactyloides), Turf Type Perennial Rye and McKays Slow Release Fertiliser. Our blend contains a very high Buffalo content to ensure a high quality Buffalo lawn.
Sowing Tips: Prefers full sun and clay soil, but will grow in sandy loam. Well drained soil is required. It will require 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.
Broadcast the seed at, or very near, the soil surface and incorporate lightly with raking. To ensure best coverage and avoid seed wastage we recommend using an appropriate seed spreader for the size of your area. Soil must remain damp throughout the germination period of both seeds and must be maintained for at least 1-2 weeks after sowing, through irrigation or natural rainfall. Adequate water supplies need to be maintained until the grass is fully established.
Optimal pH: Between 5.0-7.8
Optimal Planting Time: It is recommended to sow in Spring and Autumn, climate dependent. It is possible to establish Buffalo in the cooler areas of Australia like Victoria, however, make sure you plant around October/November when the weather is consistently over 25 degrees.
Germination: Approximately 28 days, climate and condition dependent.
Water: Ensure seed remains damp throughout the germination period. Once mature it can survive on as little as 8cm of rainfall per month.
Fertilising: Will benefit from infrequent fertilising to produce optimal performance and a deep green color, however this is not essential.
First Mowing: Once roots are established, approximately 6-8 weeks post germination.
Mowing Frequency: The Buffalo Blend has a low mowing requirement. The Buffalo is a slow growing variety. Buffalo grass can also be mowed infrequently for a “naturalized” lawn, creating a rugged and wild “meadow” appearance.
Mowing Tips:
- Remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf per mow
- The lower you mow it, the more often you need to mow
- In shady areas increase the mowing height of the grass
- Mowing is the best form of weed control
Disadvantages of Buffalo Blend:
- Will go dormant in the first frost and will brown off. Color will return when the soil has been warm for 2 weeks.
- Do not use Buffalo grass as a lawn where snowfall is low and foot traffic is high in the winter.
- Less suitable for high traffic with kids and dogs than other warm season varieties, particularly when dormant.
- Establishing a new lawn from scratch with buffalograss seed can take time to fill-in completely. It may also require some overseeding and patience after the initial application while the lawn fills in evenly.
- Will not blend in well if used to repair bare patches in turf type Buffalo grasses as it has a different leaf, which looks more like the shape of a couchgrass.
Reviews:
- “Great germination rate”
- “We’ve bought this twice already and the grass seeds grow very well.”
Seed & package details: 50% Buffalo (Bouteloua dactyloides), 40% Turf Type Perennial Ryegrass, 10% Slow Release Fertiliser.
Independently Tested: 85% Min Germination, 98% purity. A seed testing certificate is available upon request.
Ideal Usage: Lawns, Commercial Landscapes, Parks, Playgrounds, Golf Course Roughs.
Where can I sow this grass in Australia? Areas 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Shade tolerance: Good
Daily Sunlight Required: 6+ hours
Drought tolerance: Excellent
Frost Resistance: Moderate
Traffic Tolerance: Excellent
Locations
Season
Warm season grasses thrive during the warmer months in Spring and Summer and may go dormant in cooler climates through winter.
Cool season grasses thrive during the cooler months in Winter
Seed information
Shade tolerance (Weather)
- Full Sun
- Part Shade
- Heavy Shade
- Full Shade
Drought tolerance (Weather)
- Moderate
- Good
- Excellent
Traffic tolerance (Weather)
- Moderate
- Good
- Excellent
Frost tolerance
- Poor
- Moderate
- Good
- Excellent
Average days to germination
- 2-3 Weeks
- 2-4 Weeks
- 3-4 Weeks
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Otherwise, to metro zones it's a flat rate of $9 (for orders under $75).
Non-Metro Zones
Standard Delivery
Australia Wide (except Western Australia), at cost from Australia Post.
Orders are dispatched within 24 hours via regular Australia Post (3-5 business days).
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WA Customers
Due to quarantine restrictions, we have a different product range available for Western Australia.
If you are shopping for delivery to WA, please view our WA site here
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International
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