Buffalo Lawn Seed Blend

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