Sunday 17 May 2015

What is a buffalo turf and what are the ways of maintaining it?

As the supply of fresh water diminishes with the increase in the cost of the water, more number of businesses and individuals are looking for alternatives to watering the turf. Buffalo turf is the only option remaining. The buffalo grass is an attractive, low-water-usage, fine-textured soft grass that grows throughout the Southern Mexico. The soft leaf buffalo is the warm season perennial grass that establishes itself as the three-six inches tall sod grass and the grass spreads by the runners called the stolons. The stolons form a turf which is greatly solid but then it may accommodate native bunch grasses and even wildflowers. The buffalo grass is incredibly cold and drought tolerant hardy grass that has no insect diseases. It is resistant to insect problems and so the grass is the low maintenance one. For larger landscaped areas like the parks, schools and business centres, the grass is ideal.

What kind of soil is needed for growing soft leaf buffalo?


Although the buffalo turf can easily adapt to the variety of soils, the grass mainly prefers the heavier soils and cannot grow that conveniently in sandy soil. The grass grows extensively in well-drained, rich clay soil and also loan soil. Buffalo turf can also grow in the rocky limestone soil. It has only one limitation and that is its intolerance of shade. When the soft leaf buffalo grows extensively, it ranges from green to the blue-green shade. However, the grass goes dormant in the cold temperatures and when there is low rainfall during summer. Bed preparation for growing the buffalo grass differs slightly from the lawn grasses. You need to remove the existing weeds from the bed firm to allow it grow conveniently. It is the tilling procedure that stimulates the growth of the weeds. The establishment rate and the germination of the buffalo grass seed are fairly good. Proper watering may even maximise the growth performance of the grass.

Caring for the buffalo turf


Weeds greatly appear just after plugging or seeding. Controlling the weeds is the difficult problem while establishing buffalo grass. Weeds generally grow faster than the grass seedlings and so you need to control their growth to prevent them from out-competing the grass. If you mow and water the lawn correctly then the problem may be avoided. The buffalo grass, however, survives without any need for the supplemented water but then it may go dormant. For keeping the buffalo turf green during summer season, it is important that you water till 1-1.5 inches every week. The watered lawn requires all the more mowing to prevent the growth of the weeds. If you water too much during winters then weeds will establish. You must mow the established buffalo lawn only occasionally but not shorter than 3 inches. Once established the soft leaf buffalo is hardy and may even tolerate the moderate foot traffic. There is no need for irrigation or fertilisation and a minimum amount of maintenance from your side may make the grass lush green. You can make use of the organic fertiliser during the spring season to offer it a tremendous aesthetic appeal.

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