Hardiness
Warm-Season Grass but also has excellent winter hardiness
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Light
Does best in areas receiving at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Morning sun is critical. Does not do well in shade. |
Soil
Will grow in most soil types except for course textured sand based soils. Addition of organic matter (compost, etc.) in coarse soils is beneficial. Must be well-drained, it will not tolerate standing water
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Water
Infrequent deep soaking, drought tolerant |
Habit
Fine-leaved native grass species, with a low growth, dense, habit. Spreads fast on runners or stolons, but is not invasive
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Maintenance
Low |
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Comments:
Buffalograss is a fine-leaved native grass species that has thrived on the Great Plains for centuries. It has survived severe weather extremes and has evolved into a water-efficient, sod-forming grass of incredible durability that is used on residentail lawns, golf courses, industrial sites, and acreages.
Buffalograss has become very popular as a low-maintenance lawn grass because this hardy grass greens up only two-to-three weeks later than Kentucky Bluegrass in spring, and stays green all summer with little or no care. Like blue-gramagrass, it goes dormant at the first killing frost and turns a beautiful straw color until it breaks dormancy again in the spring.
Unlike many native grasses, buffalograss grows as much as 5 inches (12.5 cm) within 50 days after planting, and spreads fast on runners or stolons but is not a pest. It is available in seed or sod form, and has both male and female plants.
Buffalograss requires six-to-eight hours of sunlight and does especially well on hot, drought sites where bluegrass dies out. It requires sunlight and well-drained soil and often is used for erosion control.
Buffalograss can be mowed from only once a year to once every two weeks depending on the appearance desired. Mowing frequency is directly related to the amount of water and fertilizer applied. The key to a great looking lawn is to avoid removing more than one-third of the turf height at any one mowing. A reduction in mowing height will increase the frequency of mowing and the intensity of the management, i.e. watering and fertilizer. A more manicured, traditional lawn appearance will require a higher mowing frequency.
The water requirements for buffalograss are considerably less than other turfgrass species. Excessive irrigation creates weed potential, increased mowing, and disease susceptibility. In most cases natural rain provides adequate moisture for growth, but timely supplemental irrigation will enhance the turf quality. In periods of extended drought, deep soaking with no less than one inch (2.5 cm) of irrigation water once a month may become a necessity to prevent drough-induced dormancy. Soak soil before winter if soil is dry.
Unique qualities:
Excellent drought tolerance
Does not like excessive nitrogen or water
Poor grass for extreme activities
Excellent for low-maintenance turf areas
Good medium green color
High leaf density
High winter hardiness
High disease resistance
Excellent ease of establishment
Excellent spring greenup
Optimum Mowing Height: 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) for best turf
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