buffalo grass vs st augustinebuffalo grass vs st augustine

Buffalo Grass needs full sun and has very little shade tolerance as it evolved to grow among other grasses. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Types of Grass in Australia: Complete Lawn Guide, Dwarf Lemon Trees: Eureka vs Lisbon vs Meyer, How to Block the Neighbours View of Your Backyard. By correctly identifying your turf variety, you can better care for your lawn so that it stays healthy and looks great! However, remember that maintenance costs for St. Augustine grass may lead you to spend more in the long run than centipede grass. Youll need to measure the area youre planting in order to figure out how much sod or how many plugs you should order. In this blog post, we will compare and contrast Buffalo Grass vs St Augustine so that you can make an informed decision about which type of grass is best for your needs! As I said above, the soil type is not a massive factor that dictates the health of this grass as it is really great in a variety of habitats, on top of this, this lawn is pretty much self-sustaining in that it is very low maintenance: needing mowing once a week or even two weeks with a rotary mower if possible (read more about the best lawn mowers for your needs), and fertilization is only needed once a month in spring and summer, its peak growing period. Its like comparing chalk and cheese. For more information, read full disclosure here. Check out this article when fescue goes up against zoysia which is known as a more invasive grass species to really see a difference with temperament. To the untrained eye, all grass might well look alike its all green, right? Originally used as a pasture grass when first introduced to America, this species of lawn is now widely used in agriculture, conservation, and erosion control programs as it can sustain itself when grown in compromising conditions. Centipede grass, also known as Eremochloa buse, is a medium-textured, low growing grass that produces a dense and weed-free turf.It is an aggressively growing grass that is fairly attractive and requires little care. You can mow St Augustine low at 2 to 3 inches tall for a more manicured look or left longer to reduce mowing. Buffalo (St Augustine) and Kikuyu look very similar, as they both have a flattened leaf sheath, a fringe of hairs on the ligules, and no auricles. Its certainly not as assertive and invasive as tall fescue. All content on Ultimate Backyard is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on for decision-making. St Augustine is plagued by pests and disease, many of which dont have effective controls. St Augustine is a type of warm-season grass that is native to Africa and Asia. As mentioned before, freezing temperatures and drought can kill off St Augustine grass. Carpet grass grows well in shade, which makes it a good choice for areas that receive little sunlight, but it is best suited to warm, subtropical climates rather than Buffalos more temperate climate range. However, if you dont mind putting in a bit of extra effort, St Augustine is a tough and durable grass that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. A good sprinkler system is highly advisable especially if you live in a region with little rainfall. Phone: In order to speed up the process, you can take some steps to encourage the growth of Buffalo grass. St. Augustine grass is common in southeastern coastal regions. The blade on the popular Sir Walter Buffalo grass is deep green in colour. Kikuyu is more likely to spread outside the boundaries of your lawn over time. Look for newer cultivars that better replicate a lawn. Bahia grass grows low and outwardly from stolons and the blades contain unsightly seed-heads that aid it in reseeding itself when they drop, however, this can be reduced with regular mowing. It withstands high heat, it withstands cold winters, and it even can withstand long dry spells. Older Post Additionally, this kind of grass is a good choice for people who live near the ocean or in other hot, humid climates. Both Buffalo Grass and St Augustine spread through stolons, although St Augustine is much more prone to thatch problems than Buffalo Grass. Both centipede grass and St. Augustine grass are popular warm-season grass species that require full sunlight. This means that youll have to mow your lawn less often if you choose buffalo over st Augustine. Both buffalo grass and St. Augustine grass are popular lawn varieties that can be planted in warmer climates like those found in Florida, Texas, and California. Welcome to Sod and Seed, Inc. where today we will be going over two popular types of sod grass, Buffalo Grass vs. St. Augustine, what's the difference? Having the right type of grass for your area and conditions can make all the difference between an average lawn and a great one. But as soon as conditions improve, the grass will start growing again. Centipede grass requires at least six hours of full sun, while St. Augustine grass needs at least four hours of full sunlight, but it can handle more. choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. The Big Freeze! As for appearance, theyre recognizable for their fine, hair-like aesthetic, with thin blades that are no more than 1/16-inch or less and that taper into a pronounced tip. harmony st augustine grass I write about everything about indoor and outdoor gardening and the dread-it-but-still-need-to-do-it chores around the yard, like cleaning out the gutter guards. While centipede grass is more attractive, one of its downfalls is its susceptibility to foot traffic. Among the native species that you can find of St. Augustine grass is Floratam. Both buffalo grass and st. Augustine has pros and cons, so lets look at them-. drought tolerance, low maintenance, aesthetically pleasing, etc.). St Augustine thrives in the sandy soils that Buffalo Grass struggles in and prefers acidic soils to match. However, in some cases, the blades of the grass may turn brown and die off during the winter months. There are several types of St. Augustine grass, including palmetto, citrablue, Seville, and floratam. Well in todays post were going to talk about both kinds of grass and Ill go over some major differences that may help you make your decision if you have not already done so. Lets learn more about them! Other than that, caring for St. Augustine grass is pretty straight forward and doesnt require a lot of effort. How to Protect Grass From Frost & What to Do, top tips on how to properly mow your lawn, best chemical free weed solutions for your lawn. Proper maintenance of St. Augustine will encourage it to grow back. On the other hand, St Augustine is a more expensive option. Since I have a fescue lawn Im slightly biased. How Buffalo grass has changed over the years. Fertilizer is a critical component in the growth of healthy lawn grass. Spikes in nitrogen levels from synthetic fertilizers will exacerbate thatch problems and decrease its resistance to pests and disease as it destroys the beneficial microbes in the soil that would otherwise help keep your grass healthy. If you shop through the links on YardThyme, we may earn an affiliate's commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I like to think of myself as the Bond of the backyard, that is if yard work ever became sexy. Because it acts like a warm-season grass, its peak growth is during the heat of summer and goes dormant in the spring and fall. Many types of insects and bugs attack Buffalo grass, as well as common fungal infections. Mow fescue when it gets to around 3-3 1/2 -inches, and to not less than two inches in height. The blades of buffalo are also very flat, which makes them great for sports fields or areas where you may want your grass to look extra lush. Buffalo is also more shade tolerant than Kikuyu. We are a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Buffalo Grass vs. St. Augustine: What's the Difference? Similarly, it usually gives off a more fresh-cut look than Buffalo grass. Rough/coarse texture thats prickly underfoot. It typically needs double the amount of water that youd give a Bermuda lawn. Once it has taken hold, you can cut that right back and let nature do her thing. However, such pleasures only come with high maintenance and St. Augustine can be tricky to keep happy. Avoid using herbicides containing 2,4-D as St Augustine is sensitive to this chemical You may kill your grass along with the weed. Also, Kikuyu needs more mowing than Buffalo. Buffalo grasses only have above-ground runners (stolons). And with the grass being susceptible to bugs, you might need to apply a compatible pesticide to prevent any problems from breaking out. It requires at least 6 hours of sunlight each day to prevent it from dying. And they also taper to a point at the end. The benefit of Kikuyu is that it will be able to repair damage much faster. 512-467 . Another significant distinction is that St. Augustine is shade-tolerant, whereas Bermuda grass does not thrive in shady regions. Here you have two, completely different grass species for growing in completely different grass seasons. Both of these types of grass have their pros and cons, so it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. Aerate your lawn regularly by poking holes into the soil surface with a garden fork or aeration tool. Avoid using herbicides as Buffalo Grass is sensitive to chemicals. . Based in Melbourne, Steve's passion is vegetable gardening, and hes been writing about it for almost 5 years. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Consider your budget, the amount of maintenance youre willing to do, and the climate you live in before choosing which one is right for you. The first thing youll notice about these two types of grass is their appearance. Unfortunately, this also means it can be difficult to tell the difference between them! Like many other hardy grass varieties, Fescue was originally seen as only a pasture grass. St. Augustine is a popular choice for homeowners because its hardy, easy to grow, and offers a lush green lawn thats resistant to drought, pests, and disease. It also requires very little maintenance. Its also known to thrive in sandy soils which is convenient for sea-front locations. Buffalo Grass prefers clay soils and can withstand compaction better. When not working on his own garden projects or blogging, Steve enjoys spending time with his family, cooking meals with produce harvested from his garden, and coaching his sons footy team. Proper maintenance will aid in curbing its invasive behavior through proper watering techniques, to regular mowing. But in colder areas, the grass may turn brown during the winter months. In Australia, it is popularly known as buffalo grass while in the USA buffalo grass is a different species. Whilst this grass is not among the MOST invasive of the grasses, it does have some invasive attributes. Older cultivars can have sparse growth habits that provide opportunity for weeds. Theres a reason why centipede grass is also called the lazy mans grass. Whilst it can survive mild winters, when faced with the winter frost, Bahia grass becomes dormant and can turn brown. Email: But as compared to the tall fescue grass it is much more sensitive. St Augustine needs a lot of fertilizer to stay happy. Zoysia grass costs twice the price of St. Augustine grass on average and it has thinner blades and a deeper green appearance. Aim for no more than one inch of water for the week but not all at once. Color: Dark green. Can you mix Fescue and St Augustine grass? But here are the main differences between fescue and St. Augustine: However, both grasses do have an excellent shade tolerance, with fescue being the best out of any lawn grass species, and St. Augustine being the best of the warm season grasses. Which is basically a hot climate with plenty of water. This is largely due to the fact that it doesnt do well on its own in full sun. Pick up a soil testing kit and make sure you have optimum conditions. Fescue grasses are most commonly found in a mix of other species, such as Kentucky Bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. He also loves all things DIY and is always looking for a new project. They both grow by stolons and turn dormant during the winter, so thats not a key difference, but if youre in an area with a mild or colder winter, then its more likely Buffalo Grass. This means youll need a pretty frequent fertilizer schedule, with either applications of synthetic fertilizers every 8 to 10 weeks, or compost topdressing twice a year with compost tea boosts each month (but if youre going the organic route, itd be a lot easier to start with a lower maintenance and more resilient grass). This is because the grass will have a better chance of taking root and growing back quickly. And the most popular ones are BitterBlue, CitraBlue, Floratam, Palmetto, ProVista, Raleigh, and Seville. Buffalo grass needs water on a regular basis to survive, but over-watering can lead to fungal diseases. For a low-maintenance yard, centipede grass is a solid choice. General informational purposes only and should not be relied on for decision-making your... It has thinner blades and a great one grass seasons and die off the. Be relied on for decision-making, aesthetically pleasing, etc. ) Floratam, palmetto,,! Manicured look or left longer to reduce mowing and is always looking a! To apply a compatible pesticide to prevent any problems from breaking out regularly by poking holes into soil... Grass and St. Augustine grass are popular warm-season grass species for growing in completely different grass seasons replicate lawn! Becomes dormant and can withstand long dry spells Augustine: What 's the difference between them popular warm-season species! 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