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How to ensure Sir Walter Buffalo lawn is even in colour?

amichaelmedia

Hey team

I've got my lawn showing some signs of dense, darker patches. And the rest looking light.

This comes after a scalping and aerating. No top dress on these patches yet this year.

How do I get the rest of the lawn looking like this or consistent in colour?

I've also done some pallet fert. Recently

Got some liquid fertilizer ready to go.

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Comments

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @amichaelmedia

I think your grass looks healthy the ground undulations under the grass may well be pooling more water in some locations and not others causing the green vs not so green. patches.

When you to dress try a loamy soil (Soil 50/50 river sand) is one mix,

It will partly self level at ground level, This will help lawn mower to cut more even thickness too,

JacobZ

Hi @amichaelmedia,

Thank you for your question about caring for your buffalo lawn.

As @Jewelleryrescue has said, your grass looks very healthy and the scalp and aerate will certainly have contributed to this.

I think what you're seeing here is pockets of thatch, which is essentially dead grass interspersed between the live stuff. Pulling this material out gives the healthy grass room to breathe and space to spread into which will make these patches green with healthy grass as opposed to dead stuff.

You can use a thatching rake or scarifier to remove the dead material.

Once the thatch has been removed, top dressing and applications of liquid fertiliser will be much more beneficial.

Check out How To Dethatch Your Lawn for some guidance.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

amichaelmedia

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/46907#Comment_46907

I'm starting to think my Sir Walter has Summer Grass in it.

Best way to remove?

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/86332#Comment_86332

Hi @amichaelmedia,

Summer grass, which is also known as crabgrass can be a bit tricky, especially in buffalo lawns.

The only product I am aware of that can be used to treat it is David Grays Crab Grass and Clover Killer Selective Herbicide.

It can only be used to spot spray on buffalo lawns as some minor damage to the surrounding grass is likely. It is still effective, but you'll have to be careful with how you apply it.

You can use a Garden Basics 5L Garden Pressure Sprayer Kit to spot-spray the summer grass or use an Applicator Brush to apply the herbicide.

Make sure you read and follow the instructions on the label closely and wear gloves, a mask, long clothes and enclosed shoes when applying the herbicide.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

amichaelmedia

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/108529#Comment_108529

Hey team

Ive do ne some treatment as recommended above

Just wanted to show some patches I've noticed in lawn that are different. Part of me thinks these are a fly in seed rather than a strained buffalo lawn

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/121919#Comment_121919

Hi @amichaelmedia,

These are stolons, which are the above ground runners that Buffalo lawns send out in order to spread.

They are nothing to worry about and are a sign of a healthy lawn that is looking to spread.

You can pull them out if you'd like, or just leave them and mow over the top.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

amichaelmedia

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/129994#Comment_129994

Any advice if the soil is too hard to core aerate?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/135110#Comment_135110

Hi @amichaelmedia,

I'd probably suggest you hire a mechanical corer and give it a real good going over. Alternatively, you could try a spiker, rather than a corer.

Mitchell

amichaelmedia

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/108529#Comment_108529

Ive sprayed once and removed. Now spraying ones tgat have reemerged.

Should I cover the holes left after I remove? Or am I just going to be battling these forever

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/122082#Comment_122082

Hello @amichaelmedia

What you are looking at are the stolons of the lawn. Stolons are horizontal stems, also called runners, that grow above ground and allow plants to spread and create new individuals. They produce nodes where new roots and shoots can develop, forming distinct plantlets that can become independent.

Because it is a natural part of your lawn, the best way to manage it is to keep on top of it and regularly pull them out. If your lawn gets over run, you can use a scarifier to remove the thatch and runners. You can also try keeping your lawn short to discourage stolon growth.

Let me call on our experienced members @Noelle and @Adam_W for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Noelle

Hi @amichaelmedia

Buffalo grasses naturally produce stolons (runners) - this is how they grow and spread to thicken up. In my experience, the stolons should not be pulled out - that's how the grass renews itself. It's the older stolons underneath the new growth that develop into thatch, and it's the thatch that should be removed regularly by raking.

The deep green indicates strong new growth, and that's what you want over the entire lawn. Stimulate and support it by applying a slow release lawn food suitable for buffalo grass every three months from late winter to autumn. De-thatch in early autumn before the 3rd application of fertiliser and again in spring if necessary.