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.

   

[EricL]

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.

[amichaelmedia]

Hey all again

Doing some lawn inspecting. 

I'm seeing what I think is crab grass? Rather than stolons?

Or am I wrong?

[JacobZ]

Hi @amichaelmedia,

I'm about 99% confident that it's just stolons from your lawn.

Purple stolons are exactly what you would expect to see in Sir Walter buffalo, which appears to be what your lawn is.

I can't see anything that would make me too concerned about crabgrass, but it is definitely worth keeping an eye on just to be sure.

Allow me to tag @Noelle to see what she thinks.

Jacob

[Noelle]

Hi @amichaelmedia 

I agree with JacobZ that what you are seeing are stolons from the buffalo lawn - definitely not crab grass!