When Should I Plant Buffalo Grass? Helpful Examples

Even on the hottest summer days, grass may thrive by keeping the topsoil damp but not soggy. Continuous hydration also promotes the development of deep roots, giving the grass some resistance to drought and stress. But when you should plant buffalo grass?

Buffalo grass can be seeded, sodded, or plugged in the spring when nighttime temperatures fall between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Your buffalo grass should be planted between April and June, preferring warm daytime temperatures above 80 degrees F. 

The speedy establishment of sod and plug installations in the soil is made possible by abundant spring rainfall. Under optimum circumstances, the germination time for buffalo grass seeds might be as few as seven days. 

The optimal time for new seedlings to grow is in the spring because this warm-season grass prefers rising temperatures. Buffalo grass typically grows at its fastest rate when the outside temperature is between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In July and August, you can establish buffalo grass if you adequately irrigate your planting area. Buffalo grass, however, goes into dormancy in dry weather, especially if you seed the area.

Shallow roots render the grass vulnerable to unintentional soil detachment, which can happen while mowing and result in widespread dieback.

Avoid Autumn

Buffalo grass should not be planted in the fall because this turf typically goes into hibernation as soon as the temperatures drop during the cooler months. You might only observe spotty germination and seedling growth if you try to sow seeds in the fall. 

In reality, as autumn progresses, seedlings often die back because they are unable to develop the root system required for food and moisture uptake. Buffalo grass should not be planted in the fall since both sods and plug installations have a weak root system.

Proper Conditions

If the spring is exceptionally chilly, don’t plant your buffalo grass until the soil temperature is over 55 degrees F. Buffalo grass will hold off on starting to develop until it is warm, whether it is seeded, plugged, or sodded. 

When you plant too early, weeds take over the planting area before the grass becomes established. 

Additionally, filling your lawn can take up to four months to fully develop, so plant this buffalo grass as soon as you can so it has the chance to cover the entire yard during the spring and summer before going dormant for the fall and winter.

Will Buffalo Take Over Other Grass?

Buffalo grass does not overrun other grasses because of its slow growth. However, this is dependent on the upkeep and characteristics of the various types of grass.

Buffalo grass spreads through stolons and seeds. Therefore, when combined with slow-growing grasses like Couch grass, it could potentially spread quickly. If combined with Buffalo grass, invasive grasses like Kikuyu or Bermuda will take over.

Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are two aggressive and competitive cool-season types of grass. When combined or over-seeded, these grasses will displace Buffalo grass. Additionally, Bermuda grass and other weeds will fully replace the Buffalo grass under intensive fertilization and irrigation.

Utilize herbicides like glyphosate to get rid of invasive and encroaching grasses on Buffalo grass. During the winter, when Buffalo grass is dormant, use the herbicide.

What Soil Is Best For Buffalo Grass?

Preparing and grading the soil is an essential step before sowing your Buffalo grass seed. No soil is ideal, especially the low-quality, poorly draining subsoils that are frequently revealed by the new buildings. 

You’ll use less water and spend less money in the long run if you take the extra time and effort to prepare your soil before sowing your lawn with Buffalo grass seed.

Poor soil not only increases the cost of watering your lawn but also detracts from the appearance of the grass. Healthy grass lawns often thrive in healthy soil. To make their lawn as green as possible and hide the flaws in their soil, many people spread copious amounts of fertilizer on it (another additional expense). 

However, this is only a temporary, habit-forming remedy. You’ll save time and money and have the best chance of having a picture-perfect lawn if you use the best Buffalo grass seed kinds and well-prepared soil.

Healthy soil has a sound structure. Water can penetrate deeper into the soil profile and is easier to absorb the better the structure. Because clay soils are easily compacted and thick, they absorb nutrients and water slowly. 

Because of this, they are more likely to lose water to runoff and evaporation before much of it reaches the roots. Sandy soils make it easier for water to evaporate from the soil and allow it to travel through the soil too quickly.

Water is stored longer in well-structured soil and is shielded from summer evaporation. This promotes the roots of your Buffalo grass lawn to swell deeper than they would in poor soil, providing them access to more water and nutrients that shallower-rooted plants cannot get.

A healthy soil created by taking extra precautions before planting your Buffalo grass seeds will result in a thick, lush lawn that requires less water and fertilizer. Here are a few steps when planting buffalo grass:

• Rototill the top six inches of your current soil before you sow your Buffalo grass seed. In addition to adding oxygen, this breaks up any compacted areas that limit root growth and water absorption.
  
• Till in organic materials such as black topsoil, compost, or shredded yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, etc.). You can also use a slow-release fertilizer that is based on organic matter.
  
• According to what your county extension agent recommends, add any additional soil amendments. Follow the directions provided by your local agency on where and how to have your soil tested. (Your local agent may advise you to have your soil analyzed first.)

What Is The Best Height For Buffalo Grass?

Even if one lawn is cut extremely short with a cylinder mower to reach these low heights and that flat bowling green appearance, the same lawn will always be naturally browner, require more water and fertilizer, and have that flat appearance while resting on top of inches of Buffalo lawn thatch.

Furthermore, there is little that can be done to save these lawns once they reach this level, which is the problem with them. The lawn will die if you cut into that thick thatch. 

The owner of a Buffalo lawn, however, can occasionally safely cut down into the thatch once or twice per year to regulate it without any serious difficulties occurring if the lawn is mowed at the right heights.

Buffalo grass should never be maintained at such low heights as 12 mm with Cylinder Mowers or Rotary Mowers. The proper height for buffalo grass is between 30 and 50 mm.

Maintaining your Buffalo grass lawn at the proper height will ensure a much healthier lawn all year long and for many more years to come.