Critical Don'ts of Buffalo Turf Maintenance
Buffalo turf is arguably one of the most robust lawn turfs in the market right now, and it is considered the most popular turf for landscaping projects in coastal homes. Its ability to tolerate drought, retain colour in winter and resist salt makes it an excellent low-maintenance landscaping material. However, you can only enjoy the benefits if you take care of the buffalo turf accordingly. While this is easy, most homeowners still cannot keep their lawn in tip-top condition. This is because homeowners are not told what not to do regarding buffalo turf application. If you know what to avoid concerning maintenance, then your turf has a higher chance of serving you longer.
Do Not Overwater the Turf — One key characteristic of buffalo turf is that it is drought resistant; hence, it is perfect for landscaping properties along the coast. However, that does not mean that the grass can do without water for long periods. Unfortunately, most homeowners think that since buffalo turf is drought resistant, they could use lots of water to keep it in good shape. Therefore, they end up overwatering the grass, and it results in a thickly thatched landscape. The best way to avoid overwatering your buffalo turf is to shovel out some soil and examine the depth of the moisture.
Do Not Over-Shade — If you have a couple of trees on your property, then you do not have to worry about the shade affecting buffalo turf condition. The reason for this is that buffalo grass is shade tolerant and does well in shaded areas. However, buffalo turf needs sunlight to grow healthy; therefore, homeowners must be careful not to install the lawn in an area that is shaded 24 hours a day. For instance, if half of the grass is under a tree's shade, then ensure you leave the other half exposed. Do not install thick shade sails that will put the other half—and consequently the entire lawn—under a shade.
Do Not Water Under Direct Sunlight — As mentioned earlier, buffalo turf is highly resistant to drought, but it still needs to be watered to grow healthy. However, if you do not have a schedule, then the chances are high that the watering will be ineffective. The reason for this is that watering in the middle of the day when temperatures are high leads to faster evaporation, thereby denying the lawn adequate water. The correct strategy is to water the turf in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are lower. Additionally, watering at these times helps to avoid overwatering.