This is because Buffalo only has above-ground stolons, while Kikuyu also uses under-ground rhizomes. As we mentioned above, Buffalo grass is native to North America while St Augustine is native to Africa and Asia. Buffalo grass needs water on a regular basis to survive, but over-watering can lead to fungal diseases. Bahia grass can be found in warmer locations along the southern states of America as well as in Hawaii, too. Heres how these grass varieties compare to each other. Also, water the St. Augustine grass the night before mowing so it is healthy and perked up the following day for mowing. However, they grow long, reaching anywhere between 8 and 20 inches. Mow at a higher level than normal. Depending on the specific variety, Buffalo grass thrives in soil with a PH level between 5 and 8.5. There is no red or yellow colour on the leaves but this warm-season grass may discolour slightly in the colder months. You can mow St Augustine low at 2 to 3 inches tall for a more manicured look or left longer to reduce mowing. Centipede grass is extremely low-maintenance. How often should St Augustine grass be watered? 8 Plants That Look Just Like Queen Annes Lace, 6 Fascinating Plants that Look Like Elderberry. St Augustine started out as highly popular in Florida and the Gulf coastline, but is falling out of favor because of its high maintenance and low resistance to insects and disease. 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. link to Dormant Grass vs Dead Grass How to Tell the Difference & What to Do? By correctly identifying your turf variety, you can better care for your lawn so that it stays healthy and looks great! If you struggle with picking a grass species perfect for your needs and wants, and youre considering either Bahia grass or St. Augustine, read on to discover the main differences between the two as well as their pros and cons! Bahia grass can be grown through seed or sod and is known to have a longer growth period than other grass types; this slow growth rate can sometimes cause weed issues in early establishment, however, is short lived once matured. And until next time, I wish you the very best of luck with your lawns! Lawn-care experts Scotts offer some practical advice on how best to plant St. Augustine. St Augustine thrives in the sandy soils that Buffalo Grass struggles in and prefers acidic soils to match. Due to their respective traits and adaptability to certain climates in different regions, some of these varieties are more popular in certain areas than others (Sir Walter is particularly popular along Australias east coast). 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. How to Protect Grass From Frost & What to Do. However, for the initial installation, both types of grasses are usually priced similarly. Most cost-friendly upfront: St. Augustine Sun Tolerance 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. That means It needs a whole day of sunlight. I help busy people get into gardening, create natural and good-looking home decorations, and suggest outdoor activities and tools explore nature. During the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn, you might notice an unsightly brown tinge to parts of your lawn.Or maybe even all of it!Either way, its not the most encouraging sight My name's Gibson. Its low growth makes it better for colder areas, and it stays green year-round. Healthy lawns grow thicker and are better able to outcompete weeds. Proper maintenance will aid in curbing its invasive behavior through proper watering techniques, to regular mowing. Providing youre in a cool-season grass region, fine fescue makes an excellent species for lawns although its highly likely it will be mixed with other variants to maximize health. 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. How Buffalo grass has changed over the years. To keep your lawn green, youll only need to provide 1 inch of water per month. Its unique blue-green shade is an attraction to those who want a fresh and healthy looking lawn for long periods of time, but in winter this grass does have the risk of running into a certain level of dormancy when growth slows down, and the grass color fades. Having both stolons above ground and rhizomes beneath ground help Buffalo grass and St. Augustine repair from damage naturally. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Whilst Bahia grass prefers to grow in nutrient rich soils which are well-drained as well as acidic, it can also thrive in sandy or clay soils that are less fertile. It forms a thick, durable sod with similar characteristics to that of a dense green carpet. High amounts of fertilizer cost more money and take more time, while exacerbating other conditions like thatch or worsening its insect and disease resistance. As mentioned, youll find that fescue grass is often mixed with other species, as it wont take over and crowd out other variants. No longer is Buffalo grass sharp and scratchy, but it has been altered to no be much less problematic for allergy sufferers. One way to do that, is to know when to aerate your lawn, so follow that link for some more top lawn care advice no matter the species of grass. Is Buffalo Grass the Same as St Augustine? St Augustine thrives in warm coastal regions, like Florida and along the southern coast of the United States. Once it has taken hold, you can cut that right back and let nature do her thing. Native to North America, Buffalo Grass is uniquely adapted to handle everything that the tricky and unpredictable Transition Zone can throw at it. Theyre both so similar in terms of usefulness that deciding is definitely difficult, but youll have to consider the pros and cons of each to decide what you like best. It requires a soil pH level of 6-6.5 to thrive. Welcome to Sod and Seed, Inc! Andy Gibson. St Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides) are not the same; in fact, theyre very different grasses. But what if you have a lawn that is already mostly St Augustine? Its not as tolerant to traffic as you might expect, and is better to look at than it is play upon. I like to think of myself as the Bond of the backyard, that is if yard work ever became sexy. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online. Follow our fertilizer recommendations of nitrogen in the summer months and potassium in the early fall. The benefit of Kikuyu is that it will be able to repair damage much faster. This grass is native to southeastern and central parts of the U.S. and Central America. Fescue grasses are most commonly found in a mix of other species, such as Kentucky Bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Over-fertilizing the lawn can burn or kill grasses, so be sure to buy a fertilizer that is appropriate for Buffalo grass. The confusion comes from St Augustine being called Buffalo Grass (or Buffalo Turf) in Australia and South Africa. If you live in the north fescue is better, if you live in the south, St. Augustine is the way to go. Mar 10, 2023, The Best Sod for Sacramento In addition, there are 11 cultivars available that make excellent turf grass. Buffalo Grass needs full sun and has very little shade tolerance as it evolved to grow among other grasses. It needs little, if any, fertilizer and likes. Also, ensure that the lawn is getting at least 1" to 1 " of water per week. Floratam is actually a common name used to describe St. Augustine, given that its the most popular and widely-used variant. This includes into your garden beds, over your driveway, and it may even invade your neighbours lawn. Types of Gardening Tools The Essential Guide to What You Need in Your Shed! It can tolerate broad pH ranges, from inland acidic soils to coastal high pH soils. (Answered!). Can Buffalo grass overtake it? When it comes to soil, these grasses are complete opposites. St Augustine is a full-fledged warm-season grass that can only thrive in subtropical areas (USDA Zone 9 and 10). If your soil is higher than this, you can add sulfur to balance it out. It is soft, dense and has that really great green color that shows health in a lawn. Many types of insects and bugs attack Buffalo grass, as well as common fungal infections. The grass is coarse texture grass, and it has flat blades. There are many varieties of Buffalo grass, some more common than others. A St. Augustine lawn should be mown to a height of 2" to 2.5". No matter which type of grass you choose, youll be sure to have a beautiful lawn that you can enjoy for years to come! It withstands high heat, it withstands cold winters, and it even can withstand long dry spells. Here are several alternative grass species for warm season climate zones: Some plants overstay their welcome, even after you've shown them the door. Other lawn care tools that can help prevent thatch problems include dethatching rakes and vertical mowers. When it comes to lawns, people have very strong opinions on what makes a great lawn, and what it takes to make a lawn thrive. Which is the best St Augustine grass variety? 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. Sod delivery fresh from the farm 1-800-381-8163, Posted by Razy Garcia-Sanchez on Jan 13, 2023. Low. However, it will dominate if its optimum conditions are met, while other grasses needs arent being fulfilled but the same can be said for almost all grass types. This grass species makes for a great garden turf due to its heavy traffic threshold and weather-resistant qualities. St Augustine is a type of warm-season grass that is native to Africa and Asia. Compared with fescue, St. Augustine is certainly the more aggressive variant, but when it comes up against something like centipede, theres not a lot in it. Key Differences Between Bahia Grass and St. Augustine Grass, Characteristics, Growing Conditions and Appearance, Planting and Caring for St. Augustine Grass. This is because it grows more densely, which makes it harder for weeds to take root. Buffalo grass is a low-maintenance type of grass, which means that it doesnt require a lot of care or attention. Similar to Buffalo grass, warm climates should not have any problems with St Augustine grass going dormant during the winter. This is also the more weed-resistant option of the two, making for less weed picking work down the road. This grass only grows through stolons not rhizomes which can grow to be several feet long and root at the nodes. St Augustine Grass Vs. Centipede Grass. Bahia grass is relatively low maintenance with the lowest rate of disease and pest issues compared to other warm season grasses. Despite being moderately high-maintenance, St. Augustine grass is popular for several reasons. This means that if you live in an area where it's hot and dry, or you don't water your lawn often, then st Augustine may be a better choice for you. Pick up a soil testing kit and make sure you have optimum conditions. Only then will you be able to make an informed decision about which type of grass is right for you. Unfortunately, this also means it can be difficult to tell the difference between them! Buffalo Grass or St Augustine: What is Better? Heres what you need to know about the great grass debate between buffalo grass vs St. Augustine grass. St. Augustine, or "Buffalo" grass, is known for its coarse texture and density which create a bounce when walked on. Sitemap | About Us | Affiliate Disclosure | Contact Me | Privacy Policy. It also grows in California and Nevada. However, St. Augustine grass requires regular fertilizer and pesticides, as its prone to disease and can be fussy in a nonideal environment. Both grass types thrive in warmer regions of the U.S., so if youre wondering which one is best for your lawn, heres everything you need to know to help you decide. Its great for gardens exposed to full sunlight and restricted water accessibility due to its extensive roots that grow deep into the soil. RELATED: Tiftuf vs Sir Walter Grass. Generally speaking, Buffalo grass is the more affordable option. If youre looking for a type of grass that doesnt require a lot of work, Buffalo grass is the better choice. If youve ever walked barefoot across the grass in the South, theres a chance you walked over centipede grass. Grasses are spread through two different types of runners: rhizomes and stolons. 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. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I like to think of myself as the Bond of the backyard, that is if yard work ever became sexy. You can rest at ease if you are planning to grow this grass on your lawn. Buffalo grass and St. Augustine have stems above the soil surface, also referred to as stolons, as well as rhizomes growing under the surface. check out our complete guide to Buffalo Grass. As a home owner and as someone with garden centre experience, I know plenty about backyard and lawn care products. Fine fescues will go dormant under the stresses of heat, but will re-invigorate when watered or given shade. But remember try not to stick to a set schedule, rather checking the height of the grass. This is because it grows quickly and will need to be mowed more often. Both with their advantages and disadvantages but which one is right for your lawn? 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. Types of Gardening Tools The Essential Guide to What You Need in Your Shed! Check that your soil PH levels are correct. For more information, read full disclosure here. Too much fertilizer can damage Buffalo Grass and encourage weeds. The biggest properties that make this grass a winner for southeastern lawns include its salt, heat, humidity, and shade tolerance. Additionally, its roots dont grow as deep into the ground, making it easier for weeds to compete for resources. How do you tell the difference between Buffalo and Kikuyu grass? Sod, plugs, and stolons are the main ways in which this grass can be grown. You need not worry about pests and disease if you grow a Buffalo Grass lawn. If the lawn gets plenty of water, has some shade, and is richly fertilized, then the faster growing St Augustine will outcompete Buffalo Grass. Quick tip: Unlike many warm season grasses such as Bermuda, St. Augustine can grow in areas of as little as 40% sunlight exposure, allowing it to survive in the cooler seasons. Unlike Bermuda grass grows well in the full sunlight. All in all, if you live in an area with a warm climate, you can expect Buffalo grass to stay green all year long. Older Post Another bonus of this grass is its high shade tolerance. Two of these opinions are which type of grass is best (Buffalo or St Augustine), and if theres any difference between them at all. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. Its hardy in cold climates, so it can survive even brutal winters-but it doesnt die back completely; instead, it goes dormant until warmer weather returns. But if you dont mind mowing your lawn more often and you like the look of a freshly-cut lawn, St Augustine may be a better option for you. St. Augustine is planted from sod or plugs only, and rarely if ever from seed. Buffalo grass is a turf variety that can spread quickly. Healthier soil with lots of microorganisms will also break down thatch before it becomes a problem, and St Augustines high fertilizer needs pretty much destroy any beneficial microbes that would help you. If youre choosing based on which one is cheaper Bahia grass or St. Augustine the average cost between them differs by around $115 per pallet of sod, with Bahia grass being cheaper. Choose. 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. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about as the grass will green up again in the springtime. As such, there will rarely be a need to replace it. 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