Bahia grass can be grown through either sod or seed and requires little attention as it is usually very self-sufficient. This also means that they have different appearances. Buffalo Grass does really well in clay-based soils, like silt-clay and loam-clay, and can grow well in loam-based soils as well. Quick tip: Take a look at this article for some top tips on how to properly mow your lawn. Not drought tolerant and not suitable for a non-irrigated lawn or for areas with low rainfall or extended dry periods. Here you have two, completely different grass species for growing in completely different grass seasons. 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. If you try to pamper this grass or treat it like St Augustine or Bermuda, itll struggle. And if youre looking for a low-maintenance type of grass, Buffalo grass is your best option. Buffalo is not only faster growing than St. Augustine, but its also less likely to get diseases like a brown patch or dollar spot. By correctly identifying your turf variety, you can better care for your lawn so that it stays healthy and looks great! Australia and South Africa refer to St Augustine as Buffalo Grass or Buffalo Turf. As mentioned before, freezing temperatures and drought can kill off St Augustine grass. In these areas, buffalo grass may be a better option. Fescue, or fine fescue as its often known, is a broad term given to a number of different fescue grasses that are popular in the northern parts of the US, and more temperate climes around the world. Look out for yellowing grass spots in St. Augustine that could mean an iron deficiency. Spectracide vs Roundup Which is the Best Weed Killer? Like Buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass has excellent shade tolerance as well as adaptability to dry, hot conditions. Buffalo grass is a low-maintenance type of grass, which means that it doesnt require a lot of care or attention. If youre patient and take some measures to encourage the growth of Buffalo grass, eventually it will take over your lawn. Most importantly, proper lawn care and maintenance is the number one method for prevention of pests and weeds in both St. Augustine and Bermuda grass. Soil pH: 5.0 to 8.5. Centipedegrass requires minimal fertilizer and generally does not require pesticides, as it is not prone to pests or disease. On the other hand, St Augustine is a more expensive option. Given that ones a warm season grass and the other a cool season species, I wouldnt advise it. This means that if you want your lawn to grow quickly, then buffalo grass may be a better choice for you. Also, water the St. Augustine grass the night before mowing so it is healthy and perked up the following day for mowing. Buffalo grass can be grown by seed or sod. My name is Jamie, The Backyard Pros is a website where I piece together articles about all my awesome yard ideas. The truth is that both types of grasses can be susceptible to weeds. For more information, read full disclosure here. Keeping irrigation and fertilizer to a minimum will starve out many weed species. Thats not surprising considering the region its native to. If you live in the north fescue is better, if you live in the south, St. Augustine is the way to go. Two of these opinions are which type of grass is best (Buffalo or St Augustine), and if theres any difference between them at all. And thats just the tip of the iceberg for differences. It is one of the most common varieties of grass in Australia, but understanding how to identify Buffalo grass can be difficult for beginners. Buffalo Grass should be kept taller at 3 to 4 inches or even left at its maximum height of 6 inches. Additionally, its roots dont grow as deep into the ground, making it easier for weeds to compete for resources. For a faster start, you can also use plugs which will spread within 8 to 12 weeks of planting. 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. This grass species is excellent for coastal regions with high humidity, mild winters, and salty skies. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bermuda grass requires about 1 to 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet per year, vs. St. Augustine grass, which needs 3 to 6 pounds per 1,000 square feet annually. 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. harmony st augustine grass #514-1231 Pacific Blvd When not working on his own garden projects or blogging, Steve enjoys spending time with his family, cooking meals with produce harvested from his garden, and coaching his sons footy team. If youre looking for a type of grass that doesnt require a lot of work, Buffalo grass is the better choice. Proper maintenance of St. Augustine will encourage it to grow back. Additionally, the roots of Buffalo grass grow deep into the ground, making it harder for weeds to compete for resources. It is, however, a native plant to southern North America, unlike centipede grass. High resistance for both insects and disease. Watering Bahia and St. Augustine are great, but what do you think; which one is better? This grass finds hotter weather conditions favorable, therefore, is the definitive turf choice in Florida and central Texas where gardens are more likely to be exposed to full sunlight. Once in place, it establishes itself quickly. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. So which type of grass is cheaper: Buffalo grass or St Augustine? This type of grass is a good choice for people who live near the ocean or in other areas where there is a lot of salt in the air. Note for the purposes of this article, well be talking about fine fescue grass, and not tall fescue. For example, if St. Augustine grass is mowed as low as most Bermuda grass lawns, it will die. Different Types of Lawn Aerators Explained Holy Lawns, Batman! Since St Augustine prefers sandy soils which are loose and difficult to compact, you may need to aerate if youre growing it in any other kind of soil. As for appearance, theyre recognizable for their fine, hair-like aesthetic, with thin blades that are no more than 1/16-inch or less and that taper into a pronounced tip. Need professional help with your project? They . Heres a great video detailing some techniques for rejuvenating a neglected Buffalo lawn: You may be mowing your Buffalo grass too short or too often. In addition to this, St Augustine will not survive in alkaline soil while Buffalo grass can tolerate slightly alkaline conditions. And once it does, youll be able to enjoy all the benefits that this low-maintenance type of grass has to offer. When grown in ideal environments, such as in fertile soils, Bahia grass can grow rapidly at a rate of 70cm per week and if left unmaintained, can become very invasive. A popular warm season grass, St. Augustine is best suited to hotter climes, in places such as Florida, Southern California, and the Gulf states. If there are any weeds growing in between patches of dead Buffalo Grass then pull them out as soon as possible using some gloves. I like to think of myself as the Bond of the backyard, that is if yard work ever became sexy. Plugs can help speed up the process. Its rough texture is terrible to walk upon. In addition to looking great and being low maintenance, buffalo grass has other characteristics that make it appealing to homeowners who love its distinct look (and unique texture). Many grass types grow through stolons as well as rhizomes, however, St. Augustine can only be established through stolons. Buffalo Grass is a true transition zone grass that acts like a warm-season grass. St. Augustine requires more water and care than other grasses and is susceptible to freeze and disease. This actually makes it relatively easy to start a lawn with this grass, as plugs of St. Augustine will spread quickly to cover bare spots and form a nice, even surface. Additionally, it doesnt require as much fertilizer or water as St Augustine does. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. This is because the grass will have a better chance of taking root and growing back quickly. The confusion comes from St Augustine being called Buffalo Grass (or Buffalo Turf) in Australia and South Africa. It typically needs double the amount of water that youd give a Bermuda lawn. Most fescue types look very similar, and theyre often hard to tell apart. Both buffalo grass and St. Augustine grass are popular lawn varieties that can be planted in warmer climates like those found in Florida, Texas, and California. St Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides) are not the same; in fact, theyre very different grasses. Buffalo Grass vs St Augustine: What is Cheaper? The grass is coarse texture grass, and it has flat blades. Likewise, it wont do well in the heavier clay-based soils or alkaline soils. How to Make Grass Thicker, Greener and Fuller The Essential Guide. It even has a disease named after it, St Augustine Decline. Unfortunately, this also means it can be difficult to tell the difference between them! This can be both a blessing and a curse, as you might not notice that St. Augustine actually has a problem. Buffalo grass and carpet grass are two different species. Appearance wise, fescue is fine and hair-like, whereas St. Augustine is broader with a more rounded tip. Types of Weed Killers How to Choose the Right One. link to Signs of Lawn Heat Stress & How to Treat It? St. Augustine Grass A wider blade than Bermuda grass, it can tolerate a good amount of Shade. Heres how these grass varieties compare to each other. However, they grow long, reaching anywhere between 8 and 20 inches. Now that you know a little bit about both Buffalo grass and St Augustine, lets take a look at some of the key differences between these two types of grass. St. Augustine will need the application of a suitable fertilizer, and if the soil has a higher pH, then iron supplements might need to be applied. And you must always be keeping an eye out for disease, pests, and bugs. Both with their advantages and disadvantages but which one is right for your lawn? A good sprinkler system is highly advisable especially if you live in a region with little rainfall. You may not need to fertilize at all, and when you do, its easy enough to apply a layer of compost in the early fall. It is a good choice for people who live in warm climates, as it can survive in hot weather. If I HAD to make a choice. Zoysia grass costs twice the price of St. Augustine grass on average and it has thinner blades and a deeper green appearance. Perhaps the main reasons its so popular is that it germinates quickly and has a very high shade tolerance. To learn more, check out our complete guide to St Augustine. And until next time, I wish you the very best of luck with your lawns! There are plenty of other types of grass seed to choose from. These include freezing temperatures, drought, and certain insects and diseases. Medium. The strength of this grass is very much due to the thick carpet it creates which helps the plant to absorb and retain water better, allowing it to perform great as a heat and drought resistant option for many homeowners. Centipede grass and St. Augustine grass arent the only grass species for their respective climate zones. And with the grass being susceptible to bugs, you might need to apply a compatible pesticide to prevent any problems from breaking out. I like to think of myself as the Bond of the backyard, that is if yard work ever became sexy. Older cultivars can have sparse growth habits that provide opportunity for weeds. It thrives in the heat, requiring six or more hours of full sun. Grasses are spread through two different types of runners: rhizomes and stolons. Buffalo Grass vs St Augustine: What Grows Faster? This means that you may spend more time (and money) doctoring your lawn than actually enjoying it and disease could still kill it off. It can take several years for st. Augustine to become established in your yard, which means you might have a patchy lawn during that time. This makes buffalo grass a good choice for people who live in areas with harsh winters because they wont have to worry about their lawn dying back or being covered with snow all winter long. Catering to a lawn that has mixed needs is going to be a real challenge. Other lawn care tools that can help prevent thatch problems include dethatching rakes and vertical mowers. Its also highly susceptible to diseases and pests. Take action if you notice anything out of the ordinary particularly brown spots or mildew. When it comes to soil, these grasses are complete opposites. Read More . Specific zoysia and St. Augustine varieties may differ, but . If the lawn gets little water, has full sun, and is rarely fertilized, then Buffalo Grass will outcompete St Augustine. Canada. + 1 778-244-4107 The short answer is yes, Buffalo grass can eventually take over a St Augustine lawn. Photo: Jennifer Smith / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images. Centipede grass is extremely low-maintenance. However, having said all that, for the sheer fact that it is much easier to maintain in the long run, I would say fescue edges it. It can handle the heat, humidity, and salt of the subtropical region, and unlike its closest and most popular competitor Bermuda, it can handle some shade. Please feel free to call us with any further questions at 1-800-831-8163. Note: Don't use a corn meal pre-emergent for weeds in a season you are trying to germinate clover seed. Similarly, St. Augustine grass also has relatively wide, hearty blades. Compared to other warm season grasses such as Bermuda and zoysia, St. Augustine has a higher drought tolerance, and will remain greener for longer in hot conditions. Aerate your lawn regularly by poking holes into the soil surface with a garden fork or aeration tool. It is a warm-season lawn grass that is popular for cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions. Buffalo grass is a warm-season grass that is dormant in the winter and green in the summer, so if you have been experiencing colder temperatures, this may also be the cause for a slight discolouration. For people on the market for low-maintenance grass, Buffalo grass is a great option. Whether Buffalo Grass will overtake St Augustine depends on who the conditions are favorable for. You dont need to go out of your way to care for this grass species as its not susceptible to common lawn pests or diseases. This means youll need a pretty frequent fertilizer schedule, with either applications of synthetic fertilizers every 8 to 10 weeks, or compost topdressing twice a year with compost tea boosts each month (but if youre going the organic route, itd be a lot easier to start with a lower maintenance and more resilient grass). Andy Gibson. Healthy lawns grow thicker and are better able to outcompete weeds. Buffalo Grass is a great no-mow grass. Transition Zone, Behaves Like Warm-Season. Not to be confused with buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass now grows across the world in sunny, coastal regions like Africa and Australia, where its also called buffalo turf and buffalo grass., High traffic may cause dead, brown patches, Knowing your grass is the key to keeping it green. 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