Austine ST-26 - Buffalo - Turf Grass

Scientific Name: Stenotaphrum Secundatum.

Buffalo Turf grass is the common name in Australia, and it is otherwise known as St Augustine grass in America.

Origin: Austine (ST 26) is a hybridised improved turfgrass variety of the shade tolerant species Stenotaphrum Secundatum (“Buffalograss”) developed by H&T Whiting Turfgrass Development. Australia Patent No. 678140.

Semi Dwarf Austine ST-26 forms a softer textured, more attractive surface than common coarse Buffalograss, due to its softer leaf blades and smaller, thinner stolons.

Characteristics of ST-26 Austine:

• Attractive bright green colour;
• Very soft medium textured, semi-dwarf variety of Buffalo;
• Faster general growth rate where fast recovery from wear is required;
• Excellent Winter dormancy resistance and shade tolerance;
• Ideal for semi-shady lawns and where high quality;
• Does not turn purple in Winter; and
• Ideal for home lawns or where high quality turf grass.

Overview

ST-26 is an extremely attractive soft leaf buffalo lawn; it has many outstanding features which distinguish it from other buffalo varieties.

With a semi vigorous nature, soft texture, deep emerald green leaf & strong tolerance to wear and shade, makes it the most versatile turf grass available. ST-26 has an outstanding ability to maintain its colour even through the coldest of winters, not turning purple or brown like Australian varieties. ST-26 has an intricate yet durable runner system with broad bunch like leaves & has excellent prostrate growth. Once established ST-26 requires minimal maintenance & is becoming known as one of the best overall performers of all soft leaf buffalo’s. ST-26 AUSTINE is a semi-dwarf buffalo grass that recovers well from wear and tear. Slightly coarser than ST-91 , it is still very soft and will make a decorative, all-purpose lawn. It has good shade tolerance, and a very attractive, deep emerald green colour with not a trace of purple in the cooler temperatures of winter. The members of the ST Growers Group are licenced by H & T Whiting Turfgrass Development to grow and sell the ST-Family of Lawns bred by them in Perth for Australian Conditions. ST-26, ST-85 and ST-91 soft leaf buffalo grasses have been bred for slow growing - requiring less mowing, watering and fertiliser. They have excellent shade tolerance, winter dormancy resistance and consistent deep green colour.

Maintenance Tips

Mowing: ST-26 AUSTINE Buffalo grass, due to its semi-dwarf growth characteristics, can be mown lower than the common coarse varieties of Buffalo grass. The recommended mowing height for AUSTINE is 4 to 5 cm (11/2 to 2 inches) using a rotary or cylinder mower with sharp, correctly adjusted blades.

Watering: It is recommended to water AUSTINE Buffalo grass with infrequent deep watering. The objective in correct watering is to water adequately and deeply enough being aware the root system may be as deep as 0.5 m (11/2 feet) or even 1 m (3 feet). Frequency of watering will depend on the seasons. In summer, more frequent watering will be required. Frequent light watering not recommended (unless in the early stages of establishment) as this type of watering encourages a shallow root system which makes the grass more susceptible to drought, weed invasion and disease.

Fertilisation: ST-26 is low nutrition turf grass requiring less fertilisation. Fertilise Austine in the autumn months and early spring with turf grade quality fertiliser. No other fertilisation is recommended. Our research has demonstrated that over fertilisation produces soft lush turf grass surface with excessive thatch buildup making the grass tissue more susceptible to disease. This excessive thatch buildup from over fertilisation significantly reduces turf grass quality. Fertilising in hot humid conditions is be avoided as this can also produce a soft grass leaf tissue that is more susceptible to disease.

Advantages

• Very low shade adaptation;
• Low growth rate (less mowing);
• Low nitrogen requirements;
• Reasonably drought tolerant; and
  
• Less invasive into gardens.

Disadvantages

• Establishment rate slow from stolons;
• Prone to thatch build-up (becomes spongy); and
  
• Susceptible to most herbicides (harder to control weeds).