Shademaster Buffalo - Turf Grass

Botanical Name: Stenotaphrum secundatum

Also Know As St. Augustine

Varieties: Sapphire, Palmetto, Sir Walter, Shademaster, ST26, Matilda, Original Buffalo, many other names.

Details and Unique Features

 

• Soft Leaf Shademaster Buffalo excels at: Shade tolerance.
• Texture: The ‘soft leaf’ status isn’t just in the name. It is soft to the touch.
  
• It is bright green in colour.
• Allergy friendliness.
• Sponginess. In humid areas like Queensland it becomes a thick sponge.
• May thatch really badly.
• Sun and Shade: 4.5/5 for shade tolerance.
• Shade Master buffalo grass grows thick and its thigh matt prevents weeds coming through. Like other soft leaf buffalo grasses Shade Master has stolons that grow on top of the ground which makes it non- invasive and ideal alongside garden beds.

 

Comments

Soft Leaf Shademaster Buffalo is a very affordable grass with excellent shade tolerance. It has a tendency to turn purple in winter - if you have children, they’ll probably appreciate the ‘rainbow’ grass!

Tolerances

 

• Shade: Buffalo grasses are known for their shade tolerance, and Soft Leaf Shademaster Buffalo is still one of the top varieties for good colour and growth in very low light. Shademaster soft leaf buffalo grass can tolerate up to 60% - 70% shade during the day.
• Toughness/Wear: - 3/5 for toughness. Wear: It can handle a high amount of wear & recovers well from damage. Soft Leaf Shademaster Buffalo is fantastic for kids, with its dense spongy base and good wear and tear tolerance. One of the aspects which lowers the general toughness rating is that Soft Leaf Shademaster Buffalo can brown off after frost.
• Water Usage: 3/5 stars for water usage. Soft Leaf Shademaster Buffalo is about average when it comes to water usage.
• Drought Tolerance: This soft leafed buffalo grass does not have the drought tolerance like other newer varieties but never the less it is still an old favourite.
• Mowing: Rotary or cylinder mowing is acceptable for Soft Leaf Shademaster Buffalo; go for lower heights to help curb the tendency towards sponginess. May require mowing 3 times per month in the Summer months.
  
• Soil pH: 5.5 - 6.5.
• Maintenance: 3/5 for maintenance. Soft Leaf Shademaster Buffalo needs a low to average amount of maintenance.
• Herbicide sensitivity : Any application of weed killers, especially those meant for Broad Leaf Weeds, may damage or kill Buffalo Grass. This is because the same principle that works to selectively attach the poison to the broad leaf of some weeds, acts in the same manner with the broad leaf blades of Buffalo Grass. This is also true for most forms of Weed and Feed type poisons. Herbicides containing the active ingredients of Bromoxyl or MCPA are generally considered safe for Buffalo grass. Whereas herbicides containing Dicamba should always be avoided for use on Buffalo lawns. If in doubt, always check the label for safe use on Buffalo grass. If in any doubt, test your poison in a small inconspicuous area two weeks prior to any other application. Alternatively, hire a professional Weed Sprayer who is licensed and guarantees all lawn care work, it’s well worth it.

 

 

Detailed Review - The Buffalo Grass Review

If you’re happy with the winter-purple colour of Soft Leaf Shademaster Buffalo, have very little sunlight available and are looking for a nice soft texture at a good price in your buffalo, Shademaster is a fantastic choice. It can become quite spongy and is prone to thatching, but is fantastic value for money.

 

Shademaster does tend to go purple throughout the winter in some colder climates, however, this will disappear once the warmer weather comes around. If you do not like this characteristic you can avoid it by purchasing the “Kings Pride Soft Leaf Buffalo” as this stays green in the winter. Shademaster is an ideal buffalo for those on a budget as it is an affordable buffalo that can grow in shady areas that receive high traffic,the only down fall is the colour that it goes through the winter.

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