When it comes to mowing, St. Augustine is a thick grass, a full-bodied, broad species that demands to be cut high. Many types of insects and bugs attack Buffalo grass, as well as common fungal infections. I write about everything about lawn care and gardening and the dread-it-but-still-need-to-do-it chores around the yard, like cleaning out the gutter guards. Perennial Ryegrass Vs Tall Fescue: Whats Better For My Lawn? St. Augustine grass adapts to drought conditions, making it a great drought tolerant lawn option. This means that youll have to mow your lawn less often if you choose buffalo over st Augustine. 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, also called the lazy mans grass, is a popular grass species for states ranging from North Carolina down and west across the south. To learn more, check out our complete guide to Buffalo Grass. Perhaps the main reasons its so popular is that it germinates quickly and has a very high shade tolerance. Some homeowners have also had success using a Buffalo grass spray to kill off the St Augustine grass. It is not recommended you use herbicides anywhere near fine fescue as they wont be able to handle them well. On the other hand, St Augustine is a more expensive option. St Augustine is also a salt-tolerant type of grass, which means that it can survive in salty conditions. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, it doesnt come with the problems associated with invasive grasses like Kikuyu. Drought tolerant. No longer is Buffalo grass sharp and scratchy, but it has been altered to no be much less problematic . Best Lawn Care Tools for Beginners (What You Need and How to Use Them). Known to withstand salt, heat, and shade, St. Augustine is a prime choice for these warmer coastal regions. As this is a summer season grass, it ideally needs to be sown in the Springtime for it to flourish in the summer heat. Among the native species that you can find of St. Augustine grass is Floratam. The traditional, scratchy Buffalo grass of the past has been drastically improved upon over time. St Augustine thrives in the sandy soils that Buffalo Grass struggles in and prefers acidic soils to match. + 1 778-244-4107 The blades of this grass start short when young, however, can reach a height of 30cm when fully grown. Originally used as a pasture grass when first introduced to America, this species of lawn is now widely used in agriculture, conservation, and erosion control programs as it can sustain itself when grown in compromising conditions. But as soon as conditions improve, the grass will start growing again. I like to think of myself as the Bond of the backyard, that is if yard work ever became sexy. Raleigh St. Augustine; Palmetto St. Augustine; Texas Native St. Augustine; Celebration Bermuda; Proud Members. Follow along to keep your yard up to date! Similarly, if you have clay or loamy soil, St Augustine would be a better choice. Buffalo Grass or St Augustine: What is Better? St Augustine grass is popular in several other islands and countries from Africa to Australia. When using plugs, youll need 18 to cover 32 square feet. Carpet grass is also known as mat grass and has a creeping, stoloniferous growth habit. Buffalo grass and carpet grass are two different species. St. Augustine is a thirsty plant, and it needs regular watering to maintain a healthy appearance. Buffalo grass and St. Augustine grass are both types of warm-season grasses, meaning that they are well-suited to areas with hot, humid climates. Alongside its most common uses, Bahia grass is accepted as a great lawn choice for those with acreage or large garden spaces in general. If youre in an area with water restrictions, then Buffalo Grass could be your answer. This allows it to be aggressive in its environment as some plant species arent able to cultivate once Bahia grass has established itself. Shady yards benefit the most from St. Augustine grass. The truth is that both types of grasses can be susceptible to weeds. But here are the main differences between fescue and St. Augustine: 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. St Augustine is often a thinner grass, which makes it easier for weeds to take over. It forms a thick, durable sod with similar characteristics to that of a dense green carpet. Here you have two, completely different grass species for growing in completely different grass seasons. 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. The Ultimate Lawn Care Calendar Month-By-Month Guide to a Beautiful Lawn, Types of Lawn Fertilizers How to Choose the Right One, Types of Grass Seed: How to Choose the Right One. If theyre not, then you may need some lime (or sulfur). Lawn Identification Guide: What Kind of Grass Do I Have? If you shop through the links on YardThyme, we may earn an affiliate's commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. It is a good choice for people who live in warm climates, as it can survive in hot weather. Color: Dark green. Key Differences Between Bahia Grass and St. Augustine Grass, Characteristics, Growing Conditions and Appearance, Planting and Caring for St. Augustine Grass. This broad-bladed, medium-green turf grass thrives in sunny locations . It out-grows weeds so you dont really have to worry about that PLUS it has very few pest and disease problems! For example, if St. Augustine grass is mowed as low as most Bermuda grass lawns, it will die. Buffalo Grass vs St Augustine: What is Cheaper? St. Augustine has many variations; however, they all have similar characteristics in terms of behavior and maintenance requirements. Depending on the variety of Buffalo you have the colour of the blade could be anything from bright green to dark green. They are, however, both very hardy turfs. At a glance, Bahia grass is a tough cookie: it is a warm season perennial grass species that thrives in the summer. This encourages deep root growth and helps the grass to become more drought-tolerant. Need professional help with your project? Similarly, it usually gives off a more fresh-cut look than Buffalo grass. And if you want some more information on how to do that, check out this article on lawn recovery after winter. St Augustine is a type of warm-season grass that is native to Africa and Asia. Hi! It is favorable along the Gulf Coast as well as deep south as it is unopposed to variating soil pH levels as well as nutrient content. Differences Between Buffalo Grass and St Augustine. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Feb 15, 2023, Kurapia Ground Cover Stress Testing Vlog The blade on the popular Sir Walter Buffalo grass is deep green in colour. And if youre looking for a low-maintenance type of grass, Buffalo grass is your best option. It's . It also requires more fertilizer and water than Buffalo grass does. These grasses are a popular choice for a reason: they are definitely not fussy! Itll need more water and weeding during this period, but your patience will pay off as it becomes virtually indestructible and extremely low maintenance. If there are any weeds growing in between patches of dead Buffalo Grass then pull them out as soon as possible using some gloves. St. Augustine grass has a thick rooting system and the grass blades can grow relatively taller. Best for Shaded Areas with Sprinkler Systems. Some of this is because St Augustine does best in sandy soils, which need to be water more shallowly and more frequently than other soils as water quickly drains away, and in part because of its shallow root structure. St Augustine thrives in warm coastal regions, like Florida and along the southern coast of the United States. The Best Installation Process St Augustine grass comes in many varieties. They both spread by stolons and form a thick mat of turfgrass. backyardproscontact@gmail.com 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. How Buffalo grass has changed over the years. Austin. Another significant distinction is that St. Augustine is shade-tolerant, whereas Bermuda grass does not thrive in shady regions. Spectracide vs Roundup Which is the Best Weed Killer? 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. Welcome to Sod and Seed, Inc! Centipede is more cold tolerant than St. Augustine grasses but has less shade tolerance. However, there are some key differences between these two grasses: Buffalo grass generally has a relatively brighter green color with wide blades. Though St. Augustine grass can also experience damage from foot traffic, it has a higher resistance to wear and tear. 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. St Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides) are not the same; in fact, theyre very different grasses. We are a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Buffalo Grass is drought-hardy, meaning it can survive extended dry periods. 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. Zoysia grasses are usually mowed at a height of .5-2 inches whereas St. Augustines are generally mowed at a height of 2-4 inches. Here are the characteristics to look out for when trying to identify Buffalo grass: The blades are broad and thin, with a midrib running down the middle of the leaf. Before we jump into the difference between these two types of grass, one thing Buffalo grass and St. Augustine grass have in common is that they are two of the most popular sod blends. As such, there will rarely be a need to replace it. Other than that, caring for St. Augustine grass is pretty straight forward and doesnt require a lot of effort. There is no red or yellow colour on the leaves but this warm-season grass may discolour slightly in the colder months. Andy Gibson. 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. Watering Take a look at this article for more help with yellow grass in general. Its great for gardens exposed to full sunlight and restricted water accessibility due to its extensive roots that grow deep into the soil. For example, you can mow your lawn a bit shorter than usual and fertilize it with a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Feb 15, 2023, Monday - Saturday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm1-800-381-8163, info@lawndelivery.comsodandseed@gmail.comwww.bayareasodandseed.com. 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