10624 RR 620, Austin, Texas 78726. Centipede is more cold tolerant than St. Augustine grasses but has less shade tolerance. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. But as compared to the tall fescue grass it is much more sensitive. Also, if you live in an area with heavy winters. One of the most noted adaptability traits of Buffalo grass is high shade tolerance. The main characteristics of a fescue lawn is that they are the very definition of low maintenance. 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. 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. If you have a lot of space to fill and need your lawn to grow fast, then buffalo is definitely a great option for you. St Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides) are not the same; in fact, theyre very different grasses. Bahia and St. Augustine are great, but what do you think; which one is better? While fescue is drought tolerant and germinates fast, it will still need regular watering initially at least until it becomes established. So, if youre trying to decide which one is best for your lawn, its important to take the time to learn about the key differences between these two options. However, if you dont mind putting in a bit of extra effort, St Augustine is a tough and durable grass that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. But as long as the roots are still alive, the grass will come back in the springtime. St. Augustine, or Buffalo grass, is known for its coarse texture and density which create a bounce when walked on. 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. It is recommended to water St. Augustine grass once or twce a week, depending on the weather conditions and soil type. It is a good choice for people who live in warm climates, as it can survive in hot weather. How to Protect Grass From Frost & What to Do. Firstly, it has a very slow growth rate making it easy to control. Most fescue types look very similar, and theyre often hard to tell apart. St. Augustine grass costs around $0.55 per square foot or $250 per pallet. 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. If your lawn is Kikuyu, you will need to mow it every week during summer to keep it looking its best. Buffalo grass is also adaptable to coastal regions as it has good tolerance to salinity. However, in some cases, the blades of the grass may turn brown and die off during the winter months. Here are several alternative grass species for warm season climate zones: Some plants overstay their welcome, even after you've shown them the door. For a low-maintenance yard, centipede grass is a solid choice. The blades of buffalo are also very flat, which makes them great for sports fields or areas where you may want your grass to look extra lush. The best time to start both is during the late spring and summer when temperatures are warmer. Bermuda grass, compared to St. Augustine, has much thinner blades, is softer to the touch, and has a higher tolerance for colder weather. Because both options have their own unique set of advantages, there is no clear answer as to which one is better. Centipede grass is extremely low-maintenance. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Both buffalo grass and st. Augustine has pros and cons, so lets look at them-. That being said, depending on the grass, some properties stand out more than others. St Augustine vs Fescue: Whats Better For My Lawn? This can be solved through aeration using a garden fork or a rolling aerator. If left to grow, centipede grass will top out at 4 to 5". backyardproscontact@gmail.com Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. St Augustine is not drought hardy at all and needs more than an inch of water per week. And those tropical origins for this grass give it high levels of tolerance for many things, including specifically salt (coastal climates) and shade (woodland margins). 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. Overall, the choice between Buffalo grass and St. Augustine grass will depend on the specific climate, soil conditions, immediate conditions, and desired outcomes (i.e. Which is the best St Augustine grass variety? Address: The differences start with color: St Augustine is a medium green or blue-green, while Kikuyu is a bright green. Having either buffalo grass or st. Augustine in your lawn is a great choice for homeowners looking to minimize their water usage and save money in these tough economic times, but in the end, it all comes down to personal preference and whats best for your individual lawn. Buffalo is also more shade tolerant than Kikuyu. However, if you choose Zoysia for your lawn over St. Augustine, keep your lawn mower well-oiled. However, there are certain conditions that can cause it to die off. Two of these opinions are which type of grass is best (Buffalo or St Augustine), and if theres any difference between them at all. Palmetto vs st augustine grass. Tall fescue is a different species altogether, and weve not included it in this particular article. For people on the market for low-maintenance grass, Buffalo grass is a great option. This is because the grass will have a better chance of taking root and growing back quickly. Like Buffalo grass, St Augustine is a perennial and does not need to be replaced very often. The quick answer is, yes! Different Types of Lawn Mowers Which One is Right for You? 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. This type of grass is known for being very tough and durable. Bahia Grass vs. St Augustine Grass: Leaves The leaves of Bahia grass are tough, flat, in-rolled, and typically hairless. In this blog post, we will compare and contrast Buffalo Grass vs St Augustine so that you can make an informed decision about which type of grass is best for your needs! Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles. Email: (Answered!). Centipede Grass. Up to five hours of direct sunlight is enough to thrive and develop this buffalo grass as well. 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. If anything its going to be the other way around, as St Augustine is the more aggressive of the two. St. Augustine grass and Bahia grass are two warm-season turf grasses that both grow well in warm and sunny conditions. Whilst predominantly limited in terms of popularity in these areas, this grass type offers great drought and heat resistance as well as a durability and low maintenance. Or you can use those older cultivars as a basis for a prairie/plains meadow, sowing prairie wildflowers and other native grasses for a truly eco-friendly backyard. No matter which type of grass you choose, youll be sure to have a beautiful lawn that you can enjoy for years to come! 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. Mar 10, 2023, The Best Sod for Sacramento 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. Phone: It is also a drought-tolerant type of grass, which means that it can survive in dry conditions. The first thing youll notice about these two types of grass is their appearance. You can mow St Augustine low at 2 to 3 inches tall for a more manicured look or left longer to reduce mowing. Proper maintenance will aid in curbing its invasive behavior through proper watering techniques, to regular mowing. Buffalo is fast-growing, but not as vigorous as Kikuyu. Meanwhile, St. Augustine grass requires monthly fertilizer in the growing season if you have sandy soil, and its far more susceptible to pests and diseases. They are two extremely different grasses. 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. Just as St. Augustine, the most strategic way to combat unwanted grasses is to treat your lawn before it becomes an issue - first with a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring, then again in the fall. But dont confuse fine fescue with tall fescue here which is a stiffer grass with not as much give. 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. And the most popular ones are BitterBlue, CitraBlue, Floratam, Palmetto, ProVista, Raleigh, and Seville. It even has a disease named after it, St Augustine Decline. Medium. These grasses are a popular choice for a reason: they are definitely not fussy! Mow at a higher level than normal. If youre looking for a low-maintenance option that you wont have to mow very often, Buffalo grass is a good choice. How Can I Tell Whether I Have Buffalo Grass or St Augustine? Having both stolons above ground and rhizomes beneath ground help Buffalo grass and St. Augustine repair from damage naturally. St Augustine prefers full sun but can tolerate part shade, so long as it gets about 4 hours of sun per day. For instance, homeowners living in hot, dry climates would be better off with Buffalo grass. Because of this preference, the location range of St. Augustine grass decreases as it reaches further north as it struggles to cope in cold weather. This is down to its close and tight growth habit basically creates no room left for any other unwanted plants to sprout. Unlike Bermuda grass grows well in the full sunlight. It is not recommended you use herbicides anywhere near fine fescue as they wont be able to handle them well. Once it has taken hold, you can cut that right back and let nature do her thing. harmony st augustine grass Buffalo Grass is drought-hardy, meaning it can survive extended dry periods. Similarly, St. Augustine grass also has relatively wide, hearty blades. What soil PH level is good for buffalo grass? Aerate your lawn regularly by poking holes into the soil surface with a garden fork or aeration tool. Hand pulling weeds is always the best option, while spot-treatments with chemical interventions are better as a last resort treatment. Best for Shaded Areas with Sprinkler Systems. Its not as tolerant to traffic as you might expect, and is better to look at than it is play upon. However, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Also, Kikuyu needs more mowing than Buffalo. If you hear that Buffalo Grass needs more water than Bermuda, then theyre actually referring to St Augustine. St. Augustine grass and centipede grass are two of the most common warm-season grasses. Similarly, if you have clay or loamy soil, St Augustine would be a better choice. It has very little cold tolerance, so if you have mild winters or occasional cold snaps, then its best to pass this grass by for something with higher cold tolerance. As a home owner and as someone with garden centre experience, I know plenty about backyard and lawn care products. Its great for gardens exposed to full sunlight and restricted water accessibility due to its extensive roots that grow deep into the soil. What Happens if Grass Gets too Much Nitrogen? Quick tip: And you can read this article for a more in-depth analysis of St. Augustine vs centipede. link to Signs of Lawn Heat Stress & How to Treat It? All in all, if you live in an area with a warm climate, you can expect Buffalo grass to stay green all year long. In this series of articles, we take a look at different grass species, pair them off against each other, so you can decide which one is best for your yard. Feb 17, 2023, Weeds and Grass Safe Lawn Care Guide + 1 778-244-4107 But as soon as conditions improve, the grass will start growing again. We hope to hear from you soon! With a name like Buffalo Grass, you might expect this grass to be especially rough underfoot. This is largely due to the fact that it doesnt do well on its own in full sun. This grass species makes for a great garden turf due to its heavy traffic threshold and weather-resistant qualities. Both of these types of grass have their pros and cons, so it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. St. Augustine grass, on the other hand, starts to die in temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a hair more susceptible to cold damage. We hope you have found this information helpful and useful! Though centipede grass originates from Southeast Asia, it quickly spread across the U.S. in the early 20th century and continues to be a staple choice for lawns today. Australia and South Africa refer to St Augustine as Buffalo Grass or Buffalo Turf. 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. Pros and cons aside, its safe to say that centipede grass and St. Augustine grass have qualities that could make them the right fit for a home in a warm-season zone. St Augustine has a rough texture with flat leaves and rounded tips and grows low. Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Mowing Heights and Growth Habits. 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. Left long, the grass blades will bow in a beautifully wavy look. Catering to a lawn that has mixed needs is going to be a real challenge. 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. Fescue doesnt need to be mowed that often, and given that you should be aiming to take no more than third of the blade tip each time, I would recommend waiting until the fescue is between 3-3 3/4 inches before breaking out the mower. It's . Growing fine fescue requires a soil pH level of between 5.0 to 6.5. It is recommended that you seek appropriate professional advice regarding your individual circumstances. It wasn't until the mid-20th century and the cultivar Kentucky 31 that horticulturists and landscapers began to recognise its inherent advantages as a lawn grass. A St. Augustine lawn should be mown to a height of 2" to 2.5". Among the native species that you can find of St. Augustine grass is Floratam. Many types of insects and bugs attack Buffalo grass, as well as common fungal infections. The blades of buffalo grass are coarse but also very soft to touch, which makes it more favorable to many homeowners looking for low-maintenance grass that still looks good all year long. Although not regarded as invasive, St. Augustine is still an aggressive grower, and it can spread rapidly where planted, providing its needs are being met. link to Signs of Lawn Heat Stress & How to Treat It? In addition, there are 11 cultivars available that make excellent turf grass. These two types of grass grow best in different types of soil. 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