Buffalograss does well as a low-maintenance lawn grass from Central to West Texas. Shetsky has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Marist College. All Rights Reserved. You need full sun and that is direct sun all day. Table 1 shows the grass species suitable for Texas and the ways each can be planted. It is recommended that you plant four to six pounds in every 1,000 square feet. Planting Buffalo Grass. Preferring warm daytime temperatures above 80 degrees F, your buffalo grass should be planted between April and June. Texas SmartScape™ is helping to promote education on pollution prevention through efficient and effective water use for the benefit of all citizens. Table 2 has more detail on planting methods, quantity of planting material needed, and best planting season by method. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Landscape-America: Grass Types by Seasonal Zones, All About Lawns: Careful Calendaring: When to Plant Grass Seed, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Lawn and Garden Tips. The general rule of thumb when planting buffalo grass seeds is to use approximately 3 lbs. Buffalograss is usually dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants. The best time to plant is late spring or early summer, although sod and plugs may be planted as late as August or early September, assuming that the weather remains warm enough for a root system to develop before winter. The best time to plant Bermudagrass is in the spring, but it’s pretty fast establishing, so you can likely plant it from April to September with not much trouble. It does best when mowed infrequently and is kept at about 5 inches tall. Plants root at internodes on the stolens. With irrigation the planting date can be extended into July and August. Plant Characteristics. Texas summers are hot, dry, and long. The ideal time to sow buffalo grass is in April or May. Take half of the total seed amount and spread it back and forth across the lawn in a horizontal … If you are planting seeds, one of the key factors that will be influential to the success of the outcomes is the rate of planting. Very cold tolerant, it turns a soft golden brown when it goes dormant. The grass can be difficult to establish from seed, as germination rate from seed is often low. Take the temperature of the soil. Understanding your options and getting timing right helps you seize every opportunity for seeding success. As summertime breezes float over the hills and plains of Texas, Texans long to walk barefoot through their own bit of prairie. Grows best in areas receiving at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, in soils that have good drainage. America's favorite seed company has grown to become one of the leading suppliers of agricultural, reclamation, turfgrass seed, & Cattle Pasture Seed in North America. Seed, stolons or surface runners are the ways in which this grass spreads. The turf is thin and finely textured with that distinguishing soft blue-green hue. Measure your lawn to know the total amount you should have. It prospers on much less water than St. Augustine, with some estimating that it requires only half the water required by St. Augustine. Learn More! Growing season ranges from 185 days in Northern cooler areas to over 300 days in the Southeast. A drop spreader will improve evenness, but you can also seed by hand or with a shoulder spreader. As a result, you may choose to mow it rarely, if at all. Harmonize with seasonal rains. It has since been refined to serve as an attractive lawn grass with a greenish-blue color. This is important to know before planting buffalo grass. It will also not tolerate excessive foot traffic. Spring or fall are perfect, after the last frost and before the first frost in the late fall. ©2020. She writes for several websites, specializing in gardening, medical, health and fitness, entertainment and travel. Buffalo Grass; Texas residents may well fall in love with buffalo grass. Not suited to sandy soils. Warm-season grass grows best when planted in temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F, whereas cool-season grass needs soil that is 50 to 65 degrees F. If planting in the fall, make sure to do so at least 60 days before the first frost. Read on to learn more. It will also not tolerate excessive foot traffic. This native grass is the most drought-tolerant turf available. You need to remove all vegetation from the soil where the seed is to be planted. Several types of grass grow in Texas. Buffalo grass sod is very dense, as its strong roots dig themselves 4 to 6 feet deep into the soil. Usually you will only have to seed buffalograss at a rate of 1 ½ to 2 lbs. Although the blades may reach up to 12 inches, at this height they fall or curl over and appear shorter. The Garden Counselor Lawn Care: Is The Best Time To Plant Grass Seed Good For You. Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses are the most common, with St. Augustine growing in the warmest parts of the state, especially around the Gulf Coast. The inflorescences on male plants are one-sided spikelets on stems that rise 3 to 8 inches above the leaves. Then, pull and … Wait until temperatures get above 65°F during the day and then seed. I don't live in North Texas, but I do have a Buffalo Grass "lawn." Buffalo Grass in Australia . It prefers clay soils and will decline if it's overwatered. Rainfall is also a factor in lawns with a wide range from over … The vegetatively started selections do not exhibit flowering spikelets and are more uniform in appearance. It prefers clay soils and will decline if it's overwatered. Buffalo grass is found as far north as Montana and as far south as central Texas. A warm-season grass, it spreads by both seed and stolons (runners), which take root and produce new plants. It received its name because it once served as the main source of food for the large herds of buffalo. Native Buffalo Grass Seed. Horticulturists from the University of Missouri recommend planting grass in May and June, while Texas growers suggest an April through May planting season that can be extended to July and August with adequate irrigation. Spring or fall are perfect, after the last frost and before the first frost in the late fall. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Keep turf mowed frequently to reduce competition from weeds and encourage the tiller growth and spreading of the buffalograss. J.T. Based in New York State, Kelly Shetsky started writing in 1999. Buffalo grass grows to about 4-6 inches tall but curls over to make it look shorter. Grows best in areas receiving at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, in soils that have good drainage. ft, but check the seeding rate recommendations to make sure. Named because buffalo did, in fact, graze on it, this grass is a natural choice for drought-resistant lawns. Not suited to sandy soils. Duration: Perennial Stem Texture: Hairy Growth Habit: Grasses, Sod grass Season: Warm Distribution: 01 - Pineywoods, 02 - Gulf Prairies and Marshes, 03 - Post Oak Savannah, 04 - Blackland Prairies, 05 - Cross Timbers and Prairies, 06 - South Texas Plains, 07 - Edwards Plateau, 08 - Rolling Plains, 09 - High Plains, 10 - Trans-Pecos This is also why Buffalo turf growers will never harvest their entire crop of Buffalo grass, but will instead always leave strips of turf behind for the new crop of Buffalo to grow from. Seed. Weed control prior to planting. April and May are the best months to plant treated buffalograss seeds as temperatures are favorable and moisture is generally adequate. Sow grass seed when the temperature is cooler to ensure strong root growth. We Texans must love our prairies, since nearly every residential and commercial development has been sodded with acres of grasses such as bermuda, zoysia, or St. Augustine. Buffalograss requires full sun and will not tolerate shade. A Program of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, Regional Stormwater Management Coordinating Council. Newer cultivars are resistant to weeds and require even less watering than the traditional buffalo grass. Due to its large geographic range the best time to plant buffalo grass is best determined by the growers' location. It is not a good choice for a lawn that will receive a lot of use. Nebra… It's important to note, however, that snow and wind may move the seeds, creating a sparse lawn next year. Available seeded varieties for North Central Texas are 'Common,' 'Topgun,' 'Comanche,' 'Texoka,' 'Plains,' 'Tahoka,' and blends of two or more seeds. Grasses used in Texas for lawns are dependent on largely where in this large state they will be planted. Aim for April or March for spring planting and late August to September for fall planting. Buffalo grass is a hardy grass native to the American plains. Seed warm weather grass seeds in early spring and into the summer. Seeds germinate when soil temperatures are above 65 degrees F. Sow the grass seed in early spring through late summer, earlier is better. Buffalo grass should be planted when soil temperatures are consistently above 60° F. For best results, plant Supreme Buffalograss seed in sites with 6 to 8 hours of full sun on well-drained soil and soil moisture must be maintained for at least 1 to 2 weeks after planting through irrigation or natural rainfall. She is a broadcast journalist-turned Director of Marketing and Public Relations and has experience researching, writing, producing and reporting. Growth Habit: Stoloniferous Vernation: Rolled Leaf: Hairs on both surfaces; Ridges on upper surface Ligule: Fringe of hairs Auricles: Absent Inflorescence: Staminate and pistillate spikelets in separate inflorescences; usually on different plants. Buffalo grass lawns are very adapted to low moisture areas. The seed should be planted at 6-12″ intervals. Turner Seed is your source for native and improved grass seed in Texas and beyond. Please do your research first because the seed and sod is quite expensive. Time Frame. Hence why it is a great option for erosion control as well. How to Establish Buffalo Grass Plant seed by pressing into soil surface or plant 1/2″ deep (12 mm). You may start it from seed or sod. Growers overwhelmingly recommend late spring and early summer planting. Seeding costs less than other planting methods. Keep turf mowed frequently to reduce competition from weeds and encourage the tiller growth and spreading of the buffalograss. This will allow the warm weather grasses to get the benefit of warm temperatures that come with summer while giving them time to become established prior to cooler weather in the fall. Recommended: Scotts EZ Bermudagrass Lawns Grass Seed 10 lb. Buffalo grass loves to grow in warm soil, so you should plant your seeds in late spring (April-May) when the soil temperature is between 60 and 80 degrees. It does best when mowed infrequently and is kept at about 5 inches tall. Buffalo grass is in the driest regions, and centipede grass is grown in southeastern and central Texas. A good way to plant is to spread the seeds, rake, and compact the soil. Click on the individual grasses for variety specific information and some of our photos. Female plants produce one or more burrlike inflorescences that remain … I definitely plan to add blue grama if we decide to keep it. Fall plantings of untreated buffalograss seed are also successful, but maximum germination does not occur until the following spring. It does best in full sun and has little tolerance of shade. Your best time for planting grass seed depends on the type of lawn grass you grow and where you live. Plant grass seed once the Texas climate has cooled down a bit. Why Timing Matters. It was also used by early settlers in the plains to build sod houses. If planting is contracted out, be certain to check the contract for the extent of services it specifies. You can also find general planting information in our Grass Seed Product Table below. “Tech Turf” is a … Weeds, weeds, weeds. Hybrid varieties to consider that are started vegetatively (sod and/or plugs) are '609,' 'Prairie,' and 'Turffalo.' You will not plant the seed until daytime temperatures are above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but ground preparation should begin much sooner. Buffalo grass is also popularly used in low traffic areas, such as front lawns. For these reasons, the most popular types are the varieties that can be started from sod. Latin Name: (Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Just like establishing a flower bed, your seeding area needs to be as weed free as possible. That’s why it is important to select the right types of grasses and hardy plants for your Texas yard.In this article, we discuss three tried-and-true Texas grasses to choose for successful lawns: Zoysia, Bermuda and St. Augustine. The seed will likely stay dormant through winter, then sprout in the spring. of seeds per 1,000 square ft. Place the seeds between ¼-inch and ½-inch below the surface. Aim for April or March for spring planting and late August to September for fall planting. Grass grow fastest and strongest when your planting season aligns with the seeds' natural periods of active growth. While there are varieties of buffalo grass that can be grown from seed, it is a slow-growing grass that can take as long as a month to germinate and establish itself. This can be done by lightly tilling the soil to pull the vegetation from the ground. The more popular varieties (which are established from sod) include Density, Prairie, Prestige and 609. Native Blue Grama Grass Texas Blue Grama Grass Source: USDA.gov In addition, seeds for buffalo grass are more expensive than other grass seeds. (See below for more details.) Plant into a weed free seed bed. It will quit growing in any spot that has shadow any part of the day. Seeding It can be started from seed or sod/plugs. Prepare the ground to plant the buffalo grass seed after the last average frost date for your area. If you miss the planting window and you have mild winters, you can try to disperse it later in the fall. Buffalo grass is notoriously bad at growing from seed, this is why we cannot find Buffalo grass seed for sale, not only in Australia but also around the world. I have found that several applications of Round-Up in the spring prior to planting is the best way to control weeds, especially Bermuda grass and bindweed. When planted in the high-rainfall areas of East Texas, or when watered excessively, buffalograss is easily invaded by weeds and other grasses. Plant into a weed free seed bed. Buffalograss requires full sun and will not tolerate shade. Keep moist until germination. Buffalo Grass is a low grower and is usually only about 8-10 inches in height. Plant grass seed once the Texas climate has cooled down a bit. A special note to our Australian friends: The type of grass that Aussies refer to as Buffalograss is a completely different grass type than what is referenced on this page. It is xeric, but that means it stays dormant brown pretty much all the time. In addition to our own production fields, we use an extensive network of trusted wildland seed collectors and growers. They can really take a toll on your yard and landscape. Plant the variety of the buffalo grass that you have chosen. Success with a late-summer planting also depends on cold hardiness of individual cultivars. If you want to get a head start on preparation, consider planting a cover crop in the fall. Columbus) Buffalograss Areas of Adaptation. SmartScape is a trademark of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. per 1,000 sq.