How to ensure Sir Walter Buffalo lawn is even in colour?

[amichaelmedia]

Hey team

I've got my lawn showing some signs of dense, darker patches. And the rest looking light.

This comes after a scalping and aerating. No top dress on these patches yet this year.

How do I get the rest of the lawn looking like this or consistent in colour?

I've also done some pallet fert. Recently 

Got some liquid fertilizer ready to go.

   

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @amichaelmedia 

I think your grass looks healthy the ground undulations under the grass may well be pooling more water in some locations and not others causing the  green vs not so green. patches.

When you to dress try a loamy soil (Soil 50/50 river sand) is one mix, 

It will partly self level at ground level, This will help lawn mower to cut more even thickness too,

[JacobZ]

Hi @amichaelmedia,

Thank you for your question about caring for your buffalo lawn.

As @Jewelleryrescue has said, your grass looks very healthy and the scalp and aerate will certainly have contributed to this.

I think what you're seeing here is pockets of thatch, which is essentially dead grass interspersed between the live stuff. Pulling this material out gives the healthy grass room to breathe and space to spread into which will make these patches green with healthy grass as opposed to dead stuff.

You can use a thatching rake or scarifier to remove the dead material.

Once the thatch has been removed, top dressing and applications of liquid fertiliser will be much more beneficial.

Check out How To Dethatch Your Lawn for some guidance.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[amichaelmedia]

I'm starting to think my Sir Walter has Summer Grass in it. 

Best way to remove?

[JacobZ]

Hi @amichaelmedia,

Summer grass, which is also known as crabgrass can be a bit tricky, especially in buffalo lawns. 

The only product I am aware of that can be used to treat it is David Grays Crab Grass and Clover Killer Selective Herbicide. 

It can only be used to spot spray on buffalo lawns as some minor damage to the surrounding grass is likely. It is still effective, but you'll have to be careful with how you apply it.

You can use a Garden Basics 5L Garden Pressure Sprayer Kit to spot-spray the summer grass or use an Applicator Brush to apply the herbicide.

Make sure you read and follow the instructions on the label closely and wear gloves, a mask, long clothes and enclosed shoes when applying the herbicide.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[amichaelmedia]

  

Hey team 

Ive  do ne some treatment as  recommended above

Just wanted to show some patches I've noticed in lawn that are different. Part of me thinks these are a fly in seed rather than a strained buffalo lawn 

[JacobZ]

Hi @amichaelmedia,

These are stolons, which are the above ground runners that Buffalo lawns send out in order to spread.

They are nothing to worry about and are a sign of a healthy lawn that is looking to spread.

You can pull them out if you'd like, or just leave them and mow over the top.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[amichaelmedia]

Any advice if the soil is too hard to core aerate? 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @amichaelmedia,

I'd probably suggest you hire a mechanical corer and give it a real good going over. Alternatively, you could try a spiker, rather than a corer.

Mitchell

[amichaelmedia]

Ive sprayed once and removed. Now  spraying ones  tgat have reemerged.

Should I cover the holes left after I remove? Or am I just going to be battling these forever