Guv's Gardens
Photo: Stickpen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade (the most shade-tolerant warm-season turf).
- Soil
- Wide range, from sands to light clays; best well-drained.
- Soil pH
- About 5.5-7.5; tolerates acid to alkaline soil.
- Water
- Moderate. Drought tolerance varies (low to good once established) - water deeply once a week in dry spells.
- Hardiness
- Warm-season grass; dormant in winter.
- Height and spread
- Spreading lawn grass that runs by stolons.
Guv's tipBuffalo grass is the most shade-tolerant warm-season turf. In dry spells, water deeply once a week. Spring is ideal for planting.
Through the year
When to plant
Spring (Sep-Nov) is ideal; autumn is also OK.
Harvest or flowering
Inconspicuous flower spikes in the warmer months (Sep-Dec or Jan-Apr; summer-autumn); not grown for flowers.
Pruning
Mow.
Making more plants
Vegetative: turf, plugs or stolons; seed is rarely used.
Safety and spread
Pets and people: Not listed as toxic by the ASPCA or Pet Poison Helpline pet-poison lists.
Weed risk: Not a declared weed in Queensland and not listed as a weed on NSW WeedWise or Weeds Australia. It is widely naturalised, and its stolons can spread into unwanted areas.
The Plant Doctor and the Guv's book
Printable pest and disease charts with real photographs, and all 50 Australia plants in one book.
