Giving a new leash of life to your property is very easy these days. You have to maintain your lawn well and ensure that it is lush green, fresh and rejuvenating. All these three features can be integrated into any lawn with high-quality palmetto grass offered by turf suppliers. It has several properties and features that make it the most selling grass globally. It is known for its lush, vibrant appearance and ability to survive in any condition. The top feature is that it can survive in various conditions and, hence, is ideal for any property in any climate.
WHY CHOOSE PALMETTO TURF FOR YOUR LAWN?
As mentioned above, so many positive attributes contribute towards making palmetto the most recommended and the most purchased turf in Australia. Some common reasons why one must rely upon palmetto turf are listed below.
• High shade tolerance
• Medium drought tolerance
• Low maintenance – less mowing, fertiliser and water
• High wear tolerance
• Excellent winter-green colour
• Broad leaf and soft to touch
• Produces low-seed head
• Common irritant to people with allergies
Let us understand some pointers in detail.
LOW MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
A unique feature of palmetto grass is that it is very low-demanding in maintenance. This means it will require less frequent mowing than other buffalo grass varieties. Studies say that palmetto turf requires 14.3% less mowing than the highly popular Sir Walter buffalo turf and 7.7% less than the mowing required by Shademaster buffalo turf. Perhaps the most impressive fact about palmetto turf is that it can be left unattended without any maintenance for extended periods, and it will not require any mowing at all. This means that even if no maintenance is given, this grass will not grow too tall or become untidy or invasive.
PERFECT WINTER COLOUR
People are more interested in palmetto turf, as it is very impressive in maintaining the best winter colour. Studies show that this turf is 55% better in maintaining winter colour than Sir Walter buffalo turf and 158% better than the shademaster buffalo turf.
PALMETTO LAWN CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Some common steps are included in Palmetto lawn care and maintenance. We will discuss the details below, but let us first go through the list of steps taken in maintenance.
MAINTENANCE ROUTINE FOR A PALMETTO BUFFALO LAWN
• Mowing
• Watering
• Fertilising
• Lawn weed
• Pest control
• Disease Prevention
PALMETTO LAWN MOWING
Mowing does not remain a stress with palmetto turf in any season. Experts recommend mowing this turf every 7-10 days during the warmer months. The mowing frequency should be every 3 to 6 weeks during the colder months. The mowing height recommended by reputed turf suppliers is between 20 and 50 mm in fully sunny and light-shaded areas. For heavily shaded areas, the cutting height should be between 50 and 70 mm.
PALMETTO LAWN WATERING
Just like any other turf, palmetto turf will also require sufficient watering immediately after installation. This will ensure well-established roots, and a deep and vigorous root system will develop. In terms of watering, experts recommend adequate watering within the half hour after laying. 2-3 cm of watering is recommended during this session to keep the soil beneath the lawn adequately wet.
This watering ensures that 7 to 10 cm of soil below the surface of the palmetto turf is well moist. Daily watering is advocated, especially during hot, dry periods. The depth of the moisture can be checked by pushing a screwdriver or a sharp tool into the soil. If it is challenging, it means the turf requires watering. This step is taken only after the palmetto grass has established its new roots in the soil.
Turf suppliers recommend watering every turf, including palmetto grass, early in the morning to maintain the normal growing cycle. Once the roots are fully established, the regular watering routine can be followed that is already mentioned above. This means every 7 to 10 days during the summer or if you have sandy soil.
LAWN FERTILISING
Fertilisers can revitalise the grass and make it look lush, greener and more robust to fight against germs and infections. Complete fertiliser application is recommended for palmetto grass twice a year, preferably in April and during September. Slow-release fertiliser can be used at other times of the year, and you need to ensure that the fertiliser is high in nitrogen to promote a lush, green carpet of grass.
WEED PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Weed prevention is crucial for any turf, as it can pull out the necessary nutrition and leave the grass striving for the same. Weeds come in different forms, but the good thing is that the dense growth of palmetto turf makes it harder for weeds to invade palmetto grass lawns. Hand-eradication is the best step to eliminating weeds, followed by applying a suitable weedicide to stop them completely.
PEST PREVENTION AND CONTROL
The good news regarding pest prevention is that palmetto grass is highly resistant to any pest. But vendors recommend regular inspection, and you should mainly look out for lawn grubs or African black beetles. Web worms or army worms are also very common, and applying suitable pesticides is recommended if these pests are found, or their signs are traced.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BUFFALO PALMETTO TURF
MAINTENANCE
• Grows slower than other buffalo varieties
• Requires less mowing and less maintenance
WATER EFFICIENCY
• Deep-rooted system means it is an efficient water user
• Drought Tolerant
COLOUR
• Renowned for dark leaf colour
• Attractive to lawn enthusiasts
WEAR TOLERANCE
• Has strong-growing runners
• Creates a dense lawn with solid wear tolerance and a good recovery rate
SHADE TOLERANCE
• Palmetto has a shade tolerance of 45%, and in low wear sites, and shade tolerance of 65%
WEED RESISTANCE
• Weeds find it challenging to invade due to strong, deep-rooted system
COMMON FAQs REGARDING PALMETTO TURF
WHAT TYPE OF GRASS IS PALMETTO?
Palmetto is a member of the buffalo grass family, and this statement is enough to understand that it will require less watering and maintenance.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO PLANT PALMETTO BUFFALO GRASS?
This turf can be planted all year round except in cold climates and the winter season.
WHAT IS THE SPREADING GROWTH OF PALMETTO GRASS?
Palmetto turf can be left for a lot longer than other varieties with no maintenance or mowing and will not spread or grow invasively.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WATER PALMETTO GRASS?
It can be watered once every 7-10 days during summer or on sandy soils and much less in cooler months.
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