How to Care for Your Buffalo Turf Lawn in 6 Easy Steps

Lawn care can be an ordeal during spring and fall months as warmer days lead to increased water use while dryer weather increases the need for irrigation. These conditions are often followed by periods of extreme heat, which can stress plants and turn wet areas into mud pits if not cared for properly beforehand. 

This article outlines six easy steps that allow you to get through these challenging times with ease so that your yard continues to look its best all year round. 

Step 1: 

Assess your soil A properly managed soil leads to a healthy lawn. To honestly assess the state of your garden soil, samples need to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Proper care begins with accurate soil analysis. Your local extension office can direct you to the nearest lab or help walk you through the process. Good research will provide recommendations for improvement, including requests for testing for specific nutrient deficiencies. Following specific deficiencies, solutions will vary by region, so check with your local garden center or extension office when treating problems. 

Step 2: 

Test your Soil pH Lawns need proper pH balance to maintain health and nutrient uptake. A soil test is the best way to determine pH, but if you're looking to address specific issues, using a pH test kit is inexpensive and will guide how to adjust your soil ph.

Step 3: 

Test your soil for fertilizer. If you have not yet done so, now is a great time to test your soil for fertilizer. Season-long fertilization is essential to help trees, shrubs, and flowers grow, and it is also necessary for buffalo turf. The easiest way to test is with a home soil test kit. These kits are inexpensive and provide instructions on collecting and sending samples to a laboratory for analysis. 

Step 4: 

Install a Smart Irrigation Controller. An intelligent irrigation controller allows you to control when precisely, where, and how much water is applied to your lawn. Smart irrigation controllers can be retrofitted to work with existing manual controllers or adapted to work without one. When paired with a rain sensor, smart irrigation controllers can reduce water use while maintaining the health and look of your lawn. 

Step 5: 

Mow high Mowing high (3 to 3.5 inches) helps your buffalo turf retain moisture and improves its ability to fight weeds. In addition to eliminating weeds through competition, taller buffalo turf shades out weeds that try to grow by providing a blanket of protection.

Step 6: 

Apply mulch Fall and winter can be tough on lawns, and mulch provides an added layer of protection that can reduce problems caused during cold months. In addition to keeping the soil moist, mulch adds nutrients as it breaks down and can help prevent erosion.