Buffalo- To Mulch or not to Mulch

[Moree]

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with mulching decks used on buffalo lawns.
There seems to be some mixed info around. I know the local turf farm mulch theirs. But i suppose it isn't there long.
The issue seems to be thatch build up and the resultant spongy feel.
Any comments?

[imoww]

I too have this issue with 3 of my regulars......
I was told to dethatch it....
Looking forward to any other answers....

[imoww]

I too have this issue with 3 of my regulars......
I was told to dethatch it....
Looking forward to any other answers....

[Arfa Brayne]

Mulching buffalo seems to be popular in the USA, or so I read.

But 15+ years of practice here in Aus tells me that it provides nothing more than retarded growth and thatch to both the old and new strains of buffalo.

The old strains of buff will easily develop a "floating turf" situation after a couple of seasons mulching, where the turf lays on the soil like a mat.

Best practice I've found is to always try to catch the cuttings, fertilise with a granular weed+feed (iron sulphate + sulphate of ammonia) in spring and give a light dusting of lime in Autumn to sweeten the soil and neutralise the increased acidity of the weed+feed.

The old strain buff lawns are my choice for a very low maintainence lawn that's as tough as boots. Shame about the itch factor.
New strains of buff have more in common with kykuyu than buffalo.

[Moree]

Thanks Arfa.
Do you think it would be feasible to mulch through the summer with an annual dethatch in early spring?
If so, is a trailed style dethatcher going to do the job or will I need a powered model?
http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/...tcherator.page

[Arfa Brayne]

Prevention is better than cure. Better to avoid the thatch than try to repair it.
Why are you so keen to mulch?

[Moree]

Mainly time and money.
It's a big job and I don't have a machine with a catcher to handle that sort of area.
It can be done buts it's just the $$$.

[fairdinkum]

I have one big buffalo lawn that I have been mulching for about 18 months. When I first got it, it was a jungle and heavily thatched. I just gradually dropped the mowing height over a few months (catching occasionally). Got it from the maximum height down to 4. Currently mulching it on 6 fortnightly and the thatch is no longer an issue. Once the growth slows I will slowly drop the height again (maybe catch a couple of times) then raise it up if needs be when it starts growing again.

[courty]

i've always been under the impression that dethatching Buffalo lawns is a no no due to being stolons and not rhizomes?.
I have 2 lawns that are very spongy and would love to do something about it. Both have been mowed weekly(by me) and always using the catcher but even on the highest setting the blade carrier is now spinning on the surface. Any suggestions to thin this stuff out?

[PhilG]

Here is a handy link.

http://softleafbuffalograss.com.au/index.php

[63impala]

Where is that tender lovin prople chaniging a nappe lol pease

[PaulG]

I mainly see Sir Walter Buffalo around here which seems to be the standard. The ones I do are only fortnightly and get a bit of growth but I just cut them back so that there's at least 50 to 60mm of grass blade left each time and I don't see any problems. I'm catching these lawns and there hasn't been any thatch or issues with sponginess (yet)!

[dave hirst]

Where is that tender lovin prople chaniging a nappe lol pease

and in english ?

[happymowin]

and in english ?

where is that tender lovin (lawn and garden) probably changing a nappy lol peace

[ian]

Where is that tender lovin prople chaniging a nappe lol pease

this is interesting

and in english ?

you mean you don't speak impalaish

where is that tender lovin (lawn and garden) probably changing a nappy lol peace

see now this way it's boring