Sir Walter Lawn Care

How to install and maintain your Sir Walter DNA Certified

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo is Australia’s No. 1 buffalo, with over 80 million metres having been sold Australia wide.  Sir Walter DNA Certified is tough yet soft, able to perform in full sun and part shade, is drought tolerant, and best of all is Australian born and bred.

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo is lush and green with a tight growth habit to hold out most weeds, and also has the ability to repair itself quickly if damaged lessening the incidence of bare patches, making it the perfect choice for home lawns.

Installation

Sir Walter DNA Certified has a pleasing blue-green colour, with fast prostrate (horizontal) growth, purple/green stolon colour and a long dark green leaf blade that is highly infolded in mature turf, giving the grass a fine leaf appearance;

Important points for Sir Walter DNA Certified installation:

• Install the grass immediately after delivery/pick up as it will easily dry out, and there is also the risk that it may heat up resulting in burn on the leaves inside the rolls.
• Lay on a bed of 50-100mm of quality turf underlay
• Use Lawn Solutions Australia Lawn Launcher at label rates to give the grass a head start and retain moisture in the new soil bed
• Roll to compact new turf to improve contact with the soil
• Soak the newly laid turf thoroughly for 10-14 days after installation or until established
• Reduce irrigation once established and water only when the grass appears to be dry
• Mow lightly as soon as the grass has rooted in to promote lateral growth (should be in 10-14 days after installation)
• Apply a seaweed treatment such as Seasol 3-4 weeks after laying to lessen the stress effects and improve overall health,

Fertilising

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo will perform at its best when fertilised regularly throughout the year with a good slow release fertiliser.

Important points for fertilising Sir Walter DNA Certified:

• Apply Lawn Solutions Australia fertiliser at a rate of 25g/m² or 2.5kg/100m²
• Fertilise 3 times per year in spring, early summer and autumn to improve overall winter health
• Application of seaweed treatment such as Seasol will compliment your fertilising regime

Weed and Pest Control

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo has a tight growth habit which will inhibit the growth of weeds to a certain extent, but there will be times when weed control will be necessary.

Products containing MCPA or Dicamba are generally safe for use on Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo along with most pest control products, but it is always best to read the label and check with your Lawn Solutions Australia grower for recommended products before any application.

Watering

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo is a drought hardy grass that can survive extremely dry conditions once established.  Important points for watering of Sir Walter DNA Certified:

• If watering is necessary once established, water only when there are signs of the grass drying out, e.g. wilted leaves
• Do not over water in the cooler winter months
• When watering is needed, deeply soak the top 100mm of soil
• Water early morning for improved efficiency and plant health

Mowing

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo will perform at its peak when maintained between 40 – 50mm, and even higher in shaded areas or in the cooler months.

Important points for mowing Sir Walter DNA Certified:

• Ensure that mower blades are sharp to prevent tearing of the leaf
• Never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at any one time unless dethatching
• Dethatch to remove any sponginess in spring for best results
• Remove clippings each mow to prevent thatch build up

Shady Areas

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo can adapt to shaded areas due to its broad leaves which photosynthesise well.  Amongst the Buffalo varieties, Sir Walter DNA Certified is among the very best performers in shady areas and can thrive with as little as 3 hours of sunlight per day.

Important points on shady areas:

• Sir Walter DNA Certified can survive in areas of 30% sunlight
• Be careful not to over water any shady areas
• Reduce traffic on lawn in heavily shaded areas where possible
• Ensure there is at least 100mm of quality soil under the turf when laid
• Keep a minimum of 50mm of leaf length during the warmer months, and more during the cooler months to increase leaf surface area and photosynthesis capacity