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Q
My Buffalo lawn is building up a very thick thatch layer, what can I do to reduce the thickness of the thatch?A
Buffalo grass is notorious for creating a very thick thatch layer which can often reach around a 30-40 cm if left unchecked. This problem is worst on the old style Buffalo grasses, whereas it has become considerably better with the new Soft Leaf Buffalo varieties.
However, as the owner of a Buffalo lawn, the thickening of the thatch layer must always be kept in mind when managing the lawn over the long term.
Some buffalo lawn types such as Sir Walter can be more prone to thatch than other buffalo grasses.
Thatch in Buffalo Lawns can be managed with a few simple practices, such as regular lawn mowing, and cutting back deep into the thatch once every year during the active growing season. The idea is to remove a good amount of the thatch, but without cutting so low that it puts the lawn at risk of damage, we just want to remove some of the extra runners that have increased over time.
If the thatch layer of a Buffalo lawn does become out of hand, then the lawn owner has two possible solutions. The first is to gradually reduce lawn mowing heights over the course of around two months. If the thatch is too thick then it may be better to have the lawn professionally vertimowed, which will remove all the excess thatch in a single session. Be sure to hire a professional for this work.
Lastly, if the thatch layer has gone to an extreme thickness, then consideration should be given to having the lawn removed, and a new lawn planted in it's place.
