Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo Grass

Sir Walter DNA Certified is a premium quality, soft-leaf Buffalo grass that provides a luscious, hard-wearing, long-lasting lawn. Unlike other varieties that are heavily modified, Sir Walter is a naturally occurring, high-performance strain specifically selected for its superior survival traits in the Australian environment. 

• Shade-tolerant – high shade tolerance due to its broad leaves, which capture more sunlight. 
• Drought-tolerant – highly efficient with water usage. Stays greener for longer with minimal watering in dry and warmer conditions.
• Wear-tolerant – its self-repairing capabilities make it durable and easy to care for against damage that may be caused by children, pets or high foot traffic. 
• Salt-tolerant – it does well in areas with some salt exposure, such as coastal areas. It can be safely irrigated with partially saline bore water containing up to around 3000-5000ppm. 
• Hypoallergenic – a better choice for hay fever and allergy sufferers. It produces less pollen and has a smooth leaf blade that won’t cause skin irritation.
• Eco-friendly – it requires less fertiliser, chemicals and water than other grass varieties, making it more friendly to the environment.
• Low maintenance – While its strong root system aids self-repair, it’s also non-invasive. This means it won’t creep into garden beds and does not require any chemicals to keep it under control. For this reason, Sir Walter DNA Certified is the lowest of low-maintenance lawns on the Australian market and is what we call our “mow, blow and go grass”.

When you compare landscaping costs, Sir Walter Buffalo grass is a clear winner for both your budget and your lifestyle. While professional paving can easily cost between $70 and $100 per square metre, and high-quality synthetic turf often starts at $50, real turf allows you to transform your outdoor space at a fraction of that price.

The benefits go far beyond the initial savings. Unlike hard surfaces or plastic grass, which trap heat and create harsh glare, a natural lawn acts as an “outdoor air conditioner,” significantly lowering the temperature around your home. When you decide to upgrade your existing lawn with Sir Walter, you are choosing a safer, softer, and more eco-friendly surface for your kids and pets.

Maintaining that “picture-perfect” look is simpler than most people think. By following our expert lawn care tips and using the best fertiliser for our Victorian climate, you’ll keep your grass healthy and vibrant year-round. Once you’ve completed your successful first mow, you’ll find that spending time in a living, breathing backyard is a far more rewarding experience than any artificial alternative can offer.

We know it’s tempting to take a shortcut, but laying new turf directly over an existing lawn is the quickest way to kill your investment. If you don’t clear the old grass, it will die and rot under the new slabs, creating a “slimy” barrier that prevents the new roots from reaching the soil. To ensure you get that perfect lawn, you must clear the area to bare soil. Think of it like painting a house; the finish is only as good as the prep work!

Most people are used to thin, stretchy “rolls,” but we do things differently to give you an edge. We harvest our Sir Walter buffalo turf in premium, thick-cut slabs. Rolls often suffer from “transplant shock” because the roots are cut too thin, but our slabs keep a deeper soil profile intact. This makes the first mow happen sooner and makes it much easier for DIYers to get a dead-level finish without those annoying gaps or ridges you see with rolls.

Since Sir Walter is the top choice for families with pets, we get asked this constantly! While Sir Walter is incredibly hardy, the high nitrogen in dog urine can sometimes leave yellow spots. Our best lawn care tips for pet owners? If you see your dog “go,” give that spot a quick 10-second splash with the hose to dilute the nitrogen. Because Sir Walter has aggressive spreading stolons, any minor marks will self-repair much faster than other grass types.

Absolutely. This is where our refrigerated turf delivery gives you a massive advantage. While other turf can “cook” and turn yellow in the back of a hot truck, our grass stays “farm-fresh” and chilled right up until it hits your driveway. As long as you get the slabs on the ground within an hour of delivery and keep the water moving, your Sir Walter will thrive. Spending time laying turf in the heat is no problem when the product starts at a cool 4 degrees!

Here is a pro-tip most homeowners miss: Sir Walter loves a bit more “leaf” in the shade. If part of your lawn is under a big tree, let it grow about 10mm taller than the sections in full sun. This extra surface area allows the grass to capture more sunlight, ensuring the colour stays uniform across your entire yard. It’s a simple trick that makes a huge difference in achieving that perfect lawn look.

Sir Walter Buffalo grass is a non-invasive turf variety. This means it won’t grow where it shouldn’t!

Invasive grasses are aggressive growers that send runners into garden beds and lawns. Sir Walter Buffalo grass, on the other hand, remains largely contained where it’s installed.

Its underground root system will grow down deep into the soil, while its above-ground root system will creep, but it will only spread slowly. 

Sir Walter’s lateral growth habit is what makes it able to self-repair, so if you ever have a problem with bare patches in your lawn, you can fix them easily. Bare patches are often the result of excessive wear and tear. You can fix this by breaking up the soil to allow in air and nutrients, and then follow with some fertiliser and water. The turf should be fully-repaired within months.

For a faster and easier fix, prepare the ground and then install a new slab of fresh-cut turf to the spot, watering and top dressing around the edges with sandy soil. Water regularly while the turf is establishing and refrain from mowing until it has rooted into the ground.

Like all our turf products, Sir Walter DNA Certified is available from Coolabah Turf all year round. Keep in mind that if you’re planning to install it during May to August, it should only be laid in areas that have full sun and low foot traffic to achieve the best results.

Cold weather can lead to slower root generation and a longer establishment time. So the more sunlight your new turf is exposed to and the less stress it experiences from foot traffic, the faster it will grow.

In a state like Victoria, the cold winter months mean your Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo grass will take longer to establish once installed. Don’t fret! This means it will require virtually no maintenance!

Lots of factors go into determining how often you should water your lawn. The short answer –  it depends! Additionally, how much you water your lawn depends on the following key factors: 

• How moisture-retentive is the soil underneath the turf?

• How sandy is the soil base?

• Has there been natural rainfall? 

• How much do you want to mow it?

• What is the pressure of the irrigation system or hose you are using? 

Correct watering is one of the main factors influencing how your instant turf will perform, so it’s important to keep these environmental factors front of mind all year round. 

In addition to this, every season has different watering requirements. General best practices for these include:

Summer – This is dependent.  For a newly established lawn, you will need to water it approximately two to three times a day until it’s able to source its own water supply.

Autumn – lighter and less frequent watering on an as-needed basis, ideally in the mornings, as evening watering can encourage fungus growth.

Winter – watering may not be necessary, as winter rainfall will be adequate. In areas with warmer winters, you may need to water once a month for up to 40 minutes.

Spring – in the first few weeks, apply minimal top-up watering over and above spring rainfall. Then a deep soaking once a week, depending on your location and climate.

We specialise in drought-tolerant turf varieties designed to thrive in hot, dry conditions without turning brown. Lawn turf with the Sir Walter DNA Certified tick is proven to thrive with less water than other instant turf varieties.

Not only is it easy to install, but it will thrive for longer during extended dry weather and will recover quicker following drought conditions.

As Sir Walter DNA Certified turf is a watersmart grass, it requires 70% less water than a cool-season turfgrass variety. 

Best practice is to do a deep watering once a fortnight during the summer, once a month in autumn and spring, and only if needed during the winter.

FERTILISING TIPS [H4]

• When you first lay turf, use a starter fertiliser before installing to help prepare your base and kickstart growth.
• Always water your lawn immediately after fertilising to prevent leaf burn and other issues.
• Don’t fill the spreader on the lawn, as the slightest spill can affect your turf.
• If dethatching your lawn, follow up with fertiliser to enhance recovery.
• Too much fertiliser could lead to too much maintenance (i.e. the need for frequent mowing and watering).
• Chicken manure or dynamic lifter is an excellent organic fertiliser alternative.

Sir Walter DNA Certified turf is a highly versatile grass that can thrive in a range of conditions, from hot sun to cool shady areas. While that means it can be laid all year round, there are certain conditions for achieving optimal results.

Spring is considered the best time of the year to lay turf, when the temperature is warming up, and there is plenty of rainfall.

For optimal results in winter, we advise you to install turf in full sun and low-traffic areas. Due to the slow root initiation and longer establishment periods brought on by the cooler months, it’s critical to follow the no-traffic rule.

Installing your turf in summer will ensure fast establishment and growth, but make sure you water it every day during hours of weaker sunshine to prevent the roots from drying out.

Autumn can be a good laying time when the soil is at an ideal temperature, and there is ample rainfall. However, we do recommend doing it in the earlier months, so your turf has a chance to establish itself before winter arrives.

Whatever time of year you choose to lay your turf, remember to water within 30 minutes of laying, then daily until it’s firmly rooted. Don’t forget to fertilise your new lawn about six weeks after installation.

If your Sir Walter DNA Certified lawn has holes, is uneven or needs a nutrient boost, top dressing is the recommended solution. This should be done at the beginning of spring.

Adding nutrients – this involves applying a thin layer of organic soil mixture to add nutrients and minerals to your lawn. This will encourage new shoots, hinder moss and weed growth, improve drainage and promote the development of micro flora and fauna in the soil. To apply, shovel the top dressing into even piles and then rake the mixture in a figure eight motion so that it is spread evenly around. Then hose the lawn thoroughly until the dressing is barely visible.

Levelling uneven areas – if an area of lawn is slightly uneven, apply a top dressing up to 12mm. For deeper areas, you’ll need to apply more than one layer. Shovel loam or sand into piles and then level with a garden leveller, leaving the tops of the lawn plants still visible. Once the lawn is even, water in the top dressing.

Repairing holes – use a shovel to raise the grass on top of the hole and place top dressing underneath to elevate the level of the lawn. Add more top dressing to fix any uneven spots, making sure to leave the tops of the lawn plants exposed. Finally, water in the top dressing.

Thatch is a layer of dead organic matter below the surface of the lawn. While a thin layer is normal, if allowed to build up, it can block air, water and nutrients from reaching the grass roots.

If you notice your Sir Walter lawn feels spongy or bouncy underfoot, water runs off rather than soaking in, or it’s looking patchy and weak despite regular care, thatch could be the culprit. The good news is, it’s a pretty easy fix. Here are your options:

• Low cut mowing – mowing the lawn at a much lower height than normal is one way of removing thatch. Be sure to use a grass catcher and remove all the clippings from the surface to allow for even regrowth.
• Dethatching rake – this is a special purpose-built rake that can be purchased from any hardware or garden supply store. Be sure to remove all the dead vegetation after raking to allow for maximum water penetration.
• Dethatching machine – also known as a verticutter or power rake, this is a specialised machine designed to remove thatch from lawns. If you have a lot of thatch or a large lawn to cover, hiring one of these machines might be your best bet.

DETHATCHING TIPS

• Dethatch your lawn when thatch is around 1.5cm deep.
• Dethatch in late spring or early summer while your lawn is still growing and can recover quickly from the stress.
• Feed your lawn after dethatching with a quality fertiliser and water deeply.

The best lawns are the result of proper preparation. When it comes to installing your Sir Walter DNA Certified Turf, preparing the site is very important for its long-term success. 

Before installing your instant turf, remove any remaining grass with a weed killer and remove any rocks, sticks and other solid materials from the soil.

If you are installing your turf on a soil or clay surface, you’ll need to till the surface with a rotary hoe to break it up, aerate it and help with plant root initiation.

If your site has only minimal topsoil, you’ll need to add a layer of sandy garden loam, which you can buy from your local nursery or garden centre.

Other things you can do to make your site as turf-friendly as possible include:

• Check the pH of your soil to ensure the essential nutrients are available (the ideal pH range is between 6 and 7.5).
• If your soil’s pH level is too low, add some lime, which will help raise the pH and neutralise any acidity in the soil.
• Add some water storage crystals, which will absorb and store water and make it available to the turf’s root system.
• Add a slow-release fertiliser to fertilise your turf and help with soil moisture retention.

When someone mentions ‘buffalo grass’, the first thought is generally that it’s ‘itchy’. Standard buffalo grass has serrated edges like teeth along every blade. That’s what causes the skin to become irritated, resulting in itching and rashes. Standard buffalo grass turf is also unfriendly to those with allergies and hay fever, resulting in wheezing and coughing.

But Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo grass is different. Buffalo turf grasses don’t have to be uncomfortable. Sir Walter is the new generation, soft-leaf buffalo grass for those wanting a tough, hardy lawn that is feathery underfoot and doesn’t itch.

Sir Walter Buffalo Grass turf is a low-allergenic grass.

Unlike cool-season grasses that grow from seed, Sir Walter grows via stolons and rhizomes (creeping stems) and produces few (if any) seed heads. So if there’s hay fever or allergies in your family, you’ll appreciate the protection it provides. 

If you’re sensitive to pollen and are considering instant lawn for your home, this variety could be what you’ve been looking for. 

Our turf is harvested in line with strict Australian standards, guaranteeing a lawn that is free of pests, weeds, and disease. You’ll even receive a certificate of authenticity for total peace of mind.

Yes. Roundup contains glyphosate, which kills anything it comes into contact with.

If you plan to use a herbicide containing glyphosate to kill weeds, be sure to avoid getting it on your Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo grass. There are plenty of other weed killers available that kill weeds but not lawns, so talk to our team of turf professionals, and we can help you select the best one!

If you have Buffalo grass, common weeds you may experience include: 

• Wintergrass – can be removed by hand or using a control such as the Wintergrass Killer by Amgrow. Its active ingredient is Endothol. 
• Broadleaf weeds and Clover – can be removed with a herbicide.
• Bindii – can be managed by hand or by applying a selective broadleaf herbicide.
• Creeping Oxalis – can be eradicated with a selective herbicide.
• Onion Weed – can be eradicated by digging out the weed clump and throwing it away or by spot weeding with a solution of glyphosate and water.

WEEDING TIPS

• Regular mowing is the key to a good-looking lawn. This suppresses its upright growth habit and increases its density. A dense lawn helps to block out weeds, which are more common in winter.
• Wait at least a week after mowing to apply herbicides, as the grass needs time to repair itself.
• Be sure to check the active ingredients in any herbicide to ensure it doesn’t contain buffalo-killing compounds.
• Herbicides containing MCPA or Bromoxynil are typically safe for buffalo lawns.

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo grass is the most versatile grass on the market today, maintaining good winter colour throughout the cooler months. It can survive drought, frost, extreme heat or full sun or shade, and it’s also salt-tolerant.

But like all warm-season grass varieties, Sir Walter Buffalo grass will suffer some loss of colour when exposed to frost. 

Cool-season grasses contain a protein, which protects them from frost, but on the flip side, they also require 70% more water than our home-grown Coolabah varieties. 

Warm-season grasses, on the other hand, such as Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, are drought-tolerant and have self-repair capabilities. So a little colour loss over winter is surely a small price to pay for a grass that can survive the extreme heat of an Australian summer!  

TIPS TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF FROST 

Try these tips to help minimise unnecessary damage from frost:

• Don’t walk on your lawn until the frost has melted – this breaks the grass blades and causes more damage.
• Give your lawn a light watering just before sunrise to help the frost melt faster and more evenly.
• Keep your lawn well-maintained during autumn so it’s healthy and strong when winter arrives. This will help it withstand the impact of cold, frosty days.
• Paint your lawn with ColourGuard, an eco-friendly lawn colourant that can keep your grass looking green all year round. 

WINTER TIPS FOR SIR WALTER LAWN 

Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo grass is drought-tolerant, soft underfoot and looks awesome in summer.

While it can be successfully installed all year round in Victoria, it will experience a period of dormancy during the colder winter periods. This means varying degrees of discolouration, which like most things in life, is a bittersweet trade-off. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance, non-invasive, water-smart, self-repairing and drought-tolerant turf variety, then accepting discolouration during winter dormancy is a small price to pay.

So while you might expect a brown-looking, lacklustre lawn during dormancy, there is a remedy to help. With ColourGuard, also known as Botox for your backyard, you can instantly bring colour and vibrancy back to your lawn. ColourGuard is a natural turf grass colourant that you hose onto your lawn. Aside from restoring your grass to a healthy green, it also:

• Reduces watering and fertilising needs
• Is UV fade-resistant
• Won’t bleed, run, or stain once absorbed by the grass
• Is safe for the environment, pets and people
• Is fully organic and contains no harmful chemicals.

While your Sir Walter lawn may lose some of its brilliant vibrancy over winter, the upside is that its slow growth means you don’t need to mow…at all. Take the winter off!

MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR SIR WALTER DNA CERTIFIED GRASS

Once your Sir Walter DNA Certified lawn is established, here’s an annual management schedule to keep it happy and healthy all year round.

Spring (Sept – Nov)

• Fertilise in October and November with a fertiliser such as Lawn Solutions Australia’s Fertiliser – Premium Lawn Food.
• Mow every one or two weeks and remove the clippings to prevent thatch buildup.
• Remove weeds that have emerged over winter, such as broadleaf weeds, wintergrass and clover.
• Apply a pesticide such as Acelepryn to minimise the impact of white grubs.
• Aerate your lawn to help it recover from winter. 

Summer (Dec – Feb)

• Apply a fertiliser to assist with turf health if required.
• Water as needed in the early morning (for longer but less frequently).
• Remove thatch and dead material to help the grass absorb all available moisture.
• Aerate the ground to further improve soil moisture uptake.

Autumn (Mar – May)

• Apply a pre-emergent herbicide and fertiliser such as Oxafert in week 3 of March and May.
• Water in the early morning for 15 minutes twice a week.
• Raise the mowing height to help insulate the soil and prepare it for winter.
• Rake up dead leaves to prevent dieback and encourage sunlight and oxygen.

Winter (Jun – Aug)

• Apply a plant conditioner such as Seasol in week 1 of July and August.
• Use a herbicide such as Oxafert to proactively prevent and minimise the impact of winter weeds.
• Aerate the soil to increase air, water and nutrients.
• In warmer regions, water as needed (pending environmental conditions).

The Aussie-born and bred buffalo grass holds a special place in our hearts (and our backyards) thanks to a special combination of qualities not found in other varieties of buffalo turf grasses. It really is the perfect Aussie lawn.

• The Ultimate Low-Maintenance Grass

In addition to needing less frequent mowing and watering than many other lawn types, it also requires minimal fertilising and weed treatment thanks to its natural resistance and thick coverage.

• Exceptional Shade Tolerance

Sir Walter thrives where other lawns fade. It’s been specially bred to handle low-light conditions, needing as little as 3 hours of direct sun a day. Its broad leaf blades are great at capturing the available light, helping the lawn stay lush and green even in shaded areas under trees, beside fences or around the house.