Buffalo Lawn Care Calendar (Victoria)

Victoria’s climate keeps lawn owners on their toes. One week you’re dodging frost, the next you’re sweating through a heatwave. Buffalo grass handles our conditions better than most, but it still needs the right job done at the right time. That’s where a clear, seasonal plan makes all the difference.

This Buffalo lawn care calendar is designed as a bookmarkable cheat sheet for Victorian homeowners. Scroll it on your phone, check the season, and you’ll know exactly what to do, what to avoid, and why it matters. It’s based on real, everyday Buffalo turf care in Melbourne and surrounds, not generic advice lifted from interstate guides

Year at a Glance: Buffalo Cheat Sheet

Critical Buffalo milestones in Victoria

• Mid–late September: First proper mow and first fertiliser
• Early December: Raise mowing height before extreme heat
• Late March: Final fertilise before cold slows ‍
• Late April–early May: Last chance to repair bare patches

Spring (September–November)

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Goal: Wake the lawn up and repair winter damage

Quick answer: Spring is when Buffalo comes back to life. Mow gently, aerate if compacted, and feed to encourage lateral growth.

Mowing: The first cut matters

Buffalo must not be scalped in spring. Unlike couch or kikuyu, it grows via runners and hates aggressive low cuts.

What to do

• Start mowing once growth resumes, usually mid–September in Melbourne
• Set the mower high for the first few cuts
• Remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade at a time

This protects the crown of the plant and prevents shock after winter.

Renovation: Fix compaction, not with aggression

Buffalo prefers gentle aeration, not scarifying.

Best options

• Core aeration or garden fork aeration
• Top-dress lightly with sandy loam if soil is heavy clay

Avoid dethatching machines. Buffalo doesn’t respond well to aggressive removal of runners and stolons.

Nutrition: Feeding for spread, not surge

Use a slow-release, Buffalo-safe fertiliser in spring. This promotes steady growth and helps the lawn thicken naturally.

✔️ Look for fertilisers labelled safe for Buffalo
❌ Avoid high-nitrogen liquid feeds early on

Weed control: Read labels carefully

Buffalo is sensitive to many common bindii and broadleaf sprays.

• Only use herbicides specifically approved for Buffalo
• Spot-spray instead of blanket spraying where possible

Summer (December–February)

Goal: Heat survival and moisture retention

Quick answer: Raise the mower, water deeply, and protect the roots from heat stress.

Mowing: The Heat Rule

In extreme heat, longer grass equals cooler soil.

Ideal height in 35°C+ conditions

• 40–50 mm for Buffalo lawns in Melbourne

This shades the soil, reduces evaporation, and protects surface roots.

Watering: Less often, but deeper

Buffalo is drought-tolerant once established, but Victorian heatwaves are a different beast.

Best practice

• Water 2–3 times per week during heatwaves
• Apply enough water to soak 100–150 mm into the soil
• Early morning is best

How Buffalo tells you it’s thirsty

• Leaf blades fold slightly
• Colour dulls from deep green to blue-green

These are early warnings. Don’t wait for browning.

Troubleshooting: Heat stress vs pests

Heat stress:

• Even discolouration
• Lawn bounces back after watering

Pests (like lawn grubs):

• Patchy damage
• Turf lifts easily like loose carpet

If turf lifts, check beneath before assuming heat damage.

Autumn (March–May)

Goal: Build the winter shield

Quick answer: Autumn is about strengthening roots and preventing winter weed takeover.

Fertilising: The final feed

Apply a low-nitrogen fertiliser with potassium in early–mid autumn.

Why potassium?

• Improves cold tolerance
• Strengthens cell walls
• Helps Buffalo handle frost stress

Avoid high nitrogen after late April. It pushes soft growth that struggles in cold.

Weed prevention: Stop them before they start

Autumn is prime time for pre-emergent weed control.

• Target winter weeds like winter grass and broadleaf invaders
• Buffalo-safe products only

Repair window: Don’t miss it

In Victoria, Buffalo growth slows sharply by late April.

✔️ Repair bare patches by early–mid April
❌ After that, recovery is slow and unreliable

Winter (June–August)

Goal: Patience and appearance

Quick answer: Do very little. Buffalo slows down but usually keeps some colour in Melbourne.

What to expect visually

• Growth almost stops
• Colour may fade slightly but rarely goes fully brown in metro Melbourne

This is normal. Don’t chase colour with fertiliser.

Mowing and maintenance

• Mow only when needed, usually every 4–6 weeks
• Keep mower high
• Remove debris and leaves to prevent fungal issues

Traffic and frost sensitivity

Buffalo is moderately sensitive to frost and heavy traffic in winter.

• Avoid walking on frosty turf
• Repeated traffic can bruise leaf tissue

Best winter advice

Honestly? Leave it alone.
Winter damage is usually caused by well-meaning over-care.

The “Do Not Do This” List 🚫

1. Using the wrong weed killers

Many herbicides containing dicamba or similar actives can permanently damage or kill Buffalo.

Rule: If it doesn’t say Buffalo-safe, don’t use it.

2. Scalping or scarifying

Aggressive renovation removes runners and exposes the crown. Buffalo doesn’t bounce back like couch.

3. Overwatering in cool weather

Constant moisture in autumn and winter encourages fungal disease and weak roots.

Water only when the lawn actually needs it.

Confidence Comes From Timing

Buffalo grass is forgiving, resilient, and perfect for Melbourne conditions when you work with its growth cycle. Most lawn problems don’t come from neglect. They come from doing the wrong job at the wrong time.

Use this Buffalo lawn care calendar as your seasonal guide:

• Spring to repair and thicken
• Summer to protect and preserve
• Autumn to strengthen
• Winter to rest

Follow that rhythm, and your Buffalo lawn will reward you year after year with dense coverage, fewer weeds, and far less stress. 🌱