| 1. | Where did Sir Walter originate? |
| | Sir Walter was developed in the Hunter Valley in N.S.W. by Buchanan Turf Supplies. |
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| 2. | What size are the rolls of turf? |
| | 1 ROLL = 1m2 600mm wide x 1.66m long (24" wide x 5'6" long) 25mm (1inch) thick Weigh about 10kg when dry |
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| 3. | How long will the grass keep before it needs to be layed? |
| | In the cooler months the grass will keep for 4-5 days and in the hotter months only 1-2 days. |
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| 4. | How long after the turf is ordered is it delivered? |
| | We deliver Monday to Friday, normally next day to Newcastle, generally within 2 days. Orders to the Cessnock/Singleton area are delivered every Tuesday, south of Toronto & Central Coast every Wednesday and the Bay area every Thursday. Delivery delays can be caused by wet weather and peak periods. |
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| 5. | Do we deliver to the Central Coast & Upper Hunter? |
| | Yes we certainly do. Delivery fees apply. Price on application. |
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| 6. | How do I calculate how many square metres I need? |
| | Times two sides together ie: 18mx7m = 126m2. For irregular sites divide up into smaller squares/or triangles, calculate each individual area then add them together. |
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| 7. | What type of soil should I use? |
| | We recommend Lush Lawn Underlay which can be purchased from Lee Rowans Gardenworld but any type of soil from a sandy loam to an Oakhampton Brown Soil can be used provided there is good drainage. |
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| 8. | Can I lay turf on sand? |
| | Yes but you will need to put an organic fertiliser such as fowl manure down first before laying the turf. |
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| 9. | How do I prepare the ground when laying on clay? |
| | Apply Gypsum, which is a clay breaker down first followed by Lush Lawn Underlay (or selected soil) on top. Ash or chitter can be also used under the soil to assist with drainage. |
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| 10. | How much soil should I use? |
| | 2" is okay, but 4" of soil is better. |
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| 11. | How many square metres will fit into a box trailer? |
| | About 30m2 of Buffalo or 40m2 of Kikuyu or Couch into a small trailer.
About 40m2 of Buffalo or 50m2 of Kikuyu or Couch into a large trailer. |
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| 12. | What is the history of Shademaster? |
| | Shademaster originated in the Hunter Valley of N.S.W. in the mid 1980s, it was the first soft leaf buffalo available. It was then grown in the Sydney area from the early 1990s. However, because of its purple discolouration in winter, other soft leaf Buffalos were developed including Sir Walter. |
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| 13. | Which soft leaf buffalos originate overseas? |
| | ST-85, ST-91, Austine (ST-26) and Palmetto come from America. Sir Walter was born and bred in Australia. |
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| 14. | What are the advantages of Sir Walter compared with other soft leaf buffalos? |
| | 1. Superior colour in winter compared with most soft leaf buffalo
2. Drought tolerance in summer
3. Herbicide and fungus resistance
4. Low Thatch development
5. Quicker recovery after wear
6. Shade Tolerance |
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| 15. | Will Sir Walter grow in the shade? |
| | No grass will grow in complete shade. However, Sir Walter will grow in shady areas better than any other warm season grass that we have trialed including Shademaster soft leaf buffalo. |
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| 16. | How can I be sure I'm getting Sir Walter? |
| | With a lot of substituting going on in the industry, only deal with a licenced grower or nursery. A licenced supplier will be happy to supply you with an invoice stating that your purchase is Sir Walter and supply an authenticity certificate. Be wary of a supplier who won't supply the correct invoice and certificate. |
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| 17. | When should I fertilise my lawn? |
| | Prior to laying, the soil should be fertilized and again two weeks after installing, then every eight weeks for the first twelve months. Once established, apply fertiliser early spring, early summer and mid autumn. The autumn fertilising is essential for the lawn to go through winter well. |
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| 18. | What type of fertiliser should I use? |
| | Correct fertiliser recommendations vary depending on climate, region and soil type. Generally a slow released balanced NPK lawn food is best, such as the Sir Walter Fertiliser which you can order this online at www.sirwalter.com.au and have the fertiliser couriered to your door, or contact your local nursery for their recommended equivalent. Dynamic Lifter, No. 17 etc. are suitable. |
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| 19. | How and when to water my Lawn? |
| | Newly transplanted turf requires extra care (especially water) for the first few weeks. Turf must be kept moist at all times until the roots have taken. During daylight hours leaf should not be allowed to dry out and edge areas near concrete or brick will suffer the most. A soaker hose is the preferred method of watering as these keep the turf moist with the minimum amount of water and hence the least amount of flooding in the sub-soil area. Test for soil moisture with a 100mm/4” probe. Ground should be moist to this level. If hot and/or windy, up to 10 hours watering per day may be required. If the turf appears to lose colour during the first month after laying, watering has not been sufficient and should be immediately increased.
Once the turf has taken root (7-10 days in summer, 10-14 days in winter), watering can be decreased to a level that will depend on the climatic conditions. As a guide, the lawn should receive 2-3 deep waterings in summer per week, or 1 per week in winter, until full establishment (approx. 12 months). Once fully established, one deep watering per week is usually sufficient except in extreme conditions. |
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| 20. | When can I mow my newly laid lawn? |
| | The first mowing should not be done until the roots have taken and the turf is not easily lifted. The first mowing should only be a light trim, and never take more than a third of the leaf off in any single mowing. |
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| 21. | What height should I mow my Sir Walter lawn? |
| | Sir Walter can be mown at various heights ranging from 15mm to 50mm, however correct height can depend on personal preference and climatic conditions. Mow higher in shady areas. It is recommended to raise your mowing height prior to winter. |
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| 22. | How do I control weeds in my Sir Walter lawn? |
| | Prevention is always better than cure. If a Sir Walter lawn is kept in a healthy and fertilised state, weed eradication is rarely necessary. If in the rare circumstance weed spray is required, we suggest that you first heavily fertilise when weeds are noticed, followed by at least two mowings in a three-week period. This will usually reduce the problem to a minimum. If spraying is still required, there are several herbicides that can be used. We suggest correct weed identification and spray advice be obtained from your local nursery or supplier. Avoid using any herbicides containing the ingredients DSMA or MSMA. |
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| 23. | Can or should I top-dress my lawn? |
| | Top dressing should only be required to correct any unevenness in ground preparation. If top dressing is required, it should only be done in late spring or early summer with a sandy loam and no more than 10mm should be applied per top dressing. The tips of the leaves should still be visible after top dressing. Quite often a low mowing combined with fertilizing and deep watering in spring will achieve the same results easier and cheaper than topdressing. |
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| 24. | Can I apply an insecticide to my SW lawn? |
| | Yes you can. If insect damage occurs, apply any turf-registered insecticide (eg baythroid) following the manufacturers instructions. A common insect that damages lawns is Lawn Army Worm or Sod-web worm. If a large population of white moths are noticed of an evening around your home, be prepared to spray in the coming weeks. |
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| 25. | Can I purchase Sir Walter in cell trays from large hardware chain stores? |
| | No you can not. Buffalo grasses purchased in this manner tend to work out to be approximately 20 times the price compared with buying solid turf and planting it in a similar manner. |
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| 26. | Can Buffalo be grown from seed? |
| | Sir Walter is a male sterile plant, therefore does not produce a viable seed, Sir Walter can only be grown from vegetative material, eg turf or stolons. Sir Walter will produce a seed head if under stress, usually from lack of water or fertiliser. |
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| 27. | What can I put on my lawn to treat Army Worms, Crickets or Black Beetles? |
| | Baythroid can be used, but it is best to contact your local nursery for further advice. |
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| 28. | What is the best grass around a pool? |
| | Sir Walter is best around a pool because it is salt tolerant, green in winter and soft to walk on. |
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| 29. | What is the best grass for the shade? |
| | No grass will grown in complete shade however we have found Sir Walter to perform the best in shaded areas if mown longer than normal prior to winter. |
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