Sir Walter vs Palmetto
We continue our buffalo grass showdown, this time comparing Sir Walter and Palmetto! In this article, we compare the two soft leaf Buffalo grass in the following categories:
- least amount of thatch
- shade tolerance
- sun tolerance
- drought recovery
- wear and tear tolerance
- winter colour
- least seeding buffalo
So let’s find how how our two contenders fare in this battle between Sir Walter vs Palmetto.
Least Amount of Thatch
A thin layer of thatch can provide insulation against extreme temperatures and fluctuations in soil moisture. thicker layers of thatch can heat up and dry out a lawn very quickly.
THICKER LAYERS OF THATCH CAN HEAT UP AND DRY OUT A LAWN VERY QUICKLY
Both Sir Walter and Palmetto are low thatch types of grass, however Palmetto is the far and away the best option when it comes to the least amount of thatch!
Winner: Palmetto
Shade Tolerance
It is important to consider where you will lay your turf and what kind of conditions it will be subjected to. Will it have to deal with full shade, partial shade, or full shade? And if so, which turf will be best suited for this location? So how well will our turf contenders tolerate shade?
SIR WALTER FARES MARGINALLY BETTER THAN PALMETTO IN ITS SHADE TOLERANCE
So if your area gets a fair amount of shade Sir Walter made the right choice for you.
Winner: Sir Walter
Sun Tolerance
All plants need sunlight to grow, and grass is no exception — but too much sun can lead to your lawn drying out and potentially dying.
IF YOUR SITE IS GOING TO RECEIVE ALOT OF SUNLIGHT IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE TURF PRODUCT WITH THE GREATER SUN TOLERANCE
Australia is a sunburnt country; so how will our turf contenders deal with the sun? Palmetto is in a category all of it’s own when it comes to sun tolerance.
Winner: Palmetto
Drought Recovery
In the same way that we need to consider sun and shade, if you are an area that is prone to drought you need a lawn that can not only tolerate lower water conditions but can bounce back when the rains return or you choose to irrigate.
DROUGHT RECOVERY IS A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR AUSTRALIAN LAWNS
Palmetto proved to be more drought tolerant than Sir Walter.
Winner: Palmetto
Wear & Tear Tolerance
Can our turf contenders deal with wear and tear of foot traffic, kids, sports and pets? Sir Walter and Palmetto are fairly evenly placed when it comes to their wear and tear tolerance, though Sir Walter does nudge it’s way to winning this particular category!
Winner: Sir Walter
Winter Colour
If you’ve taken the time to lay quality turf and maintained it, the last thing you want is to lose that luscious green colour in the cooler months. How well will our lawn contenders keep their green colour in winter?
This is one of the key differences between Sir Walter and Palmetto and will come down to the position of your lawn. Palmetto keeps its winter colour better in full sun, while Sir Walter holds its own in partial shade.
Winner in full sun: Palmetto
Winner in partial shade: Sir Walter
Least Seeding Buffalo Turf
Which of our two turfs will produce the least amount of seed? Palmetto is the lowest seeding of the two grasses.
Overall Winner
While Palmetto did tick more of the boxes for this particular challenge, we believe both products can be a great option depending on your sites and needs. Think Palmetto for a buffalo that holds its winter colour in full sun, has a low thatch and can hold its own in a variety of weather conditions.
Think Sir Walter when you are after a buffalo grass that will keep its winter colour in partial shade and has a great tolerance for wear and tear.
Overall winner: Palmetto
