A short history of Sir Walter buffalo
Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo grass is Australia’s favourite lawn, and has been for over 15 years. The nation’s love for Sir Walter is certainly warranted, with the grass providing the perfect mix of looks, hardiness, and minimal maintenance. But where did Lawn Solutions Australia’s wonder grass come from?
The search for the perfect Australian grass
Back in the 1950s, buffalo grass was the most popular lawn in Australia. But it wasn’t much like the Sir Walter buffalo we see today. The grass of choice back then was American Buffalo, and its immense popularity came from the fact that it was almost the only grass of the time that could cope with the extremes of the Australian climate.
American Buffalo was exceptionally drought resistant and tough, perfect for harsh Australian conditions. This grass did have a couple of drawbacks, however; it tended to brown off markedly over winter, and was incredibly itchy for any kids who chose to play on it. It also grew very slowly, taking quite a while to establish itself.
The solution to American Buffalo’s drawbacks came in the 1960s by way of Kikuyu. An African import, it was softer, more resistant to disease, stayed greener, and grew quicker than American Buffalo. Unfortunately, Kikuyu also suffered from some downsides. It grew so quickly that it was often hard to control, and was soon categorised as a noxious weed by the Australian government. Home owners would find their flowerbeds and veggie patches overrun in a matter of weeks.
The search continued.
The idea to breed
In the mid-90s, a soft-leaf buffalo grass called Shademaster (which is still available) was introduced into the market. Solving one of buffalo’s major disadvantages, Shademaster gave the team at Lawn Solutions Australia an idea. What if they were to breed a buffalo that addressed all of buffalo’s weaknesses, while retaining its unmatched strengths?
In 1996, Sir Walter was born. Bred to cope with the extremely hot, cold, dry, shady and diseased conditions of Australia, it was also soft to the touch and looked stunning all year round.
Ever since, Sir Walter has been the grass of choice for Australians. What’s more, no variety before or since has managed to come close to its suitability to Australian conditions, so it looks as though Sir Walter will occupy the throne for some years to come.
