3 Underrated Factors You Need To Consider When Buying Turf
Turf is an important part of any garden and will form the canvas from which you can branch out and get more creative with different arrangements of plants and outdoor features. However, before you start getting ahead of yourself, you need to first decide on which type of turf you want. There are many species like buffalo, kikuyu and bermuda which all have their own pros and cons. There are some things that groups of these species will have in common and you should use these shared characteristics to start narrowing your choice down.
Here are three of the most important traits you should decide on early.
Invasiveness
This term refers to plants that expand rapidly through either their roots or pollination by animals/insects. When it comes to grass, this is normally done through long roots that spread horizontally under the earth. This can create large tendrils of grass in areas you hadn't intended, and it requires quite a bit of maintenance to restrain it. On the other hand, this invasiveness can be seen as a positive if you want a large area to have turf but you can't be bothered laying it all out, such as with construction site rehabilitation. Either way, you should know just how invasive your turf is so you can decide whether or not it is suitable for your needs.
Growth In The Shade
While many people consider how fast grass grows in open sunlight, it is slightly less common to plan for turf growth in the shade. For many households, a large chunk of their garden space is actually in constant shade from large trees that overhang it. Therefore to get an accurate prediction of how quickly your grass will grow (if it will grow in shade at all!), you should find out how fast it grows in shade. Some species, like buffalo, are perfectly fine in shade or sunlight while others, like bermuda, do not do well under cover.
Allergies
Many allergies are triggered by pollen and small particles in the air. Some species of grass have pollen, and these are commonly from the rye subsection. If allergies are one of your main concerns, you should look for grass species that spread through runners rather than pollen. Kikuyu is a common option for those that are looking for a more allergy-friendly turf, but there are many options for you to choose from as long as you are aware of the difference. The most important thing is to keep alert against any grass coming into your property that was not planned as this is where you can get colonies of allergy-triggering rye grass. Otherwise, you should be able to maintain a fairly healthy garden for your allergies.