How Often to Water Buffalo Grass (and the Best Time to Water)

Buffalo grass is known for its thick, soft blades and strong drought tolerance — but it still needs the right watering routine to stay green, dense, and healthy. Too much water leads to yellowing and fungal issues, while too little water causes dry patches and thinning. The key is understanding Buffalo grass’s shallow root system and how it responds to seasonal conditions.

Best Time of Day to Water Buffalo Grass

The best time to water Buffalo grass is **early morning** (ideally between **6:00am and 9:00am**). This allows the lawn to absorb moisture before the day gets hot, encouraging deeper roots and reducing evaporation loss. Watering in the late afternoon can leave the lawn damp overnight, increasing the risk of fungal growth. Midday watering wastes water due to evaporation and can stress the lawn in hot conditions.

Best time: 6–9am
Avoid: Watering after 4pm in warm seasons
Never: Water late at night (fungus risk)

Keeping a consistent morning watering routine supports strong colour and thick ground coverage.

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How Much Water Buffalo Grass Needs

Buffalo grass generally needs **25–40mm of water per week** during warm seasons. Instead of light daily watering, aim for **deep and infrequent watering** — this encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil, improving drought tolerance and long-term lawn health.

Season	Watering Frequency
Spring	2–3 times per week
Summer (hot/dry)	3 times per week or as needed
Autumn	1–2 times per week
Winter	Only when soil appears dry

Signs Your Buffalo Grass Needs More Water

Blades appear folded, flat, or dull
Lawn loses softness and feels dry underfoot
Footprints remain visible after walking
Grey or brown tint begins appearing

Does Buffalo Grass Need a Lot of Water?

Buffalo grass does **not** require heavy watering — in fact, moderate deep watering is ideal. It has natural drought tolerance, meaning it can survive short dry periods, provided the root system has been encouraged to grow deep with consistent seasonal watering practices.

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Watering + Fertilising Work Together

Proper watering helps Buffalo grass absorb nutrients more effectively. Pairing watering with a balanced liquid fertiliser strengthens root growth, helps maintain deep green colour, and improves lawn thickness. A hose-on liquid fertiliser like Lawn Grow — Hose-On Liquid Lawn Fertiliser is ideal because it delivers nutrients directly through both the leaf and root zones.