How to Revive Buffalo Grass (And How to Tell If It’s Actually Dead)

Buffalo grass is tough and can recover even when it looks brown, patchy, or dry. The key is understanding the difference between dormant Buffalo grass and dead Buffalo grass. Buffalo commonly browns during heat stress or cold weather, but as long as the runners beneath the soil are alive, the lawn can return to full green coverage with the right care.

How to Check if Buffalo Grass Is Still Alive

Gently pull at the brown grass in a thinning area. If the roots hold, and you can see firm, pale runners (stolons) beneath the surface, the lawn is still alive and can be revived.

Alive / Revivable: Runners are firm, flexible, creamy-white or light tan in colour.
Dead / Cannot Regrow: Runners are brittle, dry, snap easily, or crumble.

Even small, struggling patches can regrow if runner pathways remain intact. The goal of revival is to re-activate root growth, re-strengthen the leaf canopy, and reduce lawn stress.

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Step-by-Step: How to Revive Buffalo Grass Back to Green

1. Raise Mowing Height

Buffalo grass stays healthiest when the leaf canopy shades its runners.

Ideal mowing height: 35–65mm
Never scalp Buffalo — scalping causes slow recovery and bare patches

2. Water Deeply, Not Frequently

To push new green growth, roots need moisture deeper in the soil profile.

Water in the early morning, 2–3 times per week during warm weather
Allow the lawn to dry slightly between waterings to avoid fungal stress

3. Aerate Compacted Soil

Buffalo runners grow near the soil surface, so compacted soil prevents new spread.

Use a core aerator, garden fork, or manual corer in high-traffic zones
This helps air, water, and nutrients penetrate to the root zone

4. Feed With a Balanced, Fast-Absorbing Fertiliser

Once water and mowing are corrected, nutrients speed up colour recovery.

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A hose-on liquid fertiliser such as Lawn Grow — Hose-On Liquid Lawn Fertiliser is ideal for revival because it absorbs through the leaf and root zone, delivering a faster green-up than granular fertilisers.

Apply every 3–4 weeks during the recovery phase
Water in the morning to support nutrient uptake
Maintain mowing height to protect recovering runners

FAQ

Can dead Buffalo grass come back?
If the runners beneath the soil are still alive, yes. If runners are dry and brittle, that area must be replaced using Buffalo turf pieces, not seed.

How long does it take to revive Buffalo grass?
Most lawns show greener colour and thicker coverage within 2–4 weeks after fertilising and adjusting mowing and watering.

How do I make Buffalo grass greener in summer?
Raise mowing height, water in the morning, and use a balanced liquid fertiliser to support new leaf growth.

How do I keep Buffalo grass green in winter?
Feed lightly in early autumn, keep mower height high, and avoid overwatering, as cold soil holds moisture longer.