"John Doh" wrote in message
...
Hi all, am just wondering what the shademaster and Sir Walter buffalo
grassess are like in areas that have shade, like under trees.At the moment
I
have kikuyu and it is not doing well at all, very sparse and ratty.I am
going to take the kikuyu out by hand (mattock and shovel) as I can't use a
bobcat because of trees and roots in the area, and am going to use a good
quality underlay organic dirt.By the way I am in the western suburbs of
Sydney.



I am in South Australia, near Adelaide.

Sir Walter Raleigh is working well for me. My shade is more the solid type
cast by solid structures, the buffalo gets full sun for part of the growing
season. If I keep up water and fertiliser too it during this time and barely
cut it at all, it survives, grows and sends out runners to repair any
damage. I rake up any fallen leaves, as the grass seems to hate them and
dies off if covered.

If you don't want a picture perfect lawn, it won't kill to just get a couple
of sods of Sir Walter Raleigh, cut them up and plant them in your sparse
bits of lawn without removing the kikuyu. The whole "grass as monoculture"
thing does make a nice looking lawn, but is a bit impractical for areas with
lots of different growing conditions. Commit to mowing regularly and it will
look just fine for most purposes. Either that or turn the shady bits into
garden bed so you can keep a monoculture.