Turffalo Grass: Shade-Tolerant Buffalo Grass for Texas Lawns

Choosing the Right Grass for Mixed Sun and Shade

A homeowner in Arlington, Texas, asked about using Turffalo brand turfgrass for a new yard with large oak trees creating half shade, half sun. Turffalo is a variety of buffalo grass bred to tolerate both sun and shade, making it a potential solution for such challenging conditions.

Expert Insights on Shade-Tolerant Grasses

While personal experience with Turffalo was limited, the respondent noted that new grass strains are being developed for better shade tolerance. One example is a shade-tolerant Bermuda grass called 'Bermuda Tif,' which performed well under trees in Little Elm, Texas. However, the respondent's own yard in Irving features St. Augustine grass, which handles the intense west sun well when supplemented with raised beds of Asian jasmine—a ground cover that thrives in both deep shade and full sun.

Organic Lawn Care Recommendations

The answer also referenced Howard Garrett's organic gardening advice, which suggests Turffalo buffalo grass as a shade-tolerant option for areas where Bermuda fails. The respondent endorses a fully organic lawn program, citing dramatic reductions in labor, cost, and chemical use. Key practices include:

• Applying sugar (4–5 lbs per 1,000 sq ft) to feed beneficial soil microbes.
• Deep, infrequent watering (6+ inches) to encourage deep roots.
• Using corn gluten meal as an organic pre-emergent weed control and fertilizer.
• Supplementing with alfalfa meal and lava sand for extra nutrients.
• Avoiding all synthetic chemicals, which kill beneficial soil life.

The organic approach reportedly yields a thick, weed-free, evergreen lawn with minimal maintenance.