The Superior Express -

The Superior Chamber of Commerce presented the Yard of the Month Award to Paul and Cindy Thornton Thursday. The couple reside at 335 S. Bloom Street, Superior. They have called the house home for 40 years. Cindy is a Superior native while Paul hails from Republic. Sarah Kirchhoff represented the Chamber Ambassadors at the presentation. Cameron Vyzourek, chamber manager, was also present.

The couple replaced their front yard three years ago. Cindy researched different strains of turf grass. She and Paul decided to seed their yard with buffalo grass. Buffalo turf grass has emerged as a popular replacement grass for yards.

Buffalo grass is a grass native to the Great Plains where it has grown for centuries. Cyclic and prolonged droughts have led the grass to evolve its water efficiency. It makes an ideal grass in areas where water is limited or prolonged periods of drought are common.

Buffalo grass establishes deep root systems to more than three feet. It also has a shorter growing season, from early April to late November. This allows buffalo grass to optimize water usage and it requires little additional watering during the growing season.

It is a warm-season grass which spreads by seed and stolons (runners).

The choice to utilize buffalo grass was an easy one for the Thorntons'. Several new buffalo grass cultivars have been developed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. These were specifically developed for turf while older varieties were developed as pasture grass. The turf grass varieties have led to the upswing in interest in buffalo grass as a lawn grass because of its durability and drought tolerance.

The Thorntons engaged Darrell Harrington. Nelson, to seed their new lawn. He took the yard surface down to bare earth. The yard was then tilled and a preemergent was applied to the bare ground. Buffalo grass seed was obtained from a firm which specializes in prairie grasses. Weeds were a minor problem as the grass established itself. By the second growing season the problem was inconsequential.

Buffalo grass lawns may also be started with plugs which develop stolons and spread out.

Once the lawn is planted, irrigation is required while the seed or plugs develop. When established, little to no irrigation is required.

The use of herbicides for weed control on established lawns requires strict adherence to type and applications. It is best to check with a weed-control specialist or your county extension agent for specific types.

For those who opt for a buffalo grass lawn, the reward is a low-maintenance lawn which is soft and cushiony underfoot.