Kings Pride is notably better in cool months than any other buffalo and the least decline in colour of all buffalos trialled. When heavy frosts hit Kings Pride stands out for retained colour. In Spring Kings Pride is the first to green up and does not require the high nitrogen levels other buffalos need to stimulate quick growth.

Shade Performance Quality

Kings Pride was the top performer in 70% of the Trial sites.

Mowing

Kings Pride can be mown more tightly than other buffalo at the heights usually reserved for couch. This is because of its strong lateral growth. Other buffalo grasses will scalp at these heights and will be very slow to recover. If scalping does happen Kings Pride recovers very quickly.

Seed Head Production

Compared with other buffalos the seed head production is in the low medium range and occurs at two well defined times – late Spring/early Summer and late Summer/early Autumn. Other buffaloes in the group have high to very high seed head production and some are continuous producers having unsightly seed heads all year.

Wear and Recovery from Wear

While King’s Pride came second in this category the difference was marginal. The No 1 grass carried the highest level of thatch which took longer to wear off. Kings Pride was 13% quicker to recover than the No 1 variety making it over all the better grass to manage.

Diseases

Kings Pride unlike some varieties of USA origin is not susceptible to Gray Leaf Spot.

Water Use

The Trial’s tested the grasses by restricting normal water requirements to 50% + 33% applied water. Kings Pride showed the least difference in growth whatever the level of restriction in the first year. In the second year Kings Pride used 7% less water than in the first year and at 50% reduction showed remarkable growth. Kings Pride had the deepest root system of all varieties tested.

Thatch

Kings Pride had consistently the lowest thatch across all sites. Most other varieties developed their greatest thatch in the shade.

Weed Control

Most buffalos because of their density out compete weeds. However clover and some other broadleaf weeds do sometimes present problems. Kings Pride shares with other varieties in its genetic group a tolerance to Dicamba which is missing most notably in varieties of USA origin. Dicamba is needed to control clovers and weeds with tap roots. It is contained in products such as Kleen Lawn which can be safely used on Kings Pride at label rates.