Best Grass for Turf Runway
 

Picked up recently 100 acres of farmland that's quite flat in regional Victoria and want to put my C182 on it.

So what's the best grass to plant, given that it gets hot here in summer with only sporadic rain.

Some websites say Kikuyu or Sir Walter Buffalo.

It would not be subject to heavy use, maybe 2 flights per week.

Thoughts anyone

Might I suggest you talk to your local councils parks n gardens wallahs. I would imagine that the local football ground would get a bigger flogging than your strip could ever.

( No charge for the consultation ! )

Emeritus.

I would talk to the local farmers in the area, or the local ELDERS farm supply or the like. They would know what's best for their area. You'd get tea and scones (with cream and jam) at the farmer's place too probably.
I would also not mention airport/airstrip/airfield or the like to a council either. Just don't.
Private airstrips on private farmland require no planning approval in Victoria. Refer to UPSON V CORANGAMITE VCAT 2267 3 NOV 2005 clause 17 as an example.

And also get to meet the farmer's daughter. Handy if ya have a flat battery and need ya prop swingin'. :ooh:

Guptar,

You might wanna consider Endophyte Enhanced Grass. All the grass areas on my homeplate, including the small grass strip for the piston trainers have been changed to EEG within the last 3 years. The same goes for some of my countries largest civilian airports. The benefits of EEG is as follows:

• Reduces the amount of birds on the airfield. The EEG is not bug and mice friendly, so the birds go somewhere else.
• Migratory birds do their pitstops somewhere else as the EEG grass is very "stiff" and uncomfortable for the birds to rest in.
• EEG grass is extremely resilient to long periods without rain and it does not need fertilization. Furthermore it tends to remain green in colour during long hot and dry periods (it looks alive even though it has gone into hybernation).
• Due to the above, EEG grows very slowly and therefore you don't need to mow it all the time.
• EEG is extremely though and you won't experience issues with worn grass in the touchdown zone or in other areas with heavy movement.

The downsides are that its a bit more expensive, and you can not keep livestock on it as they will get sick if they eat the grass.

Check it out, its the Flight Safety Officers preferred choice as it just makes life easier for everyone on the field (except the wildlife).

https://ag.umass.edu/turf/fact-sheet...hanced-grasses

Can you get EEG in Australia?

Even importing the seed may breach some Bio-Security clause(s).

Don't know, but ask around your local airport. They might have heard of it. I know Australia is strict with regards to new species, but as far as I know EEG is designed so it won't be invasive and spread to other areas where it is not needed/wanted.

Also be aware that EEG is a generic term. EEG can be mixed with lots of other grass types to give a specific result. I am not exactly sure what mix we have got but it is designed specifically to meet airfield demands with regards to wildlife prevention.

https://avanexgrass.com

Maybe the greenies can eat it. Cut out the middleman/livestock !!

Gupta....Be interested to hear what you settle on.

Emeritus

Dunno about that emeritus; It would have to be certified non GM, totally organic, vegan, pesticide free grass.:=

What, something like... hemp?