The time has come to plant, sod, or plug your lawn and you’ve stumbled across buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides). This turf can be a great low-maintenance, heat and drought-hardy choice but it doesn’t come without drawbacks.
The first time I saw the price of buffalo grass seed I was shocked, it seemed so expensive for turf grass. But then I was shown some sod and encouraged to step on it with my bare feet and the moment that soft, springy grass touched my soles I knew, it was a great option!
But, not every yard is right for this turf and so we must look at buffalo grass’s pros and cons!
An Overview of Buffalo Grass Pros and Cons
Buffalo grass handles heat well, needs little water or fertilizer once established, and can survive cold winters. More pros are that buffalo grass doesn’t need to be mowed often and can be established by seed, plug, or sod.
The disadvantages of buffalo grass are that it has an open growth habit which makes it susceptible to weeds, as well as being ill-suited for heavy foot traffic. Other huge cons are that buffalo grass is extremely expensive to purchase both as seed, plug or sod, and it is unable to tolerate shade. More details on the pros and cons of buffalo grass are below.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Heat/drought tolerant and cold resistant | Open growth habit/weed prone |
| Low fertilizer and water needs | Cannot handle heavy foot traffic |
| Can be established by seed, plug, or sod | Expensive to seed/ sod large lawns |
| Infrequent mowing (once monthly) | Very low shade tolerance |
Advantages of Buffalo Grass
There are many advantages to buffalo grass that make it an ideal turf for many lawns. Although this grass started out as a wild plain grass for the American bison, it has been cultivated to be the perfect choice for a carefree lawn. The most notable pros of buffalo grass can be found below.
Heat/Drought Tolerant and Cold Resistant
One of the main advantages of buffalo grass is that it can grow through harsh, dry summers without browning or dying off. Best of all, these traits do not come at the cost of cold weather damage resistance. Buffalo grass goes dormant in the winter and may turn yellow, but doesn’t die off during the cold winter months and will return to its blue-green color in spring.
Low Fertilizer and Water Needs
Another pro for this grass is that once established, it needs very little water or fertilizer to thrive. Typically, 15 to 30 inches of rainfall annually is all this turf needs and most locales experience that level of precipitation. Deep taproots allow buffalo grass to find what it needs in the soil and reach the water table, reducing the turf’s reliance on a homeowner’s lawn care diligence. Most lawns of this turf require only .5 to 2lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 sqft.
Can Be Established by Seed, Plug, or Sod
Cultivators of buffalo grass have been carefully selected to increase its likelihood of adapting to a lawn environment. A huge pro of buffalo grass is that it can be established and maintained using either seed, plug, or sod. The variety of methods and the combinations provided allow for you to effectively cultivate a dense turf that can resist pests and disease.
Infrequent Mowing Needed
Buffalo grass is short growing and can be maintained at a height of 3-4 inches with only 1 to 2 mowings annually. At most, mowing once a week will keep the grass at 2-3 inches for the entire active growing season. If your lawn is dealing with a broadleaf weed infestation, you can mow more frequently to help the grass beat out the competition.
Disadvantages of Buffalo Grass
Nothing is without its faults and this turf grass is no different. Some of the obvious cons of buffalo grass are that high rainfall can cause pest and disease damage, as well as its very-slow establishment time (minimum 2 years) For more buffalo grass disadvantages, check out below.
Open Growth Habit/Weed Prone
Buffalo grass grows using stolons that grow out of the stalk, run along the ground, and root at nodes. These rooted nodes produce new plants which fill in thickly. Over time, Buffalo grass can produce dense patches, but being a plain grass, it tends to want to grow with wide gaps between it. This open space allows for fast-growing weeds in spring and summer, and cold season grasses in fall and winter to crowd out and stunt buffalo grass.
Unable to Handle Heavy Foot Traffic
This is not the turf for you if you have children and pets that play daily on the lawn’s grass. Extended foot traffic severely damages buffalo grass and will lead to invasive grasses and weeds replacing it. Buffalo grass can heal quickly so occasional heavy traffic, for example, a 4th of July BBQ, should not utterly decimate your lawn.
Expensive to Seed/Sod Large Lawns
Buffalo grass seeds are difficult to harvest and male seeds have a high probability of being sterile. Both of these factors rack up the costs associated with making buffalo grass your lawn’s turf. The average costs of this grass are:
Seeds: $40 to $50 per pound
Sod: $215 to $275 per pallet
Plugs: $60 to $70 for plugs
Very Low Shade Tolerance
Another major con is that buffalo grass can not tolerate shade. If portions of your lawn are shadowed by structures or trees, then this turf will not be able to thrive. Shaded areas will quickly be crowded out by competing weeds and grasses. Only plan on using this turf if most of your yard is in full sun for most of the day (6 to 8 hrs).
Weighing Up Whether Buffalo Grass is Right for Your Yard
Buffalo grass’s pros and cons should be a main area of focus if you are considering this turf for your lawn. In the right climate, buffalo grass can be a low-maintenance, hot and dry region-friendly, lawn grass that is soft to the touch. In the wrong climate, it can be choked out by competition, over-watered, and end up becoming susceptible to pests and disease.
The right conditions for buffalo grass are a climate with low rainfall, high heat, full sun, and the time and budget that allows for the establishment of thick healthy turf.
The wrong conditions are climates with excessive rainfall, short and wet summers, or where shade and foot traffic will be a constant issue.
If some of the pros of buffalo grass are attractive but the cons make it a no-go check out some of the turf alternatives below:
Perennial Rye Grass: If you need a drought-resistant, warm-season grass that can handle heavy foot traffic and still keep its shape and color, this is the turf for you! It is often used on golf courses in the northern regions.
Tall Fescue: Another great grass that shares similarities with buffalo grass without the disadvantages. This grass, as well as fine fescue, is also drought and heat resistant owing to deep taproots. Additionally, this turf can handle shade and heavy foot traffic very well, making it a great substitute for buffalo grass.
Zoysia Grass: Comparable to buffalo grass in heat and drought tolerance, zoysia has some distinct differences. It is a shade-tolerant plant that can accommodate foot traffic. It is also considered one of the cheaper grasses to get started and maintain with virtually no cost on well-established lawns.
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