Buffalograss, is a perennial grass native to the Great Plains from Montana to Mexico. It is one of the grasses that supported the great herds of buffalo that roamed the Great Plains. Buffalograss also provided the sod from which early settlers built their houses.
Buffalograss is, perhaps, our only truly native turfgrass in North America. Its tolerance to prolonged droughts and to extreme temperatures together with its seed producing characteristics enables this grass to survive extreme environmental conditions. Overgrazing and, in the case of turf, over use or excessive traffic are the pressures that lead to the deterioration of a stand of Buffalograss.
This type of grass is not adapted to shaded sites or to sites that receive heavy traffic. Also, under intensive management bluegrass and other more aggressive grasses tend to replace Buffalograss in the lawn.
Buffalograss does offer many advantages for a low maintenance turf and is gaining acceptance and popularity in dry areas. Buffalograss thrives in neutral or alkaline clay soil, even heavy clay soil. It is native to our shortgrass prairie region. Drought tolerance is its best feature. A lush buffalograss turf requires only 50% of the water requirements as does bluegrass and fescue. However, it will survive on a great deal less, going into dormancy that is readily broken by rainfall.
Mowing requirements are infrequent; once a month is sufficient, once a year for a naturalistic landscape. Fertilization is not only unnecessary, but harmful.
The disadvantages are it does not green up until mid-May and goes dormant in September. Also, some do not like the green-gray color, however, there are other varieties that are greener than gray. Baffalograss does not mix with other grass varieties. The seed is more expensive than with our grass varieties.