The main disadvantages of buffalo grass are long winter dormancy, poor shade tolerance, and slow growth from seed. These three issues catch homeowners off guard after planting. Each one can make or break your lawn based on where you live and how you use your yard.
One of the most frustrating buffalo grass drawbacks is the dormancy window. NC State documents that buffalo grass goes dormant from mid-fall to mid-spring. That means your lawn turns straw-colored for 5 to 6 months out of the year. I dealt with this on my own lawn and the long brown stretch from October through April tested my patience more than I expected. Neighbors with fescue lawns stayed green while mine looked dead.
Shade tolerance is another major buffalo grass drawbacks issue that trips people up. Buffalo grass needs 6 or more hours of full sun each day to survive. It has a low photosynthetic rate under tree canopy cover, so shaded spots thin out fast and weeds move in. If your yard has mature trees casting shade across large sections, buffalo grass won't fill in those areas no matter how much care you give it.
Slow establishment from seed ranks high on the list of buffalo grass problems too. Seeded buffalo grass can take two full growing seasons to form a dense lawn. During that time, weeds compete hard for space because the open canopy lets sunlight hit bare soil. You need patience and a good weed control plan during those first two years.
Winter Dormancy Period
- Duration: Goes brown from mid-fall through mid-spring, leaving your lawn straw-colored for roughly 5 to 6 months each year.
- Visual impact: The lawn looks dead during this stretch, which frustrates homeowners who want year-round green curb appeal.
- Mitigation option: Overseed with a cool-season grass like fine fescue to add some green during the dormant months.
Poor Shade Performance
- Sun requirement: Needs a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to maintain a healthy stand of turf.
- Root cause: Low photosynthetic efficiency under canopy cover means shaded areas thin out and die back over time.
- Workaround: Plant shade-tolerant ground covers under trees instead of forcing buffalo grass into low-light spots.
Elevation Restrictions
- Altitude cap: Colorado State notes buffalo grass is not recommended above 6,500 feet elevation due to shorter growing seasons.
- Geographic limit: Works best across the Great Plains corridor from Montana down through Texas at lower altitudes.
- Alternative: Mountain homeowners should consider blue grama grass as a drought-tolerant native option instead.
Foot traffic wears buffalo grass down faster than other warm-season types. It bounces back slower than bermudagrass after heavy use. I noticed this with my own dog run, which wore thin within a few months of daily use. Play areas and pet zones will thin out over a single season without rest periods. Rotating where your kids and pets play helps, but busy yards still struggle.
You can work around several of these issues with smart choices. Go with Prestige or Legacy cultivars for a denser lawn that blocks weeds. Fill thin spots with plugs spaced 12 to 18 inches apart to close gaps faster. Set your mowing height at 2 to 3 inches so the grass keeps enough leaf blade to stay healthy. These steps won't erase every flaw, but they make a big difference in how your lawn looks and performs over time.
The buffalo grass cons are real, but they make sense for the right yard. Sunny, dry climates with low foot traffic are the sweet spot. You can handle the winter brown period if you set your mind to it. But if you need shade coverage, year-round green, or heavy traffic durability, look at other grass types instead.
Read the full article: Buffalo Grass Care and Growing Guide
