The main use of buffalo grass covers three areas: home lawns, erosion control, and grazing land. This native prairie grass has filled each of these roles across the Great Plains for hundreds of years.
I first saw how many buffalo grass applications exist on a road trip through Kansas. Small yards in town had it as turf. Highway medians grew it with no care at all. Ranches used it for cattle grazing on open pastures. When I tested a patch of it in my own yard the next spring, I saw how tough and forgiving this grass can be for a busy homeowner like me.
Buffalo grass for lawns works best when you want a low-input yard that stays alive without constant care. It needs just 1 to 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet each year. You only mow every two to three weeks during summer. Your water bill drops because this grass drinks 50-75% less than bluegrass. The trade-off is a softer blue-green color and winter dormancy, but many folks prefer the natural look.
Buffalo grass erosion control puts this species to work on tough terrain. Its stolons spread across bare soil and knit into a tight mat that holds dirt in place. You can plant it on slopes and marginal ground where other turf grasses fail. The USDA NRCS lists buffalo grass as a top pick for marginal lands. It stabilizes soil without needing water lines or heavy care from your end.
Home Lawns and Yards
- Water savings: Uses 50-75% less water than bluegrass, cutting your bills down to a fraction of what you paid before.
- Mowing schedule: Only needs cutting every 2 to 3 weeks during summer, giving you more free time on your weekends.
- Best fit: Works for you if you live in USDA zones 4a through 8b and want a natural lawn without heavy upkeep.
Slope and Soil Control
- Growth habit: Stolons form a dense mat to hold your soil in place on hillsides and road cuts.
- No water needed: Survives on rain alone once it takes hold, making it great for remote spots you can't reach.
- USDA approved: Featured in Conservation Reserve Program plantings across the Great Plains for holding soil.
Grazing and Ranch Land
- Long history: Bison and cattle have grazed this grass for hundreds of years across the western plains.
- Tough recovery: Bounces back from heavy grazing once your livestock rotate to other pastures.
- Low cost: You spend little to nothing on fertilizer or water, keeping your per-acre costs down.
Grazing is the oldest of all buffalo grass applications. The USDA NRCS notes its long history as food for bison and cattle. Ranchers still rely on it because the grass takes heavy grazing and comes back once animals move on. You don't need to fertilize or irrigate your pastures with this species.
Cities now plant buffalo grass along roads and in public parks to cut costs. No irrigation systems to install. No weekly mowing crews to hire. Towns in Colorado, Kansas, and Texas have switched large areas to this grass for budget reasons. If you manage a public green space, buffalo grass saves your crew hours of work each week.
Your property type guides which use fits best. Small urban lawns do well with improved types like Prestige or Legacy that give you a denser look. Large rural land benefits from seeded types like Bison or Cody that cost less per acre to install. Slopes need plugs for faster coverage since seed washes away on steep ground. Match the right form to your situation and this grass will do the heavy lifting for you all season long.
Read the full article: Buffalo Grass Care and Growing Guide
