If you are searching for the perfect lawn that will look good all year round, won’t need much watering and will withstand summer heat and foot traffic, try planting Buffalo grass. Buffalo grass is a true North American grass and was one of the grasses fed on by the huge herds of buffalo that once roamed the continent from Mexico to Montana. Buffalo grass also provided the sod of choice used by the first settlers when they built their sod houses.
Buffalo grass is being widely planted once again due to environmental concerns about diminishing water supplies. Some areas are banning the watering of lawns during the hot summer months when water demands are the highest, and for many the ideal lush green lawn is now a thing of the past. Because Buffalo grass is very drought resistant, looks good and has no disease or insect problems, the ideal lawn is again possible. This grass will turn a golden brown color during long periods of drought and high heat, but it will not die from these extremes. Instead it will turn green and start growing again as soon as the conditions moderate, without irrigation or fertilization. Just about the only thing Buffalo grass cannot do is grow in shade.
Buffalo grass once covered thousands upon thousands of acres of the prairie states and held up to yearly grazing of large herds of buffalo, as well as long periods of drought and heat. Because it thrived so well under those harsh conditions, new varieties are being developed to take advantage of and strengthen some of the original Buffalo grass traits. Once established, lawns of these new varieties of Buffalo grass are hardy and hold up well to foot traffic, making them ideal for parks and school yards where many traditional sod grasses fail.
