Lawn Care
Buffalograss: Mowing Height, Seed Rate and Low-Water Lawn Care
Quick answer
Buffalograss is a native warm-season shortgrass for zones 4 to 9 in the dry Plains and Southwest. Mow it at 2 to 3 inches or leave it unmown, seed treated burrs at 2 to 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet once soil holds 60 F, and feed at most 1 to 2 pounds of nitrogen a year.
Buffalograss is the native shortgrass of the American Great Plains, and it is the closest thing to a true low-water lawn in its region. It is fine-textured, gray-green, spreads by surface stolons, and it evolved on 12 to 25 inches of annual rainfall, which means an established stand can go through a dry summer on far less irrigation than bermuda or bluegrass would need.
It is a regional grass, not a national one. In the humid East it is out-competed by weeds and aggressive grasses and generally disappoints. Where it belongs, it wants full sun, alkaline soil and restraint: extra water and nitrogen mostly feed the weeds that invade it. Check seed with the grass seed calculator and keep feedings small with the fertilizer calculator.
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What are the key numbers for a buffalograss lawn?
| Trait | Buffalograss |
|---|---|
| Season type | Warm-season native; green season is short, often tan into late spring |
| USDA zones and region | Zones 4 to 9; the Great Plains from Nebraska and Kansas through Colorado, Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle |
| Mowing height | 2 to 3 in, or leave unmown at 4 to 6 in for a meadow look |
| Seeding rate | 2 to 3 lb per 1,000 sq ft new (treated burrs); 1 to 1.5 lb overseeding |
| Germination | 7 to 21 days with treated seed once soil holds 60 F |
| Shade tolerance | Poor; it needs full sun |
| Drought tolerance | Excellent, the best of the lawn grasses in its region |
| Wear and traffic | Fair; light use only, and slow to repair |
| Nitrogen per year | 1 to 2 lb N per 1,000 sq ft, and some lawns get none |
| Soil pH | 6.5 to 8.0; it prefers the alkaline soils of the Plains |
| Spreading habit | Surface stolons; forms a thin, fine, open turf |
| Main drawback | Short green season, weed invasion, and it struggles in humid climates |
Ranges follow common Plains and mountain-state extension guidance. Buy treated or primed burrs, since untreated seed germinates slowly and unevenly.
How does buffalograss compare with blue grama and bermudagrass?
| Trait | Buffalograss | Blue grama | Bermudagrass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native to the Plains | Yes | Yes | No, introduced |
| Growth habit | Spreads by stolons | Bunch-type, spreads very little | Stolons and rhizomes, aggressive |
| Mowing height | 2 to 3 in or unmown | 2 to 3 in or unmown | 1 to 2 in common |
| Water needed once established | Very low | Very low | Low, but more than either native |
| Nitrogen per year | 1 to 2 lb | 0 to 2 lb | 3 to 6 lb |
| Traffic tolerance | Fair | Fair | Excellent |
| Cold hardiness | To zone 4 | To zone 3 | Zone 7 and warmer |
| Best use | Low-input lawn in the dry Plains | Unmown or rarely mown native areas | A conventional lawn that takes hard use |
Buffalograss and blue grama are often sown together as a native mix, since the stoloniferous buffalograss fills between the blue grama bunches.
How much water does buffalograss actually need?
Once established, far less than a conventional lawn: many buffalograss lawns in their home range stay acceptable on roughly half an inch of water every two to four weeks in dry summers, and some get by on rainfall alone while going tan between storms. Watering it like a bluegrass lawn is a mistake. Extra water and fertility favor weeds and invading bermudagrass, which will take the stand over.
Establishment is the exception. Keep the seedbed damp until seedlings are up and mowed once, then taper deliberately to train roots downward. A simple timer such as the Melnor AquaTimer 4-Zone Programmable Digital Hose Timer handles the establishment period and then gets dialed back or removed, rather than left running all summer.
How do I plant buffalograss from seed?
Sow 2 to 3 pounds of treated burrs per 1,000 square feet once soil holds 60 F, which means late spring or early summer across most of the Plains. A 5,000 square foot lawn takes 10 to 15 pounds. Buy treated buffalograss seed, since the burrs are a hard-coated multi-seed unit and untreated lots germinate slowly and unevenly. Vegetative buffalograss sod and plugs are the faster alternative for a named cultivar.
Weed control during the first season matters more than anything else you do. Buffalograss seedlings are slow and easily out-grown, so the site should start clean and stay clean while the stolons knit. Follow the label on any product you use, and see when to apply pre-emergent for timing, keeping in mind that most pre-emergents also stop grass seed from germinating.
What gear fits a buffalograss lawn?
A spreader that handles bulky burrs, a mower you will use only occasionally, and water only while it establishes.
EarthWay 2150 Commercial 50 lb Broadcast Spreader
$279.99A 50 lb commercial push broadcast spreader with a slide-out grate, enclosed gearbox and 13 inch pneumatic tires for rough, dry ground.
Best for: spreading bulky treated buffalograss seed
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Greenworks 60V 21 in. Push Mower Kit
$389.99A 21 inch battery push mower kit for a lawn that is cut every couple of weeks in the growing season rather than weekly.
Best for: light mowing of a low-input native lawn
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Melnor AquaTimer 4-Zone Programmable Digital Hose Timer
$69.99A four valve digital hose timer with schedules from hourly to weekly and 1 minute to 6 hour runs, easy to taper off after the first season.
Best for: watering new seed then backing off
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Luster Leaf Rapitest Soil Test Kit, 40 Tests
$18.68An inexpensive capsule kit with 10 tests each for pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, useful on Plains soils that often run alkaline.
Best for: quick pH checks before feeding
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Chapin 16200 2-Gallon Pump Sprayer
$26.44A 2 gallon poly pump sprayer with an adjustable cone nozzle and in-tank filter for spot treatments during the weedy first season.
Best for: spot-spraying weeds in a new stand
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We did not test these products in person. Picks are researched from manufacturer specifications and owner manuals, engine and safety certifications where they apply, warranty terms, public recall records, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We favor established brands with large review counts and parts support, match each pick to a real yard size or task, and place it in the tier where its price and capability actually belong.
Frequently asked questions
Is buffalograss a good lawn for my yard?
It depends almost entirely on where you live. In the semi-arid Plains and intermountain West, on a sunny site where low water use matters more than deep green color, buffalograss is one of the best choices available. In humid regions with high rainfall it thins, picks up weeds and is out-competed by other grasses, so it is rarely worth planting east of its native range.
How long is buffalograss green each year?
Shorter than most owners expect. Buffalograss greens up late in spring, holds color through the warm months, and turns tan with the first frosts, so the green season is often only about five months in the northern part of its range. Some improved cultivars green up earlier and hold color a bit longer. If a long green season matters to you, this is the wrong grass.
Do you have to mow buffalograss?
Not necessarily. Buffalograss grows only a few inches tall on its own, so it can be left unmown at roughly 4 to 6 inches for a soft, meadow-like look, or mowed at 2 to 3 inches for a more conventional lawn. Many owners mow a few times a season rather than weekly. Check local ordinances and HOA rules before committing to an unmown lawn.
Why is bermudagrass taking over my buffalograss?
Bermudagrass is far more aggressive, and the usual invitation is too much water and nitrogen. Buffalograss is adapted to lean, dry conditions, so a lawn irrigated and fed on a conventional schedule shifts the advantage to bermuda, which then spreads by stolons and rhizomes through the thinner native turf. Cutting back irrigation and feeding is the first correction, though established bermuda is difficult to remove.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.