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Buffalo grass #677726

Asked November 25, 2020, 12:15 PM EST

What are the pros and cons of growing a buffalo grass lawn in Saginaw Michigan?

Saginaw County Michigan

Expert Response

I applaud you for thinking 'out of the box' in looking for a native alternative to traditional lawn turf.  Buffalograss, Buchloe dactyloides, is a perennial grass native to the Great Plains from Montana to Mexico.  It is not native in Michigan.  It is an open growing grass, usually 8" to 10" tall, spreading by stolons,  meaning weeds can gain a foothold easier than in traditional turfgrass.  Buffalograss grows best in full sun and heavy clay with moderate to low rainfall.  I have attached links to several articles on Buffalograss and it's establishment for you to read for a better understanding (note they are all from plains state universities):

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/buffalo.html

https://blogs.k-state.edu/turf/a-homeowner-step-by-step-buffalograss-lawn-guide

https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/lawns/1512-buffalo-grass-lawns/

https://turf.unl.edu/NebGuides/EstablishingBuffalograssTurfNE_g1946.pdf

I suggest that you consider doing a soil test on the yard area you are thinking of seeding to Buffalograss to know what soil type, fertility and other soil characteristics you have to support Buffalograss.  More info here:  Don't Guess-Soil Test-MSU

In case you are a bit disappointed in the poor suitability of Buffalograss for use in Saginaw Co. lawns I will take the liberty to suggest another possibility:  Pennsylvania sedge, Carex pensylvanica, although it is more suited to shade & sandy soil.  See the attached link or search "Pennsylvania sedge site:edu" for more articles.  https://arboretum.wisc.edu/content/uploads/2015/03/PI_Pennsylvania-Sedge.pdf

Dick M. Replied November 25, 2020, 11:07 PM EST

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