Buffalograss - Texoka

Buffalograss is a perennial, low-growing, warm season sod forming grass that has separate male and female plants. The grass is a grayish-green during growth and turns yellow during maturity. Buffalograss is excellent for grazing cattle and sheep and fair for goats. Cattle will preferentially graze the grass to the point of causing bare areas. This said, it is difficult for cattle to overgraze the short leaves and stems. Buffalograss cures well for winter grazing. An excellent grass for erosion control areas, Buffalograss  also can make an excellent native turf growing 4 - 6 inches tall. As such, it is often used to replace non-native warm season grasses, such as bermudagrass, in lower traffic areas. Buffalograss is consumed by several species of prairie animals including white tailed deer, bison, and prairie dogs.

Buffalograss is the most cold tolerant of the warm season turfgrasses and is adapted to climate zones 3 - 11. Buffalograss is ideally adapted to areas that receive 16 - 35 inches of rainfall. Buffalograss should be planted when soil temperatures are consistently above 60° F, on sites with 6 - 8 hours of full sun, and in well drained soils. For best results soil moisture should be maintained for 1 to 2 weeks after planting via rain or irrigation. In ideal conditions germination may be seen in 14 - 21 days and full coverage may be obtained within 90 days. Once established, buffalograss responds favorably to fertilization and weed control. Fertilize with 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per season for optimum performance.