Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Unfortunately our study on the buffalo grass mixes has only just begun, so we do not have any answers yet. It looks like the polycultural mix is working best, but most of the species are not commercially available. Of the ones that are available, they are Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss), Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama), and curly mesquite (Hilaria berlangeri) (although we could not find a Texas source for this last one). The grasses went out in equal numbers of seeds per square foot.

Hydromulching is a bad idea. The tactifier in hydromulch is actually hydrophobic (repels water) when it gets dry. As a result, most native seeds die when they are applied with hydromulch. Native American Seed has spread seed by hand and then sprayed on a "clean" hydromulch mix (no seed) for erosion control and they say that they have had good results. We are now recommending pneumatically applied compost for seed applications that would have formerly used hydromulch. It works GREAT, although you may have some leaching of nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) out of the compost with any run off, so you don't want to do this near a creek or river at this point.

The benefits of using a buffalograss mix compared to pure buffalograss are faster establishment, greater ability to adjust to weather changes and stressors in your yard, and less niche space for weeds—at least that is the theory at this point.

Currently, Native American Seed is the only seed company selling a mix of buffalo and blue grama. Hopefully we will get the others in commercial production in the future after the study is complete. Walmart is interested in selling the seed mixture.