Compare Sod Types
Buffalo vs. Perennial Ryegrass Sod

Price

Which costs more, Buffalo or Perennial Ryegrass sod?

Between these two, Buffalo is typically on the pricier side with an average cost per square foot of $0.68. On a per pallet basis, which is usually how sod is sold, this comes out to roughly $337.50 per pallet.

Perennial Ryegrass on the other hand, is a more moderately priced at $0.48 per square foot (on average). This comes out to around $237.50 per pallet.

Editor's note: It's important to remember that both of these are averages based on data from around the country so cost can vary depending on your location. Keep in mind this doesn't include other fees like delivery or installation.

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Sun & Shade

Which grass grows better in the shade?

Buffalo Grass, adapted to open plains, prefers full sun and requires at least 6 to 8 hours daily, underperforming in shady spaces.

On the other hand, Perennial Ryegrass can survive with 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day and is moderately shade-tolerant, coping well with partial shade.

Appearance

Which one looks better? You decide.

When choosing between sods like Buffalo (pictured lefttop) and Perennial Ryegrass (pictured rightbottom), personal preference plays a significant role, but understanding the nuances of each type's appearance can guide your decision. Here's what to consider:

Buffalo Grass rolls out a soft, blue-green carpet with thin blades, giving you a lawn that feels soft to walk on and adds a touch of the prairie to your backyard.

Perennial Ryegrass offers a bright green lawn with fine blades that grow quickly into a soft, welcoming turf perfect for everything from picnics to soccer games.

Drought Tolerance

Which one needs more water?

Buffalo Grass is naturally adapted to arid conditions, requiring minimal watering to maintain its health and appearance.

On the other hand, Perennial Ryegrass has limited drought tolerance and may require regular watering to maintain its lush appearance.

Takeaway: If you're located in a somewhat dry and arid geographic region and are looking for a grass that can handle drought-like conditions, Buffalo is the better option between Buffalo and Perennial Ryegrass.

Grow Zones

Cold or warm weather - which do they prefer?

Buffalo is well-suited for growth in warmer climates. The ideal temperature range for laying Buffalo sod is between 70°F and 85°F.

Perennial Ryegrass generally grows better in cool or moderate climates. When it comes to laying sod, the ideal range for Perennial Ryegrass is between 55°F and 80°F. If you choose to lay outside of the ideal range, you can still have success, but it may take a longer time to esablish and require a bit more maintenance.

As you may have noticed, Buffalo and Perennial Ryegrass have somewhat different climatic preferences for optimal growth! Let's move on...

Lawn Traffic Tolerance

Which sod handles heavy foot traffic better?

Buffalo Grass has low to moderate traffic tolerance and is best for less-trodden areas, but it can endure gentle play and relaxation time.

On the other hand, Perennial Ryegrass is highly traffic tolerant, recovering quickly from wear and tear, a solid choice for lawns that double as weekend soccer pitches.

Takeaway: If you're looking for a grass that can handle heavy foot traffic, Perennial Ryegrass is the better option between Buffalo and Perennial Ryegrass.

Establishment Rate

Which grass grows faster?

Buffalograss, a true prairie grass, is slow to establish but eventually forms a low-maintenance turf that's ideal for the Great Plains and similar regions.

Perennial Ryegrass germinates rapidly and establishes quickly, offering a fine-textured, vibrant green turf that is popular for overseeding and cool-season lawns.

Net, net - if you're looking for a grass that establishes quickly, Perennial Ryegrass is the way to go.

Pest & Disease Resistance

Which handles pests better?

Buffalo Grass generally resists pests well, though it can attract mealybugs and mites; it's also notably resistant to many diseases, thriving in varied environments.

Perennial Ryegrass is generally hardy against pests and diseases, but it can experience problems with gray leaf spot and is attractive to webworms and billbugs.

TLDR - if you're looking for a grass that wards off pests and disease, they are pretty similar in this respect, so feel free to go with either one!

Which Is Best?

Which sod is better, Buffalo or Perennial Ryegrass?

Alright it's time to count the scores up.

Most blogs or articles are going to give you a wishy washy "it's up to you" speil. That is definitely true. You'll need to choose based on your geographic conditions and what you like most looks-wise.

That being said, if we just compare the scores based on the following measures. Higher is better in this case.

• Average Cost: 5 for Buffalo, 8 for Perennial Ryegrass
• Shade Tolerance: 4 for Buffalo, 6 for Perennial Ryegrass
• Drought Tolerance: 9 for Buffalo, 3 for Perennial Ryegrass
• Traffic Tolerance: 4 for Buffalo, 9 for Perennial Ryegrass
• Establishment Rate: 5 for Buffalo, 9 for Perennial Ryegrass
• Pest & Disease Resistance: 6 for Buffalo, 6 for Perennial Ryegrass

Drumroll please...

All in all, Perennial Ryegrass comes out on top with a score of 41/60 versus 33/60 for Buffalo.

Thanks for reading! If you have any feedback or corrections for us, please email our editor at editor@sodcalculator.com.