Tall fescue has a bunch-type growth habit, so it does not recover well after being damaged. Tall fescue would be a good choice for a warm, dry site, but may require overseeding periodically to maintain a quality stand. Tall fescue prefers full sun but also tolerates shade. Creeping bentgrass spreads via stolons. Buffalograss , although very drought tolerant and slow growing, is not a desirable lawn grass.
Quality is poor and establishment is very slow.
Buffalograss is a warm season grass, meaning it has a short period of active growth in northern Illinois. Perhaps newer cultivars will become available that may be better suited for lawn use in northern Illinois. Zoysiagrass has both rhizomes and stolons, producing a dense stand that readily produces thatch. Zoysiagrass is slow to establish. This grass does have very good heat and drought tolerance, as frequently promoted in magazine advertisements.