Each has limitations when considered for lawns, however. Tall fescue features good heat and wear tolerance. There is some concern over winter hardiness. 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.