best grass species for lawn

That said, here are some good options to consider when installing a new lawn. In the wild you’ll find Zoysia … Mixtures and blends are popular because they increase the genetic diversity of your lawn. Although not native to the United States, it is well adapted and widely found in low-lying pasture areas of the Pacific Northwest and South. Suggested varieties: Belair, El Toro, Emerald, Meyer. Axonopus affinisWhile it is not widely planted, warm-season carpet grass has the potential to thrive in the coastal and tropical South—as long as you can devote time to its maintenance. Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, 7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. Paspalum vaginatumAccording to The Southern Living Garden Book, this warm-season grass is "native to the sandy soils along the coast from North Carolina to Texas." Artificial Grass. These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback, 23 beautiful, uplifting, and heartfelt sentiments for your loved ones. Kentucky bluegrassflourishes throughout the Northeast and the entire northern ti… One solution to the lawn issue lies in selecting the best type of lawn for your area. It's drought tolerant but requires abundant watering to get it established.Selections: ‘Sea Isle 2000' resembles hybrid Bermuda grass but has a greater tolerance for cold weather. Bermuda grass blades are dark green with a fine to medium texture. It tolerates light shade and grows slowly and densely—so densely that it usually keeps out weeds. Fescue grass is the most common lawn grass in California because it absorbs water well, even during drought. Because of the slow growth rate, zoysia has poor recuperative potential when it’s been damaged or overused. In terms of appearance, the grass is dark green, and its texture is somewhat coarse. Warm Season Grass This type of grass is most commonly found in Texas and other regions with warm climates, both humid and dry. A grass seed mix is made up of two or more different species of grasses. Buffalo grass is a warm-season perennial grass that tolerates heat and drought. Which Grass is Best for Your Area? To ensure green grass year-round, you can overseed your warm-season grass (such as centipede or Bermuda) with a cold-season grass (such as ryegrass). Residential lawns that receive plenty of maintenance use a combination of Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Ryegrass species. Z. japonica ‘Meyer' (Meyer zoysia) thrives in the Upper South, while ‘Belaire' and ‘El Toro' are more cold hardy and faster to establish. This heat-hardy sod is a popular choice… Occasionally, it will be found in areas of California. And while many people want to reduce the size of or even eliminate their lawns, some live in neighborhoods where taking out the front lawn is prohibited. Bermuda grass is the most common species used but can suffer winter damage in the most northern areas. It is adapted to many soil types but prefers well-drained clay soils, and it does fairly well in more shaded conditions. It is a very coarse-textured type that grows via above-ground stolons that can reach several feet. It does not need much watering to stay healthy, which makes it well suited to the desert. This is a popular choice if you want to mix grasses thanks to its ability to … Bermuda can withstand and recover from high traffic very well. 10 / … This warm-season perennial grass thrives in the absence of high irrigation and fertilization, needs little mowing and is perfect for those wanting a more low-maintenance native or meadow look. "This is the ultimate choice when looking for a lawn in those cooler climates," says … Know if your selected grass type is best started by sod pieces or by seed, and what time of year is best to get the lawn started in your area. Suggested varieties: Kimono, Monopoly, Parade, Vanessa, Consult Landscaping Companies Near You to Start Installing New Grass Today, 6 Plants to Start a Butterfly Garden in Your Backyard, Add Outdoor Lighting to Illuminate Your New Lawn. The Southern Living Garden Book calls it "among the South's best and most popular lawn grasses. Consider a blend of grasses to promote a healthy, disease-resistant ecosystem. Buffalo grass lawns often led to many complaints in days gone by about its scratchy nature which was often highly irritating to the skin, especially to the skin of young children who played on it the most. Note: Within each zone, certain species do better in some locales than others. 1. Regular maintenance and weekly watering help maintain appearance. Zoysia grass is very tolerant of heat but also has more shade tolerance than Bermuda grass. 4 things to know before buying a foreclosure, Protect your house from winter water damage. Let us know what grass- and ground-cover related questions you have this season. This makes the lawn incredibly resilient and adaptable. While many ryegrass lawns are difficult to mow because of significant clumping and tough, hard-to-extricate seed stems, recent developments have created improved selections, including those listed below.Selections: ‘Derby,' ‘Loretta,' ‘Manhattan'. Although it grows best in moist environments, tall fescue actually has good drought tolerance. ‘Tis the season for tending green grasses. Perennial ryegrass creates a medium-textured, low-maintenance lawn, while creeping red fescue is a fine-textured grass with moderate maint… Selecting the best and most suitable grass for your front lawn is a decision that requires you to have more than basic gardening knowledge. It is not at all tolerant of cold temperatures, and requires plenty of moisture for survival. Tall Fescue. ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter. USDA Zone 3 (minimum temperatures of -30 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit) includes small northernmost portions of Maine, Vermont, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Montana, as well as most of North Dakota and small, high-elevation parts of Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho. Give your lawn the best chance for survival by picking one that is perfectly suited to your climate and the amount of sun exposure your yard receives. A mix is generally more adaptable to differing site conditions (shade, full sun, dry, moist). Other grasses that generally work well for Colorado lawns are buffalo grass, blue grama, turf-type tall fescue, fine-bladed fescues such as hard, red, chewings or sheep, perennial ryegrass and crested wheatgrass. Characteristics: Warm-season grass - dense, medium to dark green turf - produces an attractive lawn with a medium to coarse textured grass blade - a very low maintenance grass. As the year marches on, our minds turn to our yards, and we we crank up the lawn mowers and prepare our watering and fertilizing schedules. One of the main features that makes bluegrass such a popular choice is that it is adapted to a very wide variety of uses: lawns, play areas, golf courses, sports fields etc.. Kentucky bluegrass will not perform in areas of deeper shade, and will need regular fertilizing to look its best. Here is a guide to the best types of grass for Indianapolis lawns. Grasses used in Nebraska consist of cool-season grasses (Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue, Fine Fescues,) are the norm throughout Nebraska with the exception of the southern parts of the state where Bermuda, zoysia and some native grasses such as Buffalo grass are common. Centipede (warm season) grass can make do with about six hours of partial sun daily. The Different Types of Grass Commonly Found In UK Lawns Bent Grasses. Poa pratensisCold-season Kentucky bluegrass can be found in the cooler parts of the Upper and Middle South. It's deep green and glossy in appearance. Zoysia (Zoysia spp, zones 6 to 9). It does not need much watering to stay healthy, which makes it well suited to the desert. Planning to sow (or re-sow) a lawn this year? It has green blades which fade to brown when the cold weather arrives each winter. Buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides, zones 4 to 9 and up). Tall fescue should not be used in areas that require grass to be mowed to less than 1½ inches during the summer. Warm-season grasses are more likely to thrive in the hot and humid weather of the South, though both warm- and cold-season grasses can be found in the Middle and Upper South, which has milder weather year-round. Bent grasses are most commonly found in perfectly plat, ornamental lawns thanks to their very fine leaves... Fescue Grasses. Choose types adapted to your local climate and soil conditions. Does your grass need to stand up to lots of foot traffic? Cold winters, cool summers and high humidity create challenging conditions for many plants, including lawn grasses. Other cool-season grasses have grown in popularity in the North, West, and Pacific Northwest. Centipedegrass is best suited as a low-maintenance lawn grass and is best adapted in East Texas. St. Augustine grass has wide, coarse blades that are light to medium green. Eremochloa ophiuroidesCentipede grass is another warm-season species that thrives in the hot humidity of the South. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Suggested varieties: Bison, Bowie, Cody, Plains. In general, seed should be sown either in spring or fall; sod can be laid year-round if you live in a Southern climate. This warm-season perennial grass can have either coarse or fine texture, and is adapted to a wide range of soils. This grass has excellent wear tolerance, making it perfect for lawns, golf courses and play areas. Brush up on these lawn-watering tips direct from The Grumpy Gardener. Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. Bermuda grass. Much depends on what type of grass you choose, and if you choose the “wrong” type for your area, you’re in for high water bills, lots of mowing and possibly an unhealthy landscape environment. To get the best performance from species, such as tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass, use a mix of varieties. The suggested species of grass which grows well in the Indianapolis area are Kentucky Bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue. Cold-season grasses grow best in cool climates and fade when the weather gets hot. With the ability to perform in most Australian climates, Kikuyu can […] Home Lawns. It does not stand up well in shady areas or to excessive foot traffic. This is your complete guide to getting a great lawn … If you live in an area with extreme heat and prolonged drought, take a look at buffalo grass. Zoysia grass is very tolerant of heat but also has more shade tolerance than Bermuda grass. Warm/Humid - This zone includes the Southeast and Gulf states. However, like many types of Florida grass, it is sensitive to cold temperatures, pests and shade. This year, some Southerners have made plans to sow—or re-sow—their yards for the first time, which begs the question: Which grass is best? For instance, a typical home lawn seed mix may be made up of varieties of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and creeping red fescue. Oaklawn and Tennessee Hardy tend to be the most shade-tolerant cultivars. Read on for some information about the South's most popular types of grass, as well as the best selections to plant based on the weather in your area. This grass is native to North America, Asia and Europe, and it has moderate wear tolerance and shade tolerance; it can take some light abuse and rebound fairly quickly. Some call it “the devil’s grass” as it often sets up shop in nearby gardens and flowerbeds. It will grow up to 10 feet tall if left unmowed, but can be kept at a height of 2 to 3 inches. Cynodon dactylonA popular warm-season grass for the South—you'll see it on golf courses far and wide—Bermuda grass can thrive even when cut to very low, uniform heights. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea, zones 2 to 7). It's sometimes called "poor man's grass" because it's so easy to establish and maintain.Selections: ‘Oklawn' and ‘Tennessee Hardy' are cold hardy; ‘AU Centennial' is too, but it grows more densely and tolerates neutral and alkaline soil. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. It grows well in full sun to light shade and does not tolerate traffic or prolonged drought. Newer varieties of old favorites are often more resistant to diseases and pests. Tips for growing a gorgeous lawn: Newer varieties of old favorites are often more resistant to diseases and pests. It is slow growing and coarse-leafed. According to The Southern Living Garden Book, it is "not well adapted to Florida or the Gulf Coast. During the peak growing season, it will need to be mowed about every seven days. Initially grown in South Africa, Bermuda Grass came to lawns in South America, and eventually North America. Though you can create your own mix, it's more convenient to use prepackaged mixes, which are formulated for specific regions. Source: Home Depot. Other grasses that generally work well for Colorado lawns are buffalo grass, blue grama, turf-type tall fescue, fine-bladed fescues such as hard, red, chewings or sheep, perennial ryegrass and crested wheatgrass. However, no matter where you live, you can rest assured that Crewcut can keep your lawn looking in tip-top shape. Related: Types of Lawn Tools | Types of Lawn Edge Styles | Alternatives to Grass for Backyards | Types of Lawn Edging Tools St. Augustine. "Selections: ‘Emerald' grows densely and fades from medium green in summer to an attractive beige in winter. The newest varieties have greater resistance to drought and disease and need less maintenance . Characteristics: Warm-season grass - fine to medium leaf texture, dark green, dense and low growing via... CENTIPEDEGRASS. It thrives in cool weather and isn't tolerant of conditions involving high heat and drought, unless it's extensively irrigated.Selections: ‘Adelphi' and ‘Parade' are resistant to disease, while ‘Glade' and ‘Touchdown' tolerate shade well. Zoysia grass is hardy and grows well in sandy soils. A common tall fescue lawn grass cultivar is Kentucky 31. No grass species is perfect for all situations and uses. Left unabated, weeds will take over your lawn, suffocate your plants, and make your lawn … WATCH: The Best Types of Grass for Your Lawn. Read on to learn more about Midwest grass types, turf diseases, fungi, and pest control options. In the South, spot seeding with bermudagrass in full sun or St. Augustinegrass or zoysiagrass in sun-to-light shade works best. Kentucky Bluegrass. Bermuda grass grows very quickly and if you plant Bermuda Grass in your lawn, you’ll enjoy its rich, dark green color and thick lawn texture. Just give us a call for all of your lawn mowing and lawn care requirements. Residential lawns that receive plenty of maintenance use a combination of Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Ryegrass species. It's also more tolerant of cold and salt spray than Bahia grass, its close relative, making it a good choice for coastal lawns. Yes and no. "Selections: ‘Top Gun' is cold hardy, grows thickly, and has a great appearance in summertime. St. Augustine grass is best suited to warm-arid regions such as Florida and the Gulf Coast region. In the North, simply look for a quality grass seed of Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and maybe a bit of perennial ryegrass, such as Scotts EX Seed Patch and Repair. Northeast lawns need grasses that prefer cool temperatures and naturally resist diseases prevalent in this region. This grass type tolerates heat and drought well, but does not grow well in the shade. For example: Fine-tuning your answers to these questions will help you choose the best grass type for your landscape. Stenotaphrum secundatumThis warm-season grass thrives in tropical and sub-tropical areas and can tolerate light shade, nearly any soil, and salty sea breezes, making it a popular planting in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. Strongly consider using your area’s native grass type — it will be naturally adapted to your specific growing conditions. It requires little fertilizer and infrequent mowing. https://www.southernliving.com/garden/landscaping/types-of-grass Use warm season grass species, same as for warm/humid -- see below. Before you get started, ask yourself what your goals are for your lawn. Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. It’s best to resod damaged spots. Kikuyu is most well known for being a highly invasive and aggressive grower and it is this trait that makes it suitable in some cases as a home lawn. Zoysia (warm season) requires as little as three hours of daily direct sunshine, making it well-suited to lawns with partial shade. ‘Kentucky-31' is a coarse-bladed selection that has long been a popular planting in the South. Zoysia sp.This heat- and drought-tolerant warm-season grass is a popular planting in the South because it's so tough. Your state's cooperative extension can make recommendations Do you have a high-maintenance lawn? Bluegrass is a cool-season grass that grows well in the fall, winter and spring but will go dormant in the hot summer. Tall fescue is ideal for low-maintenance areas. ‘609' is blue-green in summer and grows in a thick carpet with no unsightly seed heads. Warm-season grasses grow best in hot weather and turn brown in winter. Transition Zone This region has hot summers as well as cold winters, making it the most challenging region for lawns: Cool-season grasses struggle in the summer heat, while warm-season types can remain brown as much as half of the year and may be prone to winter damage. There, it requires significant maintenance and attention, including regular watering and fertilizing. The grass is always greener on these lush lawns. Bermuda grass blades are dark green with a fine to medium texture. North: Perennial Ryegrass. FESCUE GRASS. Kikuyu Grass Kikuyu Grass Pennisetum Clandestinum Kikuyu grass is native to the highland regions of East Africa. It's most often found in Florida, where the composition and saturation of the soil makes it hard to grow other grasses.Related Species: Broadleaf carpet grass (Axonopus compressus), Louisiana grass (Axonopus fisifolius). Hardy Grasses That Can Cope with Your Dog. This mixture is also good to use around commercial buildings and public parks where grasses are continually mowed and maintained throughout the year. This makes the lawn incredibly resilient and adaptable. Bermuda grass grows rapidly in all types of soil, producing seeds, runners and rhizomes. Infamous for being incredibly irritating and scratchy, Buffalo grass has, over the last few years, come into its own as… It's a popular planting in Northern states, but it has been known to survive in the transitional Middle South as long as it has plenty of shade and water in the summer months.Selections: ‘Bonsai' and ‘Duster' are fine-bladed dwarf types. It grows best with regular watering, but it's hardier and more drought-tolerant than other cool-season grasses. That said, Bermuda Grass is a versatile turf grass, and it thrives really well in clay soil. If you plan to plant grass in your lawn, you need to choose the right kind that suits both the soil and climate of the region. Below, learn about the most popular species of lawn grasses, starting with the warm-season ones that are popular plantings across the Southern states. Always take into account your area’s challenges — low or high average rainfall, high heat, harsh winters or rocky soil should all inform your turfgrass choice. Lawns have been coming under attack as of late — after all, they are high-maintenance, chemically dependent thirst mongers, right? 1. It requires frequent mowing and lots of sun, though it doesn't thrive in close proximity to salty sea spray, so this is a better choice for inland planting rather than coastal.Selections: ‘Argentine' is resistant to pests and disease, while ‘Pensacola,' ‘Tifton 9,' and ‘Wilmington' are extremely drought tolerant. These grasses thrive in cooler climates, though some can be found in the Southern states (especially in the temperate Upper South), including the following species. There is no one-size-fits-all grass that will do well everywhere, so it’s best to consult the extension office in your county for recommendations. Cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass) do best in Northern climates, while warm-season grasses (St. Augustine, zoysia) fare better in Southern climates. Artificial grass can be very useful in areas that have difficulty … Tips for buying a home when self-employed, From moving to design, all under one roof, https://www.progressive.com/lifelanes/household/5-best-grasses-lawn/, reduce the size of or even eliminate their lawns. Should you go to an open house even if you’re not ready to buy? Zoysia Grass. 10 / … It's drought- and heat-tolerant and grows well in full sun, but it requires significant maintenance to look its best, including occasional watering, fertilizing, and mowing.Selections: ‘Floratex' needs less water and fertilizer than other hybrid Bermuda grasses; ‘Yuma' grows in a dense carpet and tolerates heat, drought, and cold. In southern climates it performs fairly well in semishaded areas, but the farther north you go, it’ll need more sun. Grass Varieties BERMUDAGRASS. The grass seed you choose must be adapted to the area or else your lawn will not thrive. And, while you're at it: Cut your lawn high. Lawncare experts recommend a variety of different types of grass for homes with dogs, but the following four are among the most commonly mentioned. It will thrive even without fertilizer, but it loves sun and will not usually survive in shade. Lolium perenneThis cold-season grass tolerates cold weather and substantial shade, and it's known to germinate quickly and spread slowly. Buffalo grass is best known for its very wide leaf blade. Buffalo grass would be the best grass for a lawn in areas of 15 inches or less rainfall a year. No grass species is perfect for all situations and uses. Buffalo grass is native to the Great Plains and adapts widely to other warm climates. Best Types of Grass for Houston’s Climate St. Augustine grass. It grows quite well in those “transition” areas of the United States, where it’s too hot and humid for cool-season grasses, yet too cool for warm-season grasses. It's a warm-season grass that grows in a dense carpet and requires some maintenance including regular water and occasional fertilizer.Selections: ‘Bitterblue' is extremely shade tolerant, ‘Palmetto' is drought tolerant, and ‘Raleigh' and ‘Seville' are cold hardy. Buchloe dactyloidesThis is a hardy and low-maintenance warm-season grass that can tolerate drought. The ideal mowing height for Bermuda grass ranges from half an inch to an inch and a half. In the South, spot seeding with bermudagrass in full sun or St. Augustinegrass or zoysiagrass in sun-to-light shade works best. In places along the Gulf of Mexico, where it gets fairly humid, the best grasses to grow are St. Augustinegrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass, and bahiagrass. Buffalo grass is at its best when allowed to grow tall, but it needs mowing three times a year to form a good thick turf. Can't grow grass? Festuca arundinaceaThis shade-tolerant cold-season grass is great for areas that don't receive much sun, as it doesn't thrive in extremely hot climates. Grass identification: Grass color: light emerald green; Blade shape: broad leaves up to 0.5” (13 mm) wide; Growth habit: bunch-forming hardy lawn grass; How to Choose the Best Type of Lawn Grass. In terms of appearance, the grass is dark green, and its texture is somewhat coarse. Warm season grasses are best adapted to this zone. It’s not easy. During the peak growing season, it will need to be mowed about every seven days. https://www.southernliving.com/garden/landscaping/types-of-grass First, a distinction: Lawn grasses are split into two general categories, warm-season grasses and cold-season grasses. Try these ground covers instead.re. It should be noted, however, that there are a number of different varieties of bluegrass with varying levels of drought tolerance and mowing requirements. In the North, simply look for a quality grass seed of Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and maybe a bit of perennial ryegrass, such as Scotts EX Seed Patch and Repair. A grass variety recommended for one area of the country may be discouraged for use in another area. There are more than 450 species of grass which botanists call Fescues but only 4 …

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