You now understand your yard’s climate. Depending on your location you’ll be looking for cool-season or warm-season grass varieties for your lawn, or a hearty type that survives well in a mixed climate if you reside in a transition zone. Read on to learn about the different varieties of grasses and their features.
Types of Grass.
There are many grass varieties in the world, but there are a few go-to types for a good lawn. Here are the significant varieties suggested for lawn use categorized by their growing seasons.
Warm-season varieties
- Bahia — Bahia is a hearty turf grass that takes well to hot weather and humidity found in the southern United States. You can use a variety of soil types for planting, and the grass has a rough texture that helps it survive in warm climates. Bahia is very resistant to insects and disease, but it does not mix well with other grasses. When planting Bahia, it is important not to introduce any different grass varieties. This grass prefers full sun and less than one inch of water weekly. It is best to plant Bahia in spring or early summer.
- Bermuda — Bermuda grass is a common choice for warm climate lawns. The grass is sturdy and can tolerate harsh heat, and even drought conditions. Bermuda grows aggressively and is therefore popular with homeowners looking to establish a lawn quickly. If you intend to plant flower beds as well, make sure you have a protective barrier between the flowerbed and your lawn as Bermuda grass tends to grow so aggressively it can take over your garden space. This variety does well in full sun but is not tolerant to shade at all. For best results plant Bermuda in late spring or early summer.
- St. Augustine — For those living in the southern United States, especially along the coast St. Augustine is a great choice. This grass variety does very well in sandy soils and is much more salt tolerant than the majority of other warm climate grasses. St. Augustine roots grow quickly and establish easily in your lawn. For the best yard, regular watering is necessary. However, you must ensure you have a properly-irrigated yard with drainage points. St. Augustine is a beautiful grass that maintains its green-blue coloring well into Fall, but it is not a very tough grass, so yards with children or animals that have lots of traffic on the lawn are not ideal. Plant St. Augustine in the late fall in yards with full to partial sunlight.
- Zoysia — Like Bermuda, Zoysia varieties are robust, aggressive growers. Though some types of Zoysia can handle higher amounts of foot traffic, this grass is not well-suited for yards that get a lot of use. Of the warm-climate options, Zoysia can tolerate and adapt to different climates the best. It typically prefers a lot of sunshine but can survive in more shade as well. Plant this grass in late spring or early summer and keep moist to maintain your yard.