February 8, 2021

The Best Types of Grass for your lawn

Did you know that the first step towards proper lawn care is identifying the best type of grass for your lawn based on where you live?

Crazy right…only it’s not! Let me explain! 😎

You don’t have to settle for any type of grass for your backyard when you can have the right one.

During the summer season, you can turn your backyard into a beautiful sight to behold and make it the venue of choice for holding family picnic, gatherings, and who knows – maybe even weddings.

The Best Types of Grass for Proper Lawn Care

The Best Types of Grass USA Map

Before you start growing grass, it’s important that you consider the region where you live because it determines which type of grass you should go for and the required lawn care.

Here is a detailed description of the grass type options you can choose from:

1.) The North (Or Cool Season) Zone

Fine fescue

Fine Fesque Grass

This type of grass is fast-growing and has pointed leaves. It does well in places characterized by temperature swings. Moreover, it does quite well in both sunny and shady environments.

That makes it ideal for northern climates. In regards to the above-mentioned characteristic, you can grow fine fescue under trees. By giving it adequate shade, you will be offering the lawn care it needs.

You can use this type of grass to fill in areas where other grass types might find it difficult to grow. If you live in places in the northern region like Minnesota and Michigan, the fine fescue is a grass type option you can consider.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky Bluegrass

This is a popular cool-season grass that you can rely on to produce a healthy lawn around your home. Homeowners in northern climate places like New Jersey and North Dakota prefer this grass because it is durable and self-repairing.

The self-repairing characteristic of Kentucky bluegrass ensures that damaged areas can be replaced quickly because of its fast-rate capacity to overgrow. It can handle full sun and partial shade.

However, heavily shaded environments aren’t good for it. Thus, for quality lawn care make sure that you don’t grow it in a heavily shady area.

Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial Ryegrass

This is another popular northern climate grass that thrives in both sun and shade. Compared to other cool-season grass types, it grows quickly, meaning that you have to closely monitor its growth to take good care of it.

It has the tendency of growing thicker in some lawn areas than others, thus making your lawn look a bit irregular.

That is why you should observe it closely to offer proper care. In order to produce a high quality Perennial Ryegrass lawn, it’s advisable that you mix it with Kentucky bluegrass to make it more shade tolerant.

Tall Fescue

Tall Fescue Grass

This type can do well in both the northern and transition zones. The fact that it can do well in both zones means that it can withstand hot and dry weather better than most cool-season grass varieties.

If you live in an area that experiences extreme drought periods, the deep-rooted Tall fescue will do just fine. It can endure mechanized lawn equipment as well as heavy foot traffic.

You have to take note that it occasionally makes lawns look patchy because of growing thicker in some areas more than others. Therefore, just like Perennial Ryegrass, you have to closely monitor Tall fescue to ensure that your lawn looks neat.

2.) The Transition Zone

Zoysia Grass

Zoysia Grass

This grass can tolerate full sunshine. It grows slowly and it has stiff leaves. During extended periods of cold weather, it turns dormant. However, when the weather becomes warmer, Zoysia grass turns green.

You don’t need to water it frequently. It is thick, which makes it an ideal grass type for golf courses. Examples of places where this grass can do well include: northern Alabama and Tennessee.

Bermuda Grass

bermuda grass

This is commonly a warm-season grass but it can also tolerate colder seasons. Its leaves are dark green and pointed. If you would like to have a thick and dense lawn, then Bermuda grass is worth considering.

For proper care and maintenance of this grass, you have to water it frequently. It’s also imperative to point out that it can bear being cut very short, which is an advantage to you.

Cutting it short means that you will minimize the amount of times you have to mow during the summer. An example of a place where this type of grass does well is California.

3.) The South (Or Warm Season) Zone

Centipede Grass

Centipede Grass

The Centipede grass is good for homeowners who want a low-maintenance lawn. Just like Bermuda grass, Centipede grass grows low, which means that you don’t have to worry about constant mowing of your lawn.

Appropriate care of this type of grass deems it necessary for you to water it frequently.

This implies that for your lawn to be healthy, you have to ensure that it maintains adequate moisture. For this reason, it is not ideal for regions that experience extreme dry weather unless you are willing to keep it watered on a regular basis.

Examples of places where Centipede grass grows well are Mississippi and Louisiana.

St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine Grassipede Grass

This is a heat resistant and tough grass variety. That is why it is popular in Florida.

If you want a grass type that will withstand a lot of heat and drought, then St. Augustine grass is what you need. It has wide blades. Take note that, if you are opting for this type of grass you should prepare yourself for frequent watering.

Of great importance still, you don’t have to worry about heavy foot traffic because it can withstand it quite well. It is also essential to note that it can grow in areas with sandy soil.

Backyard beauty takes a lot into consideration for it to manifest. It’s not just about growing grass, but growing the right variety.

For proper lawn care, the first step is always to know which type of grass is best for the environment you are in.

The climate of your place is vital when considering which grass variety to grow. After growing your choice of grass, it’s prudent for you to be consistent in offering the degree of care and maintenance required to produce a healthy lawn.

Daniel Simmons

About the author

TheLawnMowingKing.com brings my 25 years experience as a professional gardener and landscaper to you!

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