Types of Lawns: How to Pick the Right Grass

How to Pick the Right Grass

Selecting a plant that is best suited to your region plays a major role in how your grasses grow while also considering factors like climate, soil type, and the amount of sun your plant receives. There are two main lawns namely, cool-season lawn and warm-season lawn. Read further to know how to pick the right lawn type.

Grasses for Northern Climates

Cool-Season Species

If you live in a cool climate like in the North, these cool-season grasses will be your best pick. They grow best in spring and fall and stay lusciously green throughout the winter season where there is moderate temperature. Cool-season grasses do not like the summer heat and will very often become brown if you don’t supply plenty of water.

Two of the common cool-season grasses are listed under:

• Kentucky Bluegrass: This grass has a dark shade and medium texture. It fills in bare spots on its own and can create an attractive lawn. Kentucky Bluegrass can tolerate the harsh climatic conditions in winter.
• Tall Fescue: This grass shows good tolerance towards heat and drought. Tall fescue is used widely in the Transition zone and even in the Southern region. It has a coarse texture but there are new varieties which appear quite nice. It has also good pest tolerance.

Grasses for South and Southwestern Climates

Warm-Season Species

Warm-season species of grasses thrive in the heat. They are suited for the hot summers of the South and Southwest regions. These grasses will go dormant in areas with less summer rain if not supplemented with water. Most of the species do not tolerate cold and undergo winter dormancy.

Two of the common warm-secbvcbvason grasses are listed under:

• Bermudagrass: The common Bermudagrass is coarse but there are finer textured grasses of the hybrid varieties that can make an attractive lawn. You can plant the common grass from seed and the hybrid from sprigs. People often over-seed dormant Bermudagrass lawns with ryegrass for winter color in the fall in the South and west. It spreads vigorously and recovers quickly from wear,
• St. Augustinegrass: This lush and thick lawn has a coarse texture. St. Augustinegrass is most commonly used in the Gulf region. For a nice lawn, it requires only moderate maintenance. It is also fairly tolerant of shade. It will not survive dry summers if not supplemented with water.

Note: Choosing the right grass also includes considering how you are going to use it. Consider whether you are using the lawn simply for appearance or for other purposes like playing, gardening, and so on.