Question:

What kind of grass should I plant?

Bluegrass

Bluegrass is a cool season grass with a coarse texture and wide blades. It is spread by tillers and seed. Its rich, dark green color and luxuriant foliage make it a prized grass among homeowners in the northern and western two thirds of the country. It tolerates both high maintenance and low maintenance options, and its traffic tolerance is excellent.

Low maintenance

All grasses need some amount of watering, mowing and fertilization to resist pests and disease. How much of these inputs you decide on will affect the appearance and value of your lawn. Centipede, a popular warm season grass in the south, is often called the "Lazy Man's Grass" because of its low mowing requirements and its tolerance for low fertility. Dwarf-type Fescues and Fescue/Rye mixes provide similar mowing relief for cool season lawns.

Bermuda (common)

Common Bermuda is a warm season grass with a fine texture and thin blades with pointed tips. It spreads by using over-ground runners, underground stolons, and seed. Its grayish, blueish green color and low growth habit make it a prized grass among homeowners in the deep south. It tolerates both high maintenance and low maintenance options, and its traffic tolerance is excellent.

Fescue (Dwarf and varieties)

Dwarf, creeping and other Fescues are cool season grasses with a wide variety of textures and leaf shapes. They are often blended by seed companies to insure good lawn health and vigor in a variety of conditions. Dark green color and variety of conditions favoring lawn establishment make these blends a popular choice among homeowners in the northern and western two thirds of the country. They tolerates both high maintenance and low maintenance options, and traffic tolerance is ranges from moderate to excellent.

Fescue (Tall)

Tall Fescue is a cool season grass with a coarse texture and wide blades. It spreads by using underground stolons and seed. Its dark green color and dense foliage make it a prized grass among homeowners in the northern and western two thirds of the country. It tolerates both high maintenance and low maintenance options, and its traffic tolerance is excellent.

Bermuda (hybrid)

Hybrid Bermudas are warm season grasses with very fine texture and thin blades with pointed tips. It spreads by using over-ground runners and underground stolons. Most hybrids produce sterile seeds. Their dense mat, relatively low cost and dark green colors make them a prized, wear resistant turf among homeowners in the deep south. Almost all of them demand high maintenance, but under proper care the traffic tolerance is excellent.

NOTE: Many hybrid Bermudas require special mowing equipment.

Zoysia

Zoysia is a warm season grass with a fine texture and very thin blades with pointed tips. It spreads by using over-ground runners and seed. Its deep, rich green color and low growth habit make it a prized grass among homeowners in the deep south. It is also very shade tolerant. It tolerates both high maintenance and low maintenance options, and its traffic tolerance is excellent. However, Zoysia spreads slowly and must be established from sod. Seeding or plugging takes years to develop satisfactory turf.

High traffic

If your lawn will recieve high amounts of foot and vehicle traffic, select a wear tolerant species. Fescue is recommended as a cool season option. Bermuda is recommended as a warm season option in full sun. Zoysia is recommended as a warm season grass for part shade.

Light levels

All grasses need some light for photosynthesis. If your planting area is in dense shade, you should consider planting shade loving shrubs and perennials. Fescue is an excellent part shade, cool season grass. Zoysia and St. Augustine are recommended for a part shade warm season lawn.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine is a warm season grass with a coarse texture and wide blades with rounded tips. It spreads by using over-ground runners. Its dark green color and soft consistency make it a prized grass among homeowners in the deep south. It has a high maintenance requirement and its traffic tolerance is moderate to poor.

High maintenance

So, you want a showcase lawn, eh? Consider TifLawn Bermuda for exceptional texture and appearance in Southern full sun lawns. Part shade calls for Palmetto St. Augustine. For cool season lawns, select unblended Fine Fescue or unblended Kentucky Bluegrass.

Grass selection criteria

Select your grass based on (1) how much maintenance time (and money) you will have to devote to the lawn, (2) what the lawn will be used for and (3) the climate and growing conditions prevalent in your area. Proper selection of species and variety based on these three factors will always deliver expected results.

Perennial Rye

Perennial Rye is a cool season grass with a coarse texture and wide blades. It spreads by seed and profuse tillers. Its rapid establishment from seed make it a popular choice where quick cover is needed, but it may not survive either prolonged drought or extreme temperature. It tolerates both high maintenance and low maintenance options, and its traffic tolerance is moderate.

Centipede

Centipede is a warm season grass with a coarse texture and wide blades with pointed tips. It spreads by using over-ground runners. Its lime green color and soft consistency make it a common choice among homeowners in the deep south, but its low mowing requirements are the real reason it's chosen so much. It has a low maintenance requirement and its traffic tolerance is moderate.