How to Choose the Right Lawn Grasses?

Author: Saiqa Najeeb
Last Updated On: June 30, 2023

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Does the grass always look the same? Did you know that there are multiple grass varieties that blanket home lawns? Well, some grass types work better than others, depending on your location and climatic conditions.

If you choose the proper grass for your climate, exposure to the sun, and soil composition, organic lawn maintenance becomes much simpler.

By understanding different types of grasses and their regional preferences, you’ll be able to make the right choice of lawn grass. This guide provides the basics of choosing the right grass and some recommendations based on your region.

Read on to explore!

Cool-season Lawn Grasses

Cool season lawn grasses thrive in the northern region of the bluegrass line, a boundary that extends through the centers of Arkansas and New Mexico, from the middle of North Carolina into Southern California.

Cool-season grasses favor humid, chilly winters and warm summers. The best times for these grasses to flourish are during the mild spring and autumn seasons; during prolonged hot and dry summers, they may turn brown and go dormant. Despite being typically grown north of the bluegrass line, cool-season grasses can also thrive at higher altitudes and in other, cool conditions south of the bluegrass line.

However, it necessitates greater effort and trouble to produce cool-season grasses elsewhere than in their preferred climate. In arid environments, many species require frequent irrigation, and in hot summer climates, they are vulnerable to disease and insect assault. The following are the primary grass species found in the north:

Kentucky bluegrass: Well-known for fine-textured blades, cold resistance, and deep shade of green.
Perennial ryegrass: Robust enough to be utilized for sports grounds
Bent grass: A highly selective and fine-textured grass mostly used for golf-putting greens.
Tall fescue: An easy-to-maintain grass that can be grown taller.
Hard fescue: An easy-to-grow grass that can be grown to the North.
Red fescue: A shade and drought-resistant type of grass, also called creeping fescue.
Chewings fescue: A cold and drought-resistant grass that thrives in light shade.

Warm-season Lawn grasses

Warm-season lawn grasses flourish in climates with moderate winters and long summers with temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The majority react by turning brown since they don’t like the cold. They thrive quickly, particularly in the summer. The following warm-season grass species are found in the South:

Bahia grass: A drought-resistant grass that makes a thick mat, usually in the Gulf Coast States.
Bermuda grass: A quickly growing grass type that can tolerate drought and temperature.
Centipede grass: A low-maintenance grass, that needs very little water and mowing as compared to others, also known as lazy men’s grass.
Carpet grass: Commonly grown in coastal plain regions, forming coarse and thick blades.
St. Augustine grass: A high-maintenance grass that is quite popular among warm-season grasses.
Zoysia grass: A slow-establishing type of grass that can tolerate shade in comparison with other warm-season grasses.

Regional preferences for lawn grasses

It is helpful to divide the United States into nine turf-growing zones because climates differ in many aspects besides temperature. Particular lawn grasses thrive best in each zone’s climate.

Coastal West (Zone 1): It has dry summers and chilly, wet winters. Grow cool-season grasses, including perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and fine fescue.
Western Transitional Zone (Zone 2): It has mild winters and lengthy, dry summers. Here, you can plant cool- or warm-season grasses. For the summer, hybrid Bermuda grass is preferred. When your warm-season grass lawn begins to turn brown or yellow in the fall, spread seeds of cool-season grass, like ryegrass or tall fescue, over it for winter color.
Arid Southwest (Zone 3): It has dry winters and lengthy, hot summers. In low-elevation locations, go for Bermuda grass or Zoysia grass during the summer and ryegrass or fescue for the winter. Buffalo grass that resists drought should be planted at high altitudes.
Great Plains (Zone 4): Buffalo grass and blue grama grass are the two native turfgrasses of Zone 4. You can grow them if you want a low-maintenance lawn. Use northern grasses like Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass in the northern region and Bermuda grass or Zoysia grass in the southern region.
Midwest (Zone 5): It has freezing winters and wet, damp summers. Any cool-season grass, including Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and any of the fescues, will flourish here. In the far south, warm-season zoysia grass can be grown.
The Northeast (Zone 6): is similar to that of the Midwest, except for milder summers and longer winters. You can grow the same kinds of cool-season grasses, especially Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass.
Eastern Transitional Zone (Zone 7): Warm-season grasses like Bermuda grass and cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass can both be grown in Zone 7, which is the eastern transitional zone.
Central Southeast (Zone 8): Although tall fescue, a cool-season grass, can be grown in high elevations, this region is largely warm-season, making Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass, and centipede grass the best choices.
Gulf Coast (Zone 9): The Gulf Coast is even hotter and drier than the inland Southeast. Centipede grass, Bahia grass, and St. Augustine grass can also be grown here, in addition to Bermuda grass and Zoysia grass.

Which lawn grasses are best for trouble spots?

A lawn can be grown by anyone under ideal circumstances. When conditions are less than ideal, though, you can improve your chances by selecting grasses that have a track record of thriving in challenging environments.

Recent studies have shown that when beneficial fungi known as endophytes colonize grass plants, some grass types exhibit greater resistance to insect and disease assault and also require less water and fertilizer. For household lawns, so-called endophyte-enhanced seed mixtures are now accessible. The fungi on the lawn are hidden inside the grass plant; you cannot see them. Search for grass mixtures that are classified as dwarf or semidwarf. These grasses require less water and mowing since they grow more slowly than conventional grasses.

So, you’ve got the idea!

Now is the time to do your research and choose the right lawn grasses for your garden. Remember to consider your zone’s unique characteristics, such as temperature, rainfall, and soil type, to select the grasses that will thrive in your specific region.

Don’t just cross your fingers and hope for the best. Instead, figure out what works for you. By picking the right grasses, you can make your lawn as healthy as possible.