Types of Lawn Grass
Contrary to what many people expect, there is more than one type of grass that can create a lovely lawn. Different types of lawn grass vary in appearance, growth habits, and preferred growing conditions. As you’ll soon see, the success of your lawn can come down to which type of grass you choose to grow.
Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses are ideal for anyone who lives where the winters are cold, as these grasses can withstand significant seasonal temperature changes. You should plant cool-season grass if you live in the Northeast, Midwest, Northwest, or generally anywhere north of the southernmost United States.
Kentucky Bluegrass, Poa pratensis
Kentucky bluegrass has an exceptional ability to survive harsh winter temperatures, and it also has a consistent dark green color and long thin blades that make for a fine texture. However, Kentucky bluegrass may also require a relatively high amount of maintenance and does not do well if it does not get enough light. Still, this grass is an excellent cool-season option for your lawn.
Perennial Regrass, Lolium perenne
Growing perennial ryegrass will often give you a lush lawn faster than growing any other popular cool-season grass variety. This grass is so expedient because its seeds germinate incredibly quickly. Once this grass develops into a mature lawn, it tends to need less water than other grasses as well.
Tall Fescue, Festuca arundinacea
The advantages of tall fescue are that this grass is resilient to drought and disease and can survive in warmer regions than many other cool-season grass choices. Tall fescue lawn grass grows in bunches and is a decent option for somewhat shaded lawn areas.
Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses grow where the weather remains warm all year. These grasses are the best choice for residents of the hotter parts of the United States, including Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.
Bermuda Grass, Cynodon dactylon
Bermuda grass grows well in the hottest parts of the United States and has a dependable resistance to some of the harshest environmental elements in those regions. This grass tolerates considerable drought and can handle significant foot traffic. If you grow this grass in soil with excellent drainage, you should have no trouble maintaining a healthy lawn.
Centipede Grass, Eremochloa ophiuroides
For those who want grass that requires minimal maintenance, centipede grass may be the best warm-season option. Centipede grass does not need mowing as often as other grasses and needs less fertilization too. This grass can also tolerate cooler temperatures than other warm-season grasses and thrives best where the soil is somewhat sandy.
St. Augustine, Stenotaphrum secundatum
St. Augustine grass is a warm-season grass with large blades and a coarse overall appearance. Among all common warm-season grasses, this one is the least likely to survive cool temperatures, making it suitable only for the hottest areas of the U.S. On the other hand, St. Augustine grass will grow in acidic and alkaline soils and be easy to care for once it is established.