Common Grass Types for You to Choose
We rarely think of lawn grass as diverse, but the truth may surprise you. Many grasses can serve as ground cover and can lend your yard a unique appearance. Here we’ll introduce 4 kinds of warm-season grasses that are good for warm-weather and 3 cold-season grasses that serve colder regions.
Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a grass native to the eastern hemisphere, though it is not native to Bermuda. In Bermuda, Bermuda grass is considered an invasive species. Hybrid breeds of Bermuda grass may contain cyanide and poison livestock, so caution should be exercised with regard to livestock.
Centipedegrass is a warm season lawn grass. It is a thick sod forming grass that spreads by stolons, and is medium to light green colored. It has a coarse texture with short upright seedhead stems that grow to about 3-5 inches. Centipedegrass seed is native to southern China and was introduced to the United States in 1916. It has since become one of the common grasses in the southeastern states and Hawaii. Centipedegrass can also be considered a weed.
St. Augustine’s grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a plant species also known as St. Augustine grass. It is a common lawn grass as popular as Bermuda grass, and thrives in the Mediterranean region and tropical climates. It is common in the southern United States, Hawaii, South Africa and New Zealand.
For a lush lawn in high traffic areas, Korean lawn grass, or Zoysia japonica is a solid choice. Also used for sports fields, golf courses, and commercial lawns, this grass is thick and lush. It is typically planted as sod, although some varieties will grow well from seed. Korean lawn grass needs to be mowed short and its soil needs to dry out between watering so that it can develop a more drought resistant root system.
Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most commonly planted grasses for lawns in cool and humid parts of the United States. The name refers not to the color of the grass stalks, but instead is due to the purple-blue flowers that are seen if the grass is allowed to bloom. A good spot to see Kentucky bluegrass is at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, home of the Green Bay Packers football team.
Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is a plant species native to Eurasia. Perennial ryegrass is used in mixtures of lawn seed to feed cattle and to control erosion. Perennial ryegrass is also used to create turf for golf courses because of its hardiness. In countries where it’s imported, this plant is often considered an invasive species.
Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is a perennial grass that grows 2 to 4 feet high. Many people consider it an invasive species because it causes ecological problems in woodlands, savannas, and grasslands. This species is native to Eurasia and was brought over by early colonists for livestock grazing.