Growing grass, as you know is really a pretty simple proposition. But being simple does not equate with being easy. In other words there's more to it than heading down the lawn care aisle, grabbing a bag of grass seed and spreading it over some dirt then letting nature take it's course.
No, if you want a lawn that matches the time and level of commitment you can devote to maintaining it, you'll have to do a bit of research. To learn which strains thrive under the regional conditions you face. And any more that means thriving with few water demands during periods when little rain is expected to fall.
Now five strains that should be on your short list to consider would be Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine and Bahia. Here's a quick rundown on each.
St Augustine grass is a fast growing, dense variety of grass that can grow in wide range of soils. It can withstand salt exposure too just not too much cold. Now St Augustine can only be put down as sod or plugs since seed is not readily available. Plus this thirsty turf is not all that drought tolerant, tends to dry up without a weekly drenching, and requires a decent amount of fertilizer - making it what you'd call high maintenance. Some would compare it in appearance to Astro Turf. It is also not for you if your yard gets a lot of traffic.
Bahia grass might be the ticket if you want to establish a drought resistant lawn from seed. It's a coarse textured blades ward off insects and disease. Fans of this variety point out it pretty much survives on rain water alone and can hold on nearly indefinitely in a dormant state when things get too dry. Those who aren't fans are quick to point out it doesn't do well in shady applications. Also mowing it can be a challenge that compares well to mowing wire. Probably not that bad but you get the idea.
Gray-green Centipede grass is a slow growing turf variety that is naturally drought tolerant. Grown best in full sun it has about average tolerance for shade and acidic soil. Centipede can be started from seed or put down as sod. It withstands cold temps and need less mowing than others on the list. A drawback to keep in mind is it doesn't do well in heavy traffic situations.
If you've got plenty of flower bed common Bermuda may not be a good choice since its runners can quickly take them over. This is a grass that appreciates full sun and has little tolerance for shade which for some would be a deal breaker. Bermuda has enough cold and drought tolerance however and has no known disease susceptibilities.
Zoysia is one of the most cold-hardy grasses going. It grows slower than Bermuda and has an average tolerance of shade. A thick and dense grass it naturally wards off weeds. Usually established by plugs or sprigs it takes a while to take hold. It's biggest drawback if how often it needs to be mowed plus it should be de-thatched regularly too.
As you might have concluded, if you keep your regional weather in mind, know the growing conditions and take your level of commitment to lawn care in mind, growing a lawn that stays green longer isn't all that tough. Hopefully the run down on your best bets when it comes to strains to consider has made your selection process that much easier.
No, if you want a lawn that matches the time and level of commitment you can devote to maintaining it, you'll have to do a bit of research. To learn which strains thrive under the regional conditions you face. And any more that means thriving with few water demands during periods when little rain is expected to fall.
Now five strains that should be on your short list to consider would be Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine and Bahia. Here's a quick rundown on each.
St Augustine grass is a fast growing, dense variety of grass that can grow in wide range of soils. It can withstand salt exposure too just not too much cold. Now St Augustine can only be put down as sod or plugs since seed is not readily available. Plus this thirsty turf is not all that drought tolerant, tends to dry up without a weekly drenching, and requires a decent amount of fertilizer - making it what you'd call high maintenance. Some would compare it in appearance to Astro Turf. It is also not for you if your yard gets a lot of traffic.
Bahia grass might be the ticket if you want to establish a drought resistant lawn from seed. It's a coarse textured blades ward off insects and disease. Fans of this variety point out it pretty much survives on rain water alone and can hold on nearly indefinitely in a dormant state when things get too dry. Those who aren't fans are quick to point out it doesn't do well in shady applications. Also mowing it can be a challenge that compares well to mowing wire. Probably not that bad but you get the idea.
Gray-green Centipede grass is a slow growing turf variety that is naturally drought tolerant. Grown best in full sun it has about average tolerance for shade and acidic soil. Centipede can be started from seed or put down as sod. It withstands cold temps and need less mowing than others on the list. A drawback to keep in mind is it doesn't do well in heavy traffic situations.
If you've got plenty of flower bed common Bermuda may not be a good choice since its runners can quickly take them over. This is a grass that appreciates full sun and has little tolerance for shade which for some would be a deal breaker. Bermuda has enough cold and drought tolerance however and has no known disease susceptibilities.
Zoysia is one of the most cold-hardy grasses going. It grows slower than Bermuda and has an average tolerance of shade. A thick and dense grass it naturally wards off weeds. Usually established by plugs or sprigs it takes a while to take hold. It's biggest drawback if how often it needs to be mowed plus it should be de-thatched regularly too.
As you might have concluded, if you keep your regional weather in mind, know the growing conditions and take your level of commitment to lawn care in mind, growing a lawn that stays green longer isn't all that tough. Hopefully the run down on your best bets when it comes to strains to consider has made your selection process that much easier.
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