Great Grasses for Your New Lawn

Learn about maintenance, wear resistance, ideal climate, and more to choose the best lawn for you.

Grass type

St. Augustine
This grass has a coarse texture and is suitable for coastal areas with mild and humid winter temperatures. It is also adaptable to a variety of soil types, grows fairly well in moderate shade, and provides good cover with minimal mowing. St. Augustine is a “carpet” grass that produces a heat-resistant, low-height lawn. St. Augustine does not handle high traffic well and is not recommended for areas with drought problems.

Recommended varieties: Floratam, Raleigh, Seville

Buffalo grass

If you live in an area with extreme heat and constant drought, take a look at buffalo grass. This warm-season perennial grass grows well in the absence of high irrigation and fertilization, requires little mowing, and is perfect for native plants or plants wanting a low-maintenance meadow look.

If left unmowed, grass can grow up to 10 feet tall, but may remain 2 to 3 inches tall. Buffalo grass is widely adapted to other warm climates. It does not tolerate well in shady areas or high traffic areas.

Recommended varieties: Bison, Bowie, Cody, Plains

Zoysia

This warm-season perennial grass can be coarse or fine in texture and adapts to a variety of soils. In southern climates it grows quite well in semi-shady areas. But the further north you go, the more sun you need. A drought-tolerant grass, it turns straw-colored in extreme drought conditions but responds very favorably to subsequent irrigation. This grass has excellent wear resistance and is suitable for lawns, golf courses and playgrounds. Because of their slow growth rate, zoysia is unlikely to recover if damaged or abused. It is best to restore the damaged part again.

Recommended varieties: Belair, El Toro, Emerald, Meyer

Tall fescue

Tall fescue grows best in moist environments, but is actually quite drought-resistant. This plant  grows very well in “transition” areas of the United States. This area is too hot and humid for cool- season grasses, but too cool for warm-season grasses. It adapts to a variety of soil types, but prefers well-drained clay soils and grows quite well in shaded areas. Although not native to the United States, it is highly adaptable and is widely found in the lowland grasslands of the Pacific Northwest and South. Tall fescue should not be used in areas where grass must be mowed to less than 11⁄2 inches during the summer.

Recommended varieties: Alta, Kentucky-31

Kentucky bluegrass

Bluegrass is a cool-season grass that grows well in fall, winter, and spring, but goes dormant in the hot summer. This grass is native to North America, Asia, and Europe and has moderate wear and shade tolerance. All it takes is a little abuse and you can recover fairly quickly. However, it is important to remember that there are different types of bluegrasses with different levels of drought tolerance and mowing requirements. One of the key features that makes bluegrass such a popular choice is that it is suitable for a variety of applications, including lawns, sports fields, golf courses, and athletic fields. Kentucky bluegrass does not grow well in areas with deeper shade and requires
regular fertilization to look its best.

Recommended varieties: Kimono, Monopoly, Parade, Vanessa

Tips for growing a great lawn:
✓ New varieties of old favorites are often more resistant to diseases and pests.

✓ Cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass) are best suited to northern climates, while warm-season grasses (St. Augustine, zoysia) are better suited to southern climates.

✓ A grass variety recommended for one part of the country may not be recommended for use in another part of the country.
✓ Take the time to properly prepare the soil before installing sod.
✓ Find out whether the type of grass you choose is best to start from a cut or seed, and the best time to plant grass in your area. Generally, seeds should be sown in spring or fall. If you live in a southern climate, you can lay grass all year round.
✓ Consider a turf mix to promote a healthy, disease-resistant ecosystem.
✓ Strongly consider using grass types native to your area. Adapts naturally to specific
growing conditions.