Lawn And Turf Grass Types
What type of turf grass is right for your lawn and area?
Starting with the right type of turf grass is probably the most important consideration when planning a new lawn, yard, or landscaping project. Planting the wrong grass seed or sod for your geographic area and climate can end up being a time and money robbing struggle.
In this section of the directory we list the most common turf and lawn grass types along with all the important information you will need to decide which grass will work best for your area and conditions.
This information will also be helpful for your preparation process as some conditions such as soil, PH, and nutrients can be controlled and manipulated. And preparation is your second key element to a healthy carefree lawn.
Whether you're planting new or repairing a damaged lawn, when all conditions are just right, the new grass sprouts or sod will root and fill in quickly with little or no stress. Skip this step and you could end up right where you started.
Turf And Lawn Grasses By Type
Bahia
Bahia is a warm season grass that doesn't survive well in colder temperatures. It is fairly drought resistant and will grow in sun or shade.
Bentgrass
Bentgrass is most commonly used in sports fields and golf courses, especially in the southern regions where the higher heat and lower moisture levels make this already demanding grass that much harder to maintain. In the cooler, moister northern regions, however, it is also sometimes used in lawns.
Bermuda
Considered a warm weather, traffic resistent, sun loving landscape turf. It is very invasive and easily finds its way into even bordered flower beds. Not usually the best grass for landscaping ideas with flower beds and shallow borders.
Bluegrass
Bluegrass is one of the most popular types of grass used for lawns, athletic fields, parks, and other high traffic areas in cool season regions. This is thanks to its rich coloring, thick coverage, and its high resistance to damage from impact.
Buffalo Grass
This species needs very little water to thrive which make it a common choice for xeriscaping and low water use landscaping. As a general rule of thumb, about 1 inch of water a week is good enough to keep your lawn green, though it can survive with even less. It needs a lot of sunlight to thrive and doesn't tolerate shade well.
Carpetgrass
This grass type grows best in wet soil areas, leading it to be very useful in and around drainage ditches, for erosion control projects, as well as for lawns, parks, and other low maintenance areas. It handles traffic much better than most grass types in wet-soil conditions.
Centipedegrass
While this grass can be used for a variety of purposes, such as lawns, parks, and commercial areas, it should be noted that it doesn't handle heavy traffic well. It is slow to repair damage. Thus, if you are planning on planting in a high traffic area, it is best to consider a different type of grass.
Fescue
This grass does well in low-light, high-traffic situations, which makes it perfect for many different purposes, ranging from personal lawns to playgrounds and sports fields.
Ryegrass
This is one of the most impact resistant grasses around, leading it to be used for athletic feilds, parks, and golf courses as well as for homeowner's lawns. While it doesn't tolerate shade or drought well, its ability to grow and "green up" fast make it useful for many different purposes.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine lawn grass grows in warm, coastal areas best. This includes the areas near the Gulf of Mexico as well as from mid-California down. While it can handle a moderate amount of traffic, it is generally suggested for use in relatively low-impact areas.
Zoysia
This type of grass is very salt tolerant and can handle wear better than most turfgrasses. On the other hand, its slow rate of growth means that it recovers from damage very slowly. Thus, it is best to use in areas that might receive heavy traffic, but not concentrated in a single area.
