Lawn Grasses for Beginners
Many new lawn owners will already have an established grass. If you don't know what type of grass is growing, ask the neighbors or take a sprig to the local extension service office, listed under US Government in the phone book.
When starting from bare soil, it might be best to get a soil test and find out the soil's characteristics.
Then you can then consider what improvements you might want to make. The soil should be reasonably level without holes, free of any rocks bigger than an egg, and have no weeds. If the yard slopes, the slope whould be contoured so that the slope is even. Compost and fertilizer can be added to the soil to provide the mineral food the lawn will need. Top soil can be purchased by the truckload and added where the natural soil is very poor or missing due to erosion or construction (hire a contractor to spread large amounts).
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You can then consider what type of grass is best for the lawn.
The first decision is what type of grass is best in your area. In North America, grasses are generally divided between cool region grasses and warm region grasses.
Each grass performs better or worse depending on the average temperature range during the growing season and its preference for specific climatic conditions such as dry, wet, or coastal. Growing grass requires a great deal of sunlight. If you have shady areas, you will need to consider shade grasses, grasses that will grow better with less sun or an alternative to grass, such as groundcovers. Some grasses also require more maintainance such as watering and fertilizing, and some bear foot traffic better.
Best in Hot Climates
Bahia Grass: (warm season) is low-growing, requiring less maintenance, has a coarse texture, thick enough to discourage weeds.
Bermuda Grass: (warm season) fine texture that tolerates foot traffic and spreads aggressively both above and below ground. Vigorous and tolerates drought. Turns brown in winter and goes semi-dormant in hot, dry weather. Does not do well in shade and tends to build up thatch, a layer of dead grass on the surface. Standout varieties include: Cheyenne, Patriot, Tifgreen, and Tifway II.
Seashore Paspalum: (warm season) tolerates sandy soil, salt, and wet conditions. Holds up to drought and tolerates foot traffic.
St. Augustine Grass: (warm season) tough, vigorous, thick, weed-blocking. Grown along the US Gulf Coast. Tolerates some shade, but requires frequent watering, mowing and fertilizing. Standout varieties include Better Blue, Delmar, Raleigh, and Seville.
Zoysia grass: (warm season/transition zone) slow-growing and very slow to become established, dense grass, drought tolerant. Does better with frequent watering. Builds up thatch. Standout varieties include: El Toro, Emerald, and Meyer.
Best for Shady Areas
Fine-leaf Fescue: (cool season) does not tolerate foot traffic well, drought resistant, somewhat shade tolerant. Some varieties are disease resistant (Aurora)
Tall Fescue: (transition zone) low maintenance that tolerates drought conditions and can stand light foot traffic.
Bahia Grass: (warm season) is low-growing, requiring less maintenance, has a coarse texture, makes a thick turf that is weed resistant.
St. Augustine Grass: (warm season) tough, vigorous, thick, weed-blocking. Tolerates some shade, but requires frequent watering, mowing and fertilizing. Standout varieties include Better Blue, Delmar, Raleigh, and Seville.
Best in cold climates
Fine-leaf Fescue: (cool season) does not tolerate traffic, drought resistant, shade tolerant. Some varieties are disease resistant (Aurora)
Kentucky Bluegrass: (cool season) most common cool season grass and the hardiest for cold weather. Very fine texture, fills in bare spots quickly, requires more mowing, does not do well in shady areas and does not tolerate salt. Used on golf course greens. Standout varieties include Adelphi, Award, Baron, Midnight, Nu Destiny and Touchdown.
Best for drought resistance
Tall Fescue: (transition zone) low maintenance that offers good drought resistance and better tolerates light traffic. Standout varieties include Arid and Jaguar 3.
Bahia Grass: (warm season) is low-growing, requiring less maintenance, has a coarse texture, makes a thick turf that fends off weeds.
Bermuda Grass: (warm season) fine texture that tolerates traffic. Vigorous and tolerates drought and salt. Does not do well in shade and tends to build up thatch. Standout varieties include: Cheyenne, Patriot, Tifgreen, and Tifway II.
Buffalo grass: (warm season) one of the few native North American grasses, is drought tolerant, but doesn't hold up to traffic. Turns brown when it gets hot and when it gets cold. Grows slowly in very sparse tufts that leaves bare spaces, only desirable where other lawn grasses are not practical.
Seashore Paspalum: (warm season) tolerates sandy soil, salt, and wet conditions. Holds up to drought and tolerates traffic.
Zoysia grass: (warm season/transition zone) slow-growing, dense grass, drought tolerant. Does better with frequent watering. Builds up thatch. Standout varieties include: El Toro, Emerald, and Meyer.
Best in high-use/traffic areas
Perennial Ryegrass: (cool season and over seeding in warm season areas) medium texture, handles traffic, handles drought conditions without a lot of additional watering or fertilizer. Does not do well in shade. Mixes well with other grass types.
Kentucky Bluegrass: (cool season) most common cool season grass and the hardiest for cold weather. Fine texture, fills in bare spots quickly, requires more mowing, does not do well in shady areas and does not tolerate salt. Standout varieties include Adelphi, Award, Baron, Midnight, Nu Destiny and Touchdown.
Bermuda Grass: (warm season) fine texture that tolerates traffic. Vigorous and tolerates drought and salt. Does not do well in shade and tends to build up thatch. Standout varieties include: Cheyenne, Patriot, Tifgreen, and Tifway II.
Zoysia grass: (warm season/transition zone) slow-growing, dense grass, drought tolerant. Does better with frequent watering. Builds up thatch. Standout varieties include: El Toro, Emerald, and Meyer.
Best for low-maintenance requirements
Fine-leaf Fescue: (cool season) does not tolerate traffic, drought resistant, shade tolerant. Some varieties are more disease resistant (Aurora)
Tall Fescue: (transition zone) low maintenance that offers good drought resistance and better tolerates light traffic. Standout varieties include Arid and Jaguar 3.
Bahia Grass: (warm season) is low-growing, requiring less maintenance, has a coarse texture, makes a thick turf that fends off weeds.
Buffalo grass: (warm season) one of the few native North American grasses, is drought tolerant, but doesn't hold up to traffic. Turns brown when it gets hot and when it gets cold. Grows slowly.
Centipedegrass: (warm season) coarse, fast-spreading, low growing and requires little fertilizer. Is not drought resistant and may turn brown in high heat. Outstanding varieties include Centennial, Oaklawn, and Tifblair.
You should be careful about mixing grass species. For example, Fine Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass are both recommended for cold areas, but the two don't go well together in the same lawn. Fine Fescue is a bunching grass, while Kentucky Bluegrass is a spreading-type grass. You'll end up with clumps of fine fescue growing up out of your Bluegrass lawn. Some grasses grow faster than others and will stick up creating an uneven lawn surface.