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 your idea of an ideal lawn is one that requires little watering, infrequent mowing and flourishes as the temps soar you're going to need to do your homework. Recognizing too that there is no perfect turfgrass to be had.
To help with that here's a brief rundown on the five warm season grasses felt to be worthy of consideration. That list would include Zoysia, St. Augustine, Bahia, Centipede, and Bermuda - in no particular order. Each has it's own pluses and minuses.
If you want a fast, dense growing grass that does well regardless of the quality of soil then St Augustine might be the one for you. But before you run out to buy some seed you need to know you can only establish a St Augustine lawn from sod or plugs. It's also a thirsty variety that surprisingly isn't all that drought tolerant either. Others are not taken with its Astro Turf like appearance either.
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.
If cold hardy is a concern, Zoysia is your grass. Yes it is a slower grower than Bermuda and only has an average ability to grow in shade. But being thick and dense it easily thwarts weeds. Zoysia is typically established using sprigs or plugs. Given that don't expect a plush green yard over night. It's biggest drawback, if you consider it that, is its need to be more fairly frequently.
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. - 31813
No, if your idea of an ideal lawn is one that requires little watering, infrequent mowing and flourishes as the temps soar you're going to need to do your homework. Recognizing too that there is no perfect turfgrass to be had.
To help with that here's a brief rundown on the five warm season grasses felt to be worthy of consideration. That list would include Zoysia, St. Augustine, Bahia, Centipede, and Bermuda - in no particular order. Each has it's own pluses and minuses.
If you want a fast, dense growing grass that does well regardless of the quality of soil then St Augustine might be the one for you. But before you run out to buy some seed you need to know you can only establish a St Augustine lawn from sod or plugs. It's also a thirsty variety that surprisingly isn't all that drought tolerant either. Others are not taken with its Astro Turf like appearance either.
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.
If cold hardy is a concern, Zoysia is your grass. Yes it is a slower grower than Bermuda and only has an average ability to grow in shade. But being thick and dense it easily thwarts weeds. Zoysia is typically established using sprigs or plugs. Given that don't expect a plush green yard over night. It's biggest drawback, if you consider it that, is its need to be more fairly frequently.
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. - 31813
About the Author:
Dewey J Capasso is a lawnologist who can answer how do you kill lawn grubs with chemicals or organic methods. Or any other lawn care questions for that matter. So for any one looking to find out more about zoysia grass, or needs help selecting riding mowers, or just likes reading tips on lawn care the ideas you need await at MowerMania.com.
