The Perfect Warm Season Grasses
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As you probably know there’s not a lot to growing grass. Or so it would seem. But that’s not so say it’s super simple either. Or that you justy need to pick up a bag of grass seed, scatter it about and then sit back as a well manicured lawn sprouts up.
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.
There are five candidates to strongly consider. They would be Bahia, Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine, and Zoysia. Let’s take a quick look at what each has to offer.
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.
Okay so perhaps a turf grass that can be started from seed would be more like it. Then set your sights on Bahia grass. This is a low maintenance variety that can often get by on rain water only. Not to mention it is quite drought resistant and bounces back green and all in no time once the rains return. It doesn’t often fall prey to insects or diseases either. Some don’t like how it looks or the fact that it require frequent mowing. And don’t go planting Bahia in the shade and expect it to do well either.
Centipede is a slow growing, low maintenance, warm season grass. This yellow green turfgrass is know for high drought tolerance along with average tolerance for shade and acidic soils. It does it’s best in full sun. Can be established by seed or sod, Centipede grass takes cold well and requires less mowing than most strains. But it does not stand up well to extremely heavy foot traffic.
Now given its poor tolerance of shade Bermuda grass needs full sun to shine. Still it’s a widely grown warm-season turf-grass. Being an aggressive and invasive by nature you’ll also find common Bermuda can easily take over nearby flower beds. But it is drought and cold tolerant and free of most major disease issues.
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.
Your lawn is a beautiful and integral part of your home’s landscape. Getting a heat-and drought-tolerant yard with warm season turf grass is not all that tough. As long as you know how much time and money you want to devote to the project you can pick a strain of grass that fits the bill.
Writer and lifelong lawn lover Dewey J Capasso can explain how to get rid of grubs in your lawn. He can also detail a zyosia grass feeding schedule that will produce a lush green spread. For more on mower selection, weed extermination, or controlling moles visit MowerMania.com.
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