Warm season grasses, which is right for you?

The most common warm season grasses are bermuda grass seed, St. Augustine grass seed, buffalo grass seed, zoysia grass seed, and bahia grass seed.

Common Bermuda Grass Seed

This is the most popular grass in the south.

It is a great low maintenance grass that grows well in poor soil and tolerates low mowing (½ to 2 ½ inches). It is a deep rooted grass that makes it heat and drought tolerant. Common Bermuda grass is low maintenance while some hybrid Bermuda grasses are high maintenance.

This type of grass adapts best in the lower elevations of the Southwest and the area which boundaries Maryland, Florida, Texas and Kansas. It is best to plant this type of grass in the early summer.

The typical grass seed germination time is 7 to 15 days.

Characteristics

It is coarse textured and dark leaves.
It has deep roots.
It is salt tolerant.
It creates a dense lawn.
If it is left too long, it will turn yellow.
It thrives in all soil types.

Advantages

It is fast growing so it has the ability to fill in bare areas rapidly.
It can withstand wear and tear so it is great in high traffic areas.
It's ability to resist lawn diseases is very high, compared to other warm season grasses.
It can handle both low and high maintenance lawn care regiments. It should be fed 4 – 6 times per year.

Disadvantages

Bermuda grass is sensitive to cooler temperatures. It goes dormant and turns brown when the temperature is lower than 50 to 60 degrees fahrenheit.
It is not shade tolerant.
It can be very aggressive and invade areas outside the lawn such as gardens, walkways, etc.
Bermuda grass hybrids need more care than common Bermuda grass. Hybrids must be started by sprigs or plugs, not seed.
Of all the warm season grasses it requires the most nitrogen which can attract sod webworms and promote thatch build-up.

St. Augustine Grass

This is a medium to coarse grass that is thick and dense, which crowds out all other grasses.

It is the most shade tolerant of the warm season grasses.

It requires frequent mowing during the height of the summer. It should be mowed to 2 -4 inches in height to keep out the weeds and thatch.

It requires fertile soil that is well drained and full of organic matter.

It adapts well in Southern California, Hawaii as well as mild areas in the Southwest and Gulf Coast.

The best time to plant this type of grass seed is in the early summer.

Characteristics

It has broad, medium to dark green blades.
It is salt tolerant.
It is medium to coarse textured.
It moderately withstands drought conditions. It adapts best if watered weekly.
It thrives in soil with silt and sand.

Advantages

Of all the warm season grasses, it is the fastest growing.
It withstands heat well.
It is thick and dense, it also stays green longer than other warm season grasses during the extreme heat.
It is shade tolerant.

Disadvantages

It does not tolerate cool weather.
It is high maintenance (high fertilizer levels, regular watering and frequent mowing). It should be fed 4 to 5 times per year. The proper mowing height is 2 to 4 inches. The mowing height is very important to keep out weeds.
It doesn't produce an elegant looking lawn.
It's rapid growth causes thatch buildup which must regularly be removed.
It is susceptible to insect damage (chinch bugs) and disease damage.
It is not available in seed form. Must purchase sprigs or sod.

Return from warm season grasses to grass types.

Buffalo Grass

This is a fine textured and hardy grass.

This type of grass is extremely heat tolerant. It does well in heavy soil, but prefers fine textured soils.

Of all the warm season grasses, it thrives best in areas that have lower rainfall levels such as Minnesota to Montana. It is becoming popular in arid areas.

It is best when planted in early summer.

Characteristics

It is a grayish green color from late spring until the first frost. In late fall to early spring it goes dormant and turns a straw color.
It is finely textured.
It thrives in low rainfall areas.
It is popular in arid areas.
It needs plenty of sun.

Advantages

It is low maintenance. It needs little or no watering and fertilizing. It should be fed 1 to 2 times per year.
It is extremely heat tolerant.
It requires little or no mowing. It can grow to be 4 – 6 inches in height.
It is slow growing.
It does well in drought conditions.
Some varieties (available in sod or sprigs only) are good for allergy sufferers because it doesn't produce pollen.

Disadvantages

It can turn brown in extreme heat or cold weather.
It is not shade tolerant.
The seed is expensive when compared to the other warm season grasses.
It does not like wear and tear.
It doesn't produce an elegant looking lawn.

Zoysia Grass

This grass is usually referred to as the “miracle grass” of the warm season grasses.

It is a thick, dense turf that is drought resistant and can withstand high traffic areas.

It grows very slowly. In fact it can take two to three seasons to fill in properly.

Sometimes it is grown in the transition zone between warm and cooler climates.

It is best to plant this type of grass in the early summer.

The grass seed germination time for this type of grass is 15 to 30 days.

Characteristics

It's leaf is dark green and it's texture is medium.
It is heat and drought tolerant.
It can endure some shade and cool temperatures.
It requires moderate maintenance. It should be mowed at ½ to 2 inches in height and fed 3 to 5 times per year.
It can take moderate wear and tear.
It thrives in all soil types.

Advantages

It is drought resistant.
It requires little mowing.
It is a dense grass that is resistant to weeds, insects and disease.

Disadvantages

It establishes slowly, historically by planting plugs. It can take up to three seasons to fill in. The plugs are also expensive. Zoysia grass is starting to become available in a seed form which has lowered the price of this grass type.
It browns in the early fall and is slow to green-up in the Spring.
It doesn't mix well with other grasses.
It's needle like blades can be very sharp.

Look into replacing your lawn with zoysia grass. It Chokes out crabgrass and most summer weeds.

Bahia Grass

This grass type has become an inexpensive way to grow your lawn in the south.

It is a low maintenance, coarse textured and rugged grass. Because of it's low maintenance requirements it is considered the most environmentally friendly grass.

It is an aggressive growing grass that can keep out weeds as well as other grasses. This is a dense grass because of it's extensive root system. It's deep roots help prevent erosion and allow it to grow in sandy areas.

It grows well in the central coast from North Carolina to Central Florida. It is best to plant in early summer.

The grass seed germination time for this type of grass is 8 to 15 days.

Characteristics

It is salt and shade tolerant.
It is a low maintenance grass.
It has a high tolerance for drought.
It establishes quickly becoming a thick, dense grass.
Between July and September it sends out seeds from the top of the stems unless it is mowed frequently.

Advantages

It is a very durable grass.
It keeps out weeds, yet does not create thatch.
It grows well in sandy, clay, slightly acidic and infertile soils.

Disadvantages

It is a higher maintenance grass which requires frequent mowing at 2 to 4 inches in height. It should be fed 2 to 4 times per year.
It is susceptible to brown patch, dollar spot and mole crickets.
It has tough blades of grass that require mower blades to be very sharp.
The grass blades are sharp and it grows unevenly. It doesn't make a very good looking lawn.
It is susceptible to lawn damage under 20 degrees fahrenheit.
Between July and September it sends out seeds from the top of the stems unless it is mowed frequently.

Advantages

It is a very durable grass.
It keeps out weeds, yet does not create thatch.
It grows well in sandy, clay, slightly acidic and infertile soils.

Disadvantages

It is a higher maintenance grass which requires frequent mowing at 2 to 4 inches in height. It should be fed 2 to 4 times per year.
It is susceptible to brown patch, dollar spot and mole crickets.
It has tough blades of grass that require mower blades to be very sharp.
The grass blades are sharp and it grows unevenly. It doesn't make a very good looking lawn.
It is susceptible to lawn damage under 20 degrees fahrenheit.

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