Types of Grass

Cool season grasses include the Rye and Fescue varieties as well as Bentgrasses. These types of grass  are well suited to the north of an imaginary line from central Virginia across the country to southern California, although there is a fairly broad transition area on either side of that line where either warm of cool season grasses may thrive. The warm season grasses include the Bermuda, Zoysia, and Buffalo grasses. Here also a fairly wide transition line exists that is impacted by a number of local climatic conditions.

Cool season grasses are commonly established through the use of seed whereas the warmer season grasses are more often established through the use of plugs, sod or sprigs. Warmer season grasses experience browning periods when they become dormant due to cool temperatures whereas cool season grasses will maintain their green color throughout the year.

Air temperature, soil temperature, moisture and soil type are the major determinants for the type of grass that can be successfully cultivated in a particular region of the country. The cool season grasses experience optimum growth when soil temperatures are between 50° and 65°F and air temperatures are between 60° and 75°F. The warmer season grasses experience their best growing periods when soil temperatures are between 70° and 90°F and air temperatures are between 80° and 95 °F. One can easily see that these air and soil temperature ranges exist in most of the United States so one has to examine the local grasses that are thriving in a particular region to judge what might be best for their purposes. Areas affected often by drought might do well to pick a warmer season grass and if drought is not a problem then a cooler season grass might be more appropriate.

Since the warmer season grasses may experience browning when exposed to cool temperatures that may be a fact that influences a decision on the type of grass to grow. For those that wish to maintain a green lawn throughout the year, an alternative is to plant annual rye during the dormant periods of the warm season grasses. Annual Rye seeds and grows relatively easily and will gradually disappear as the temperatures begin to rise and the warms season grasses begin to spring to life.

Before selecting a grass for any particular area it is important to evaluate the characteristics for each seasonal grass and compare that to the climate in the region where it will be grown. As with all things in life there are advantages and disadvantages for each type of lawn.

Articles on the Different Types of Grass

Bermuda Grass
Fescue Grass
Rye Grass
Zoysia Grass
St Augustine Grass
Bahia Grass
Buffalo Grass