How to Choose a Lawn Grass

Choosing the right grass for your new lawn ensures that it will be beautiful, healthy and easy to take care of for years to come.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garden Rakes
• Grass Seeds
• Lawn Aerator
• Lawn Fertilizers
• Seed-starting Medium

1. Select cool-season grasses such as bluegrass, tall fescue or perennial ryegrass if you live in an area that has cold winters and mild summers. Cool-season grasses are hardy and grow vigorously in the cool months of spring and fall.

2. Select warm-season grasses such as Bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass or zoysiagrass if you live in an area where summers are hot and winters are mild. Warm-season grasses are less hardy, grow vigorously during the hot months of summer and turn brown in winter.

3. Choose locally adapted pest-resistant varieties, blends of varieties or mixtures of grass types. Your local nursery can help you choose.

4. Select cool-season fescues or warm-season St. Augustinegrass or zoysiagrass for shady spots.

5. Plant Bermudagrass, buffalograss or tall fescue in dry summer areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Most warm-season grasses are stiff and wiry, requiring a power-driven reel lawn mower to keep them looking their best.
• Overseed warm-season grasses in fall with cool-season grasses to keep the lawn green in winter.
• Zoysiagrass and buffalograss are the hardiest warm-season grasses.