Bahia Grass

Bahia grass is a medium green, course-textured lawn grass of the southeast. It spreads by creeping rhizomes. It is not cold hardy.

How to grow: Bahia grass grows best in the humid southern coastal areas. in a light, sandy, infertile soil. Grow Bahia grass from seed in full sun to partial shade. Fertilize in the spring with four to six pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. It is an aggressively spreading grass that has an extivsive root system. It is good for erosion control and low maintenance lawns. Bahia grass has good wear tolerance. seed stalks are tall and fast growing, requiring frequent mowings. Mow to 3 inches.

Related Varieties: ‘Argentine,’ the most commonly grown variety, is less coarse textured and forms a thicker mat. ‘Pensacola’ is medium textured and establishes quickly.

Bermudagrass

Bermuda grass is a warm season grass that forms a dense mat, and spreads by rhizomes. This turf grass is grown in the south and southwest. It likes heat and is easy to grow in most soils. Bermuda grass tolerates wear and can withstand drought conditions. Bermuda grass is a high maintenance turf that grows vigorously in warm weather but turns brown in the winter if the temperature drops below 50 degrees.

How to grow: Bermuda grass grows well in most soils but must have full sun. Plant sprigs or plugs of named varieties purchased from a reputable nursery or sod producer. Bermuda grass from seed is unreliable and will produce an inferior lawn. Bermuda grass must be planted during the warm growing season for it to become established before winter dormancy begins. Fertilize during the growing season when growth is active. Fertilize with one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet in early spring, late spring and midsummer. Bermuda grass is susceptible to insects and diseases. Mow to ½ to 1 inch.

Related Varieties: ‘Mildron’ is medium textured, dark green, and cold tolerant. ‘Ormond’ is medium fine testured, with bluish green tint; thatch buildup is slower. ‘Tiflawn’ is medium fine textured, bright green, and with a high tolerance to foot traffic. It is often used on playing fields.

Buffalograss

Buffalograss is a warm season turf grass grown mostly in the great plains and the southern rockies. It is a fine textured, low growing grass with curly leaf blades that grows into dense sod by spreading stolons. It is used for lawns and banks in dry areas.

How to grow: Plant Buffalograss in full sun where the soil is dry. It will thrive in the alkaline soils of the west. Buffalograss resists wear from foot traffic and is commonly used for non-irrigated lawns. Fertilize in the spring with 1 ½ to 2 ½ pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet, repeat the application in the summer. It grows slowly and should be mowed to a height of ½ to 1 ½ inches. Plant Buffalograss from seeds, sprigs, or plugs.

Centipede Grass

Centipede grass is a spreading, warm season turf grass in the Deep South and Florida. It is medium course and slow growing, forming a dense mat. It is light green in color.

How to grow: Centipede grass grows in full sun, but is tolerant of partial shade. Use it for a low maintenance lawn where foot traffic is limited; it cannot tolerate wear. This grass is adapted to soil with low fertility and an acid pH. Plant centipede grass from sprigs for rapid establishment. It can also be grown from seed but is slow to develop and may take two years to form a dense mat. Fertilize in the spring with two pounds on nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Water centipede grass regularly; its shallow root system makes centipede grass sensitive to drought conditions. Mow to 2 inches.

Related Varieties: ‘Oaklawn’ is a named variety available from sprigs.

Creeping Bentgrass

Creeping bentgrass is a cool season and transition zone turf that grows best from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest and in the Northeast. It is fine textured, high maintenance turf that is used for golf putting greens. The plant spreads by creeping stolons. Creeping bentgrass will not generally survive heavy foot traffic.

How to grow: Plant creeping bentgrass in climates that are cool and humid. It does best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Creeping bentgrass may be propagated by seed, but named varieties are propagated by plugs. Sow seeds or plant plugs in well drained, fertile, acid soil. Fertilize in spring and again in summer with two pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Keep the soil well watered during dry conditions. Creeping bentgrass needs a low mowing height, from ¼ inch to 1 inch; otherwise, thatch will build up quickly. Creeping bentgrass is susceptible to several turf diseases.

Related Varieties: ‘Emerald’ is dark green and heat tolerant. ‘Arlington,’ a fine textured medium green, is tolerant of drought conditions and foot traffic. ‘Pencross’ is medium green, heavier textured than other varieties and adapts to foot traffic.

Japanese Lawngrass

Japanese lawngrass is a fine textured warm season grass that spreads by rhizomes and stolons. It grows best in the transition zone and the South. It forms a dense, low growing, lawn of high quality. Its relatively pest free, and when established it is resistant to weeds.

How to grow: Grow Zoysia grass in full sun to partial shade where summers are long and hot. The soil should be well drained and fertile. Zotsia grass is slow to become established. Plant plugs or sod in the spring to allow for development before the onset of winter. It is a heavy feeder during the warm season. Fertilize with one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet in spring, midsummer, and early fall. Since the leaves of Zoysia are wiry, mow regularly, remove grass clippings from the lawn since thatch builds up quickly. Mow from ½ to 1 ½ inches. Zotsia is tolerant of wear during the growing season but less so in winter when the grass goes dormant. When the temp drops below 50 degrees in winter, the grass turns brown. Overseed with annual rye to provide green winter color.

Related varieties: ‘Meyer’ is fine textured and dark green. Zoysia tenuifolia is light green and the finest textured of the Zoysias. ‘Emerald,’ a hybrid, is fine textured and medium dark green.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky bluegeass is a cool season turf grass that grow in the northern regions. It spreads by rhizomes and a dense, medium textured, medium green turf. A Kentucky bluegrass lawn is the standard other grasses are compared with.

How to grow: Kentucky bluegrass grows best in full sun in moist, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Some varieties are more tolerant of partial shade conditions. Plant Kentucky bluegrass from seed. Fertilize annually with two to four pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Mow from 1 to 2 inches.

Related varieties: ‘Aldelphi’ is dark green, medium textured, and resistant to disease. ‘Baron,’ a heavy feeder, is dark green, medium texture and disease resistant. ‘Fylking’ is dark green with a finer texture, it can be mown to 1 ½ inches. ‘Merion,’ disease resistant and tolerant of heat, forms a dense mat of medium textured dark green turf. ‘Touchdown’ is dense, medium dark green with fine texture. It tolerates low mowing and is resistant to disease. Rough bluegrass Poa trivialis, is fine textured, light green, tolerates shade and spreads by Rhizomes.

Creeping Red Fescue

Creeping red fescue, also called fine fescue, is a densely clustered, fine textured, medium to dark green turf grass that spreads by creeping. It grows well in shaded areas and is tolerant of drought. It is often mixed with bluegrass or turf type fescue blends. Grow creeping red fescue in the North and transition zone.

How to grow: Grow creeping red fescue in shaded areas where drought conditions are expected. Plant creeping red fescue from seed. When it becomes established, it tolerates drought but does not tolerate heavy wear. It grows best in cool season and high altitude areas. Fertilize in the fall with two to four pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Mow to 2 inches.

Related varieties: ‘Pennlawn’ is medium dark green with fine texture and disease resistant. ‘Illahee’ is dark green, medium textured and vigorous. ‘Jamestown’ is dark green, fine textured and tolerant to low mowing. ‘Wintergreen’ keeps good winter color.

St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine grass is a warm season, coarse textured grass, best suited to the Southeast Coast and Florida. It is aggressive and spreads by branching stolons. St. Augustine grass develops into a thick, spongy mat as stolons on top of one another. It is blue green in color.

How to grow: Grow St. Augustine grass in full sun to full shade in humid climates. It is the most shade tolerant of all warm season grasses. It prefers fertile, well-drained, sandy soil and tolerant of salty conditions. It is moderately tolerant of wear. St. Augustine requires frequent watering to keep its vigor. Fertilize annually with three to six pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Mow from 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches. The grass turns brown in winter it the temps drop to 55 degrees. St. Augustine grass is started by cuttings, plant sprigs, plugs or sod in spring or early fall.

Related varieties: ‘Bitter Blue’ is medium textured and hold better color in cool weather. ‘Floratine’ is fine textured and holds good winter color. ‘Seville’ is the most shade tolerant variety.

Tall Fescue

Tall fescue is a cool season grass that grows in the North and is especially suited to the transition zone. It is a coarse textured, clumping turf that remains medium green all year. Since it is tolerant of wear and drought, tall fescue is used for play areas.

How to grow: Tall fescue prefers fertile, moist, slightly acid soil and a location in full sun or partial shade. Soil should be moderately well drained, but tall fescue can tolerate wet soils. Plant seed in the fall or early spring so turf becomes established before hot weather. Sow seed heavily; tall fescue has wide blades and tends to clump. It is one of the most drought tolerant and wear resistant turf varieties for cool seasons. Use tall fescue from the transition zone and north for playing fields and lawns with heavy traffic. Fertilize in the fall with four to six pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Mow from 2 to 2 ½ inches.

Related varieties: ‘Alta’ is medium green and coarse textured. ‘Kentucky 31’ is the standard tall fescue variety. It is coarse, medium green and tolerant of drought and wear. ‘Kentucky 31’ is rapidly being replaced by turf type fescues. Turf type fescues are dense, dark green, and resistant to many turf diseases. Good varieties include: ‘Falcon,’ Which is medium textured, slow and low growing, and shade tolerant, and ‘Jaguar,’ which is dark green and shade tolerant.