Lawn grasses are the perfect plants for a small home lawn. With short growth times and easy maintenance, they’re the ideal choice for busy families who want to get their lawn done quickly. However, there are many types of lawn grass available. Here in this article, I will discuss the top ten types of lawn grass that are best suited for your lawn.
Most Popular Types of Lawn Grass You May Need for Your Lawn
Lawn grasses come in a range of different shapes and sizes. But one thing they all have in common is that they require minimal water and fertilizer to maintain. So, if you’re looking for lawn grass that can take outdoor living, look no further. Here are ten types of lawn grass that are long-lived, according to experts:
Bermuda Grass
This grass, also known as wiregrass, is commonly used in yards and gardens throughout the world because it tolerates many weather conditions and can even thrive in cold climates. Bermuda grass typically grows 4 to 16 inches tall and loves to be moist. They’re mainly famous for their delicate texture and excellent color, making them perfect for the high-quality lawn. On the other hand, this species has a low tolerance for numerous insects and diseases. Also, it grows too much quickly and struggles in the shade. You should think about these disadvantages before choosing this item for your lawn. Reel mower type is the best for mowing Bermuda grass.
Kentucky Bluegrass
This grass is known for its dark green color high density and is often used as ground cover for controlling erosion on sports fields and campuses. It typically grows 18 to 24 inches tall. It’s a cool-season lawn grass that you should plant and do maintenance during early fall because cool-season KBG growth is at its peak. Kentucky bluegrass has a high tolerance for heat and humidity, and it can adapt and survive under these extreme conditions. But the main drawback of this grass is that it consumes high water users in summer and has a shorter root structure than other grasses. Without adequate irrigation or sufficient rainfall in July and also if they are planted under heavy shade, Kentucky bluegrass will perish quickly. You can use a push reel mower for cutting this grass too.
Centipede
Centipede grows slowly and has a medium texture, with a yellow-green tint making it a good choice for residential lawns. It can grow to 5 inches long. Centipede grass’ capacity to thrive in poor soils and minimal care requirements makes it special for many homes in warm climates. Late spring through early summer is a suitable time to plant this grass. The con is that This species has an inferior growth rate. Besides, Centipede grass cannot grow in freezing conditions and might be irreparably harmed. If the soil does not drain correctly, centipede grass will suffer from fungus. A rotary mower is the most suitable one for mowing centipede grass on your lawn.
Floratam
It is relatively typical in American residences to have Floratam on their lawns. It is sterile and has coarse-textured, dark-green ingredients. A thick, durable, and lush-looking lawn can be produced by this grass. In the winter, it falls dormant and loses its color, but it swiftly returns to its original green hue in the spring. It is well-known for its salt resistance, and it is often seen growing by the seaside as a result. The disadvantage of this grass is that It has a poor cold and shadow tolerance as compared to other species, and it needs a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight every day. So, you have to consider these facts before cultivating this grass. Floratam grasses can be mowed with a Rotary mower properly.
Zoysia
Zoysia grass is hardy, and it can produce a lovely, thick lawn with little effort on your part, requiring minimal maintenance. Zoysia can grow up to 6-12 inches long. Widely Known for its capacity to withstand heat, drought, high foot traffic, and a number of other problems, this grass is a popular choice for lawns. Zoysia should be cultivated in the time between late autumn to early summer. The common drawbacks of this grass are that the color of it changes from green to brown in the middle of fall and may not return to green until late April. Zoysia may not be the ideal option to cultivate for lawns where year-round color is essential. Usually, tough-bladed reel mowers are used for this grass.
Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is dark green-colored lawn grass.It is a cool-season lawn grass that can resist higher temperatures than other cool-season grasses. This grass can grow up to 48 inches per year. This grass is widely popular for its distinctive growth behavior and heat resistance. You can keep the vivid color even in the winter if properly maintained. Late summer to early fall is the exact time to plant this grass. The con of this seed is that pests and illnesses may invade your grass in rainy circumstances. A proper drainage system must be maintained at that time. For mowing fescue, we recommend you use Adjustable height mowers for best output.
Buffalo Grass
Buffalo grass is natural grass that may also be used for lawns. This soft, gray-green grass is commonly seen between eight to ten inches, whereas the leaves may grow up to 12 inches. It has a high resistance to drought, cold regions, and high traffic volumes, among other things. As a result of its small height, it requires less mowing, provides good ecological benefits, and has a thick sod that helps to anchor soil for erosion management. Furthermore, it requires less maintenance and is as robust as turfgrass. You can plant this grass during Spring and Summer months. However, there’s a drawback too that you need to know before cultivating. This grass needs a dry climate to grow and keep the proper color of its leaves. Also, sometimes they are too small to mow. To mow this grass, you can use a Cylinder Lawn Mower.
Bentgrass
Bentgrass is an excellent species of grass for your lawn. It is one of the widely known and most planted grasses. It can grow 20 to 50 cm in height. The short roots and delicate blue-green leaves of the thick mat it generates distinguish it from other grasses.This nature makes it a beautiful and hardy turfgrass that can survive heavy foot activity and regular mowing. The primary disadvantage of Bentgrass is that it grows fast and needs specialized maintenance to achieve optimal development, making it incompatible with other species. Reel mowers usually mow bentgrass for the best look.
Bahia Grass
This dark green-colored grass can be an amazing option for your lawn. Bahiagrass can grow 8-30 inches tall if it remains untouched. They are highly drought and heat tolerant. This grass is mainly popular for its vibrant color and high tolerance to extreme weather. The spring and early summer is the proper time to plant this grass on your lawn. The disadvantages of this grass are its coarse texture and poor performance in acidic soils. Use a rotary mower to shape them properly.
Ryegrass
It is a well-adapted species of grass that can give a fantastic look to your lawn. This dark green colored grass has a nice texture. Ryegrass can grow up to 1 to 2 feet. This species is widely famous for the finest cool-season perennial pasture grass in many areas. You should plant ryegrass in spring or fall for optimum results. But it has some drawbacks too. Ryegrass grows in clumps unless they are over-seeded frequently, and older plants are not cold tolerant and might die in the winter. A push lawn mower is suitable to mow ryegrasses.
How long does lawn grass live?
The typical types of lawn grasses have a lifespan of about 3-7 years before dying. But each blade of grass has a lifespan of 40-50 days on average. However, the lifespan of lawn grass is a result of the nutrients it takes in. grass is grown with essential nutrients because they are necessary for its life. Climatic factors also play a role in determining this.
Which grass is the best for your lawn?
There are many different grasses that can be used for lawns, depending on the climate. For instance, if you live in a cold climatic area, you might want to consider using grass that grows quickly, such as rye or barley grass. If you live in a warm climatic area, you might want to consider using grass that is perennial, such as switchgrass or ryegrass.
But if I take your lawn as an average case, I would suggest you cultivate cool-season grasses like tall fescue and bluegrass. Fescue is stronger than other cool-season grasses and can tolerate adverse weather. Also, its color is liked by people in many areas. That is why it is often considered the best grass for the lawn.
How much grass seed per acre lawn?
Lawn grass can vary in how much grass seed they will require to maintain their lawn. Generally speaking, high-quality lawn grass will require 3-5 pounds of seed per square foot, while low-quality lawn grass will only require 1-2 pounds of seed per square foot. If we calculate that in acres and take it as an average case, you would need 250-270 pounds of seed to plant in per acre lawn.
Conclusion
There are plenty of options you can choose from as your lawn grass. But I tried to portray the best ones in general. While selecting an option, try to evaluate its pros and cons and then select the one that matches your preference. Hop this whole discussion was helpful, and you have a green, vibrant and soothing lawn!