Lawns have been coming under attack as of late — after all they are high-maintenance, chemically dependent thirst mongers, right? Yes and no. Much depends on which kind of grass you choose, and if you opt for the “wrong” kind for your region, you’re in for high water bills, a lot of mowing and an unhealthy landscape atmosphere. And while a lot of men and women wish to reduce the size of or even eliminate their yards, some live in neighborhoods where taking out the front lawn is prohibited.
One way to solve the lawn issue lies in choosing the best type of lawn for your region. It’s not straightforward. There’s not any one-size-fits-all grass that will do nicely everywhere, so it’s best to consult with the extension office in the county to get recommendations. That said, here are a few options.
Breckenridge Design, Construction & Maintenance
Ask yourself what your objectives are for your lawn before you begin. For instance:
Do you want to water? Do you hate mowing? Does your grass have to stand up to lots of foot traffic? Do you have a great deal of shade? Do you want to minimize chemicals? Fine-tuning your answers to these questions can help you choose the best grass kind for your landscape. Always take into account your area’s challenges — high or low rain, high warmth, harsh winters or rocky soil should advise your turfgrass alternative.
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Grass Forms
St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum, USDA zones 8 to 10; find your zone).This bud has a coarse texture and is adapted to moist, coastal areas with mild winter temperatures. Additionally, it is adapted to a wide assortment of soil types, does fairly well in moderate shade and offers great coverage with minimal mowing. St. Augustine is a “rug” grass that creates a fantastic low-profile lawn with high heat tolerance. It’s native to the Gulf Coast areas, West Indies and Western Africa.
St. Augustine does not handle large foot traffic nicely and is not recommended for areas with drought issues.
Suggested forms: Floratam, Raleigh,Seville
Falling Waters Landscape
Buffalo bud (Bouteloua dactyloides, zones 4 to 9 and up).If you live in an area with intense heat and protracted drought, have a look at deep marijuana. This warm-season perennial grass thrives in the absence of irrigation and fertilization, demands very little mowing and is ideal for those wanting a low-maintenance native or meadow appearance. It will grow up to 10 feet tall if left unmowed, but can be kept at a height of 2-3 inches. Buffalo grass is native to the Great Plains and respond broadly to other warm climates.
It does not stand up well in shady areas or to excessive foot traffic.
Suggested forms:Bison, Bowie, Cody, Plains
Botanica Atlanta | Landscape Design-Build-Maintain
Zoysia (Zoysia spp, zones 6 to 9).This warm-season perennial grass can have either coarse or fine texture, and is adapted to a wide assortment of soils. In southern climates it works fairly well in semishaded areas, but the further north you go, it is going to require more sun. It’s an extremely drought-tolerant bud, and although it is going to turn straw colored during acute drought conditions, it is going to respond very favorably to following irrigation. This bud has excellent wear tolerance, making it ideal for lawns, golf courses and play areas.
Because of the slow growth rate, zoysia has poor recuperative potential when it’s been ruined or overused. It’s best to resod damaged stains.
Suggested varieties: Belair, El Toro, Emerald, Meyer
Zeterre Landscape Architecture
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea, sets 2 to 7).Although it grows best in moist environments, tall fescue actually has good drought tolerance. It grows quite well in those “transition” areas of the United States, where it’s too hot and humid for cool-season grasses, nevertheless too trendy for warm-season grasses. It is adapted to a lot of soil types but prefers well-drained clay lands, and it does fairly well in more arctic conditions. Though not native to the United States, it is well adapted and widely found in low-lying pasture areas of the Pacific Northwest and South.
Tall fescue should not be used in areas that need grass to be mowed to less than 11/2 inches during the summer.
Suggested forms: Alta, Kentucky-31
Chuck B. Edwards – Breckon Land Design
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis, zones 2 to 7). Bluegrass is a cool-season bud that grows well in the fall, spring and winter but will go dormant in summer time. This bud is native to North America, Asia and Europe, and it’s moderate wear tolerance and shade tolerance; it can take some mild abuse and rebound fairly quickly. It should be said, however, that there are a number of different varieties of bluegrass with varying degrees of drought tolerance and mowing demands. One of the principal characteristics that makes bluegrass such a popular choice is the fact that it is adapted to a very wide variety of uses: lawns, play areas, golf courses, sports fields etc..
Kentucky bluegrass will not perform in areas of deeper shade, and will require regular pruning to appear its best.
Suggested forms:Kimono, Monopoly, Parade, Vanessa
Strategies for developing a gorgeous lawn:
Newer varieties of old favorites are often more resistant to infections and pests.Cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass) do best in Northern climates, whereas warm-season grasses (St. Augustine, zoysia) fare better in Southern climates.A grass variety advocated for one area of the nation could be discouraged for use in a different area.Take that opportunity to prepare the soil properly before installing your grass.Know in case a chosen grass form is best initiated by sod bits or by seed, and what time of year is best to get the lawn started in your region. Generally, seed ought to be sown either in spring or fall; sod can be put year-round if you live in a Southern climate. Consider a blend of grasses to promote a healthful, disease-resistant ecosystem.Strongly consider using your area’s native grass kind — it will be obviously adapted to your specific growing requirements.