Characteristics and Growth Requirements of Grass Types
In many of the articles on this site, we frequently mention that in order to best care for your grass, you need to know what species it is, and the unique care requirements for that type of lawn grass. While characteristics of care are mostly similar for several grass types, each grass has its own mowing requirements and feeding requirements. Water use varies by species and climate.Zoysia Grass Types
Preferred climate: does best in warmer, humid areas in the southern United States. Some cultivars are more cold or shade tolerant than others. Nutrient Requirements: Uses three to five pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 feet during the growing season. Water Requirements: Drought tolerant once established. Mowing Height: Depends upon the cultivar; generally happiest between ¾ and 1 ½ inches Other: Very slow growing. If you want to plant a lawn from Zoysia, it is best to use sod. Will establish via plugs, but will not reach optimum coverage for one year using this method.Bluegrass
Preferred climate: A cool season type of lawn grass that grows best between 60-70 degrees, Fahrenheit. Nutrient Requirements: Needs 5-6 pounds of nitrogen per year during establishment. After it is well-established, can live on 2-3 pounds per 1,000 square feet per year. Water Requirements: Needs the most water during the spring and fall when it is actively growing. Growth will slow dramatically during the summer. Mowing Height: Does best with a mowing height of between 2 ½ to 3 inches. Other: This grass is an annual grass that re-seeds prolifically. It continuously forms new rhizomes (modified stems), which is another way that the grass spreads and grows.Bermudagrass
Preferred climate: This type of lawn grass prefers a warm climate. It is very cold sensitive. It will actively (though that is a somewhat subjective term) grow in temperatures down to 34 degrees Fahrenheit, but beyond that, the grass grows dormant. It needs full sun to grow well. Bermudagrass is not at all shade tolerant. Nutrient Requirements: A heavy feeder, this grass type can use regular applications of nitrogen throughout the growing season. Water Requirements: Bermuda is not a picky turf, though it will go dormant or become susceptible to insect problems if it becomes overly dry. Mowing Height: Depending upon the cultivar, Bermudagrass is happiest when mown at a height of between ¾ and 1 inch. This turf needs to be mown very short. Other: Bermuda is used for so many different things-athletic fields, golf courses, and ball fields because it can take heavy foot traffic, and will recover well from it. It is a very aggressive turf, so it is best not to plant this turf on the border with another. Because of its aggressive growth habit, this grass is good for erosion prone areas and for bank stabilization. It spreads via running stems, and is best established via sod.St Augustine
Preferred climate: St Augustine grass is a warm season perennial grass type that is originally native to Mexico. It prefers humid climates, so it can grow as far north as the coastal Carolinas in the southern United States. It does not do well in overly dry conditions. Nutrient Requirements: St Augustine grass does not need a lot of heavy feeding, but it does respond well to nitrogen feedings, and will "green up" and grow lavishly after being fed. Water Requirements: Needs at least one inch of water per week. It can survive in cooler climates if they are humid with adequate rainfall. Mowing Height: Performs best at a height of 2 to 2 ½ inches. Mowing goes a long way toward promoting good growth habits with this grass type. Other: It is considered a good pasture grass, but because it does not do well in dry conditions, it has yet to become very widely used outside of southern coastal regions.Factors to Consider when Selecting Lawn Grass Types
The health of your lawn depends greatly on your ability to care for the grass adequately. It is much easier to care for grass that is happy in its location-well suited to its location-than to try to continually change the current growing conditions. Homeowners should carefully consider the following when selecting a lawn grass: drainage condition of soil, organic matter content, yearly climate and temperature fluctuations, and the amount of sun or shade the grass will receive. Water availability is also a consideration. Planting a type of grass that will do well within the current growing conditions will go a long way toward ensuring lawn health without constant soil maintenance.
8552793162
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