Types of Yard Grass

Determine which variety of grass best fits your lawn's location and climate

By Kaye Morris

Photo by iStockphoto.com

The types and variations of grass suitable for lawns cover a large range of options. Choosing a type of grass for your lawn, however, is not as difficult as it might initially appear to be. Many grass types can be excluded immediately from your options based on your geographical location alone. Other grasses can be excluded based on durability, water requirements and sunlight requirements.

Ryegrass

Ryegrass prefers cooler weather and has trouble in the Southern regions of the United States. It is very intolerant to drought, requiring frequent watering to maintain the turf. Ryegrass has a low tolerance for shade unless planted in a Southern region where the shade lowers the temperature to a tolerable level for the grass. Ryegrass is very durable and good for high-traffic areas.

Bermuda

Bermuda is a warm-season grass that goes dormant in temperatures below 50 degrees F. It is drought-resistant, making it a good choice for Southern states with extremely hot summers and low rainfall. Bermuda can be started from seed, grows quickly and can be used in high-traffic areas. It does best in full sun and may show signs of thinning in heavily shaded areas.

Fescue

Fescue is best suited for colder climates and is primarily found in the central and Northern states. Fescue is drought-resistant but does not handle high temperatures well. It can thrive even in low sunlight and is a good choice for high-traffic areas.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine grass is primarily found in warm, coastal areas of the United States. It grows best with moderate to high sunlight exposure and has the durability to handle medium-traffic areas. In coastal areas, St. Augustine can often survive on regular rainfall alone but if planted inland will require watering to maintain the turf.

Bluegrass

Bluegrass is not drought-resistant and cannot tolerate high temperatures. It is primarily used in lawns in the mid- and Eastern parts of the United States. Bluegrass prefers full sun and will produce a thick turf that chokes out most weeds, providing a low-maintenance lawn.

Centipede Grass

Centipede grass is a heat- and drought-tolerant grass found mostly in the Southern states. It prefers full sunlight but can be grown in areas with some shade. Centipede grass grows slowly, so it is not a good choice for high-traffic areas.

Buffalo Grass

Buffalo grass is a heat tolerant, drought-resistant grass found primarily in the Great Plains areas of the United States. It requires sunlight to thrive and is not suited for high-traffic areas. The low density of Buffalo grass leads to higher than average weed growth, but the lawn can survive on 1 inch of water a week.