What Grass Seed Really Grows?

Warm-Season Grasses

• Warm-season grasses do best in warm climates and may be destroyed in areas where there are harsh freezes. Most of this type of grass turns brown when cool weather arrives. Bermudagrass is a favorite choice for homeowners in the South and other warm climates. It is a turf-type grass, which grows well from seed. It has an extensive root system and spreads vigorously. It even has the ability to choke out weeds. It is drought-tolerant and handles high traffic well. Zoysia grass is a low-maintenance, warm-season grass but does have a fairly slow rate of growth.

Cool Season Grasses

• Cool-season grasses are sensitive to extremely hot temperatures. Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most popular cool-season grasses. This type of grass grows well in areas with mild summers and plenty of moisture. It spreads quickly to produce a dense, dark sod. Various types of fescue do well in cool season climates, and fescues may be blended with bluegrasses. Fescues tolerate dry shady conditions. This type of grass is a vigorous growing grass that isn't sensitive to disease or insects.

Considerations

• Other things to consider when choosing the best growing grass for your yard include the appearance of the grass, such as whether it is bunch grass or creeping grass. Mixtures of more than one type of grass seed can help protect against diseases that strike only one type of grass. Avoid bargain brands because they may have unwanted additives and germinate poorly. Name-brand grass seed is often of higher quality. Check the date on the label and only buy seed that is intended to be planted in the current year.

Grass Care Factors

• Some grasses you can practically plant and forget, while others require careful attention to do well. This means that besides climate, the amount of care you are able to devote to your lawn is a factor in choosing grass seed that really grows. Bentgrass is an example of a type of grass that is very attractive but requires a lot of maintenance. Fescues and ryegrass are examples of low-maintenance grasses.