Fastest Growing Grass

Fescue

• Fescue is often thought of as a grass type more suited to pasture land, providing a food supply for cattle and horses. What many people don't realize is that fescue also makes a nice lawn grass and, under the right conditions, can germinate in 10 to 21 days. Fescue provides a coarse, dense lawn, doesn't require much maintenance and grows well in cool climates. On the down side, some people don't consider it as visually appealing as other grasses, like Bermuda.

Ryegrass

• Ryegrass is another fast-growing variety that germinates slightly faster than fescue in the 10- to 14-day range. Adapted to cool climates, some types of ryegrass, such as winter rye, even provide a green lawn during the winter months. To achieve that result requires mixing winter ryegrass with other seeds that grow well during the summer. Used for both lawn and pasture purposes, ryegrass does well in all but the hottest zones.

Bentgrass

• Bentgrass grows rapidly, germinating from the seed stage in seven days in some cases. In the southern United States, bentgrass requires such high maintenance that it is primarily used only on golf courses and other types of athletic fields. This grass is more suited to the northeast's cool, humid climate, where it is also used for lawns and pastures. To achieve the fastest growth rate requires good seed bed preparation. A mixture of soil, sand and other organic material is essential, as well as adequate drainage.

Bamboo

• Some people don't realize that the woody-stemmed bamboo plant is actually classified as a grass. Since bamboo has been known to grow several feet per day during its first growing season, consider this the fastest growing grass in the world. Bamboo can grow in many places but does best in eastern Asia, sometimes reaching over 250 feet in height. An individual stalk of bamboo can live seven to 10 years while a grove can go on forever if undisturbed.