Types of Lawn Grass for Drought

Bahia

• Originally from Brazil, bahia grass is used in pastures and sandy soils, according to the University of Florida Extension. In fact, gardeners choose this grass when they have infertile soil. Because bahia grass develops an extensive root system, it is able to survive periods of drought without discoloring. Bahia grass must be grown in areas that receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight, little foot traffic and where salt water cannot dry out the plant.

Bermuda

• Bermuda grass is commonly used in sports fields, golf courses, parks and home lawns, according to Texas A&M University. This grass can grow during hot summers, during dry spells and throughout mild winters. The grass will start to die our or go dormant when temperatures dip to under 30 degrees Fahrenheit, but will start growing again when soil temperatures rise to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep grass looking green, gardeners should supply 1 inch of water to the lawn daily. However, the grass will quickly green up after rainfall.

Zoysia

• Zoysia grass is a versatile turf that can withstand heat and cool temperatures. This warm season grass is grown along the coast of Texas and Florida and as high north as Maryland, according to Texas A&M University. Gardeners can plant zoysia grass if they have sandy or clay soils. During extreme drought conditions, zoysia grass will turn brown or straw colored. However, the grass is quick to green up after rainfall or irrigation. The deep root system of the grass is able to extract water deep within the soil. Gardeners who water deeply may have less of a problem with their grass discoloring during droughts.

St. Augustine

• St. Augustine grass is suited for areas that are hot and humid. According to Clemson University, it is good at surviving periods of drought. This grass type is not good at surviving cool temperatures or heavy foot traffic, although it does well in shady yards. You can tell your St. Augustine lawn needs water when you notice grass blades wilting or turning blue. Typically, St. Augustine grass needs from 1 to 1/4 inch of water a week to prevent it from discoloring.