What Is the Best Shade- & Drought-Resistant Grass Seed?

Fine Fescue

• Fine fescue grasses are shade-tolerant, have a good resistance to drought conditions and have the added benefit of remaining green throughout the year. Three grasses fall under the category of fine fescues, including hard fescue, chewings fescue and creeping red fescue. All of these cool-season grasses tolerate severe winter conditions and are found in the central and northern states. Keep in mind fine fescues are not very hardy and tolerant of high amounts of foot traffic. It is often a good idea to combine fine fescues with other varieties of cool-season grasses, including bluegrass.

Tall Fescue

• Tall fescue grows in both sunny and shaded areas. Although it is a cool-season grass, it has the ability to withstand high heat and drought conditions because of its deep roots. Tall fescue does not require a lot of maintenance, including frequent mowing. It is also fairly durable and can handle heavy traffic. Another plus is it grows quickly, usually germinating in less than two weeks under normal conditions. Tall fescue adapts to different soil types and does not need soil rich in nutrients. Its fast growth rate makes it good for providing quick cover and a good choice for areas with slopes and hills.

St. Augustine

• St. Augustine is one of the most shade-tolerant of the warm-weather grasses. Ideally suited for areas along the Gulf Coast and subtropical climates, St. Augustine does not have the ability to withstand cold conditions. Although watering improves its appearance, it will survive drought conditions. Its dark bluish-green leaves with wide blades make it a good choice for lawns. St. Augustine is fairly durable and can tolerate lots of foot traffic. It is an aggressive grass that adapts to different types of soil. Because its seeds are hard to find, it is usually planted by sod, sprigs or plugs.

Carpetgrass

• Carpetgrass is a perennial grass used in lawns in the southern states that is known for its tolerance to both shaded and drought conditions. Native to the interior Gulf Coast states and other areas with tropical climates, it thrives best in moist soil. Its thick turf is good for choking off weeds and erosion control. It does not require a lot of maintenance, including watering, laying down fertilizer and mowing. It spreads out with creeping stolons and has wide blades. Because it does not require fertile soil, carpetgrass is often used on sites such as roadsides, golf course roughs and parks. It does not do well in soil that contains salt.