The Best Grass for Hot Dry Regions

Warm-Season Grasses

• The best grasses for hot, dry regions are warm-season grasses, such as zoysiagrass, that thrive in high temperatures. Most warm-season varieties grow best at temperatures ranging from 70 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, although they prefer prolonged periods of 80 to 95 degree temperatures. Warm-season turfgrasses begin growth in the spring, peaking in summer before the onset of cold weather. They typically enter dormancy with the first frost, and may undergo significant dieback if exposed to prolonged periods of below-freezing temperatures.

Zoysiagrasses

• Zoysiagrasses are warm-season plants, well-adapted to growth in hot climates with low rainfall. They are somewhat slow to establish, spreading via stolons and rhizomes. Leaves grow at right angles to the grass stem, and are covered in small, thick hairs. Zoysiagrasses are capable of tolerating partial shade. Although they fill in slowly, they form thick sod once established, requiring regular dethatching. Zoysia varieties stay green longer into the cool season than other varieties, and are best planted in June, via sod, plugs or seedlings.

Advantages in Arid Climates

• Warm-season grasses like zoysiagrass are ideal for areas with hot, dry weather and prolonged growing seasons. They remain green and healthy in conditions that would induce dormancy or plant death in cool-season grasses, and they are also more tolerant of marginal soils. Soils with moisture-retention problems, low fertility or varying pH can all support the growth of zoysia species. Prolonged periods of cold, wet weather induce dormancy, although these are uncommon or short-lived in most arid climates.

Drawbacks

• Although warm-season species like zoysiagrass are well-adapted to life in hot, dry climates, there are some drawbacks to their use in residential lawns. Zoysiagrass recovers slowly from damage, which means unsightly spots remain visible longer than on lawns composed of other species. Zoysiagrasses also require regular dethatching, often at significant cost . It also requires more frequent mowing in climates where temperatures regularly exceed 90 degrees, as long as it receives sufficient water.