Arizona Summer Grass

Heat-Tolerant Types

• Common and hybrid Bermuda grasses are best able to handle Arizona's hottest temperatures, low desert rainfall and direct sunlight. Common Bermuda has a wider leaf blade, up to 0.13 inches. Hybrid Bermuda, with its a denser growth pattern and a slightly narrower blade, should be mowed closer to the ground.

Shade-Tolerant Types

• St. Augustine and Zoysia grass do better in the shade as well as in the higher elevations of the state. They are slower to establish themselves but retain their green color longer into the fall. Neither can be overseeded with winter ryegrass as some desert dwellers do with Bermuda so their lawns stay green year-round.

Drought-Tolerant Types

• Buffalo grass is the most drought-tolerant Arizona grass. It will retain its green color longer than Bermuda in drought conditions, but it grows slower. Buffalo grass does not perform well in high-traffic areas. In higher elevations, Buffalo grass can go up to two weeks without water.

Care Considerations

• All Arizona summer grasses go dormant over the winter months when temperatures drop. They turn brown and appear to be dead, but they return the next spring. For best color throughout the growing season, all should be regularly watered.