What Kind of Grass Should You Plant in Your Yard?

Florida, the Gulf and Hawaii

• Living in the Gulf Coast region or the Central Pacific provides year-round warmth and plenty of rainfall. Use warm-season grasses in these areas and those like it and plant the seed in the spring.
  Choose Bermuda grass, centipede, bahia, St. Augustine and zoysia for a successful lawn if you live in such a climate, according to AllAboutLawns.com.

The Southeast and Texas

• Many of the same grasses used in the Gulf and Hawaii regions will also work well in the southeastern states and in Texas. The southernmost portions of these areas will grow grass year-round, and some of the northern areas may go dormant for a short time in the winter.
  Plant Bermuda, zoysia, centipede, St. Augustine, tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass in these areas for a successful lawn. Watering regularly is extremely important during the hot dry months.

The Mid-South

• In the Mid-South states, including a narrow area west from Oklahoma through Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina, weather can vary from very hot summers to very cold winters. These seasonal swings in temperature will likely require reseeding during the winter if you want a green lawn all year.
  Plant warm season grasses during the spring or early summer and plant cool-season grasses in the early fall or early spring. Plant Bermuda, tall fescue, zoysia, ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass in these areas.

The Midwest

• The Midwest has long, hard winters and humid summers, according to AllAboutLawns.com.
  Cool-season grasses will handle the variations in weather the best. Kentucky bluegrass, bent grass, fescues and ryegrass all tend to thrive in these settings.

The Northeast

• In the northeastern part of the United States and in Eastern Canada, there are long, cold winters and short hot summers. Warm-season grasses may work along some coastal areas with milder winters, but cool season grasses typically work better across the region.
  Plant fescues and ryegrasses in these regions. You may choose to blend Kentucky bluegrass and bent grasses in your mix.

Lower Southwest

• The lower southwestern states and northern Mexico are hot and dry. Use only warm-season grasses in this region and consider substituting some rock in your yard with smaller patches of grass as watering is often an issue and a healthy lawn will require year-round care.
  Plant Bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysia, tall fescue or ryegrass in this area.

The Rockies and the Great Plains

• The Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains are usually cool areas in the winter with hot, dry summers and a lot of wind. Planting grasses that will handle some drought conditions is important in this region.
  Plant native grasses such as Buffalo grass, blue grama and wheatgrass in the Plains and the Rockies. You may also opt for some fescue, bent grass, Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass.

West Coast

• The West Coast is typically cool and wet with the exception of Southern California. Grass grows year-round here and additional watering is necessary in the southland.
  Plant in the midspring or the fall and go with fescues, bent grass, Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass for the best results.