Grasses That Choke Out Weeds

Bermudagrass

• Bermudagrass is a warm-season grass that can be grown in the southern part of the United States as far north as New Jersey and Maryland. It is not winter hardy in the Northeast. Bermudagrass produces a light- to dark-green turf and is often used on golf courses and sports fields because it’s tolerant to wear. It also tolerates salt and drought, but it doesn’t do well in shade. Bermudagrass establishes quickly and spreads so fast that it chokes out weeds and other grasses growing in the same area. However, it’s also susceptible to nematodes, which can cause the grass to become thin and weak and encourage the growth of weeds. Its rapid growth also results in a lot of thatch, making it a high-maintenance grass.

Centipede Grass

• Centipede grass is a slow-growing, warm-season grass that produces a very dense lawn with few weeds. It’s a popular choice for Southern homeowners, because it requires so little work and needs only one application of fertilizer every year. The grass, which has a coarse texture, grows to between 3 and 5 inches in height. It’s semitolerant of cold, but temperatures of 5 degrees Fahrenheit can kill it. It's also very tolerant of drought. Although nematodes can be a problem, few other pests bother this grass.

Perennial Ryegrass

• Perennial ryegrass is a fine-textured, cool-season grass that tolerates high traffic better than any other cool-season grass, making it a good choice for lawns, schools and parks. It establishes quickly, which helps prevent weeds from growing, and it doesn’t form thatch. Its tolerance for heat, drought and shade are moderately low, but it requires more frequent mowing and watering if you want an attractive lawn.

Zoysiagrass

• Zoysiagrass produces a thick, cushiony turf that prevents weeds from growing. It does very well in hot weather and poor soil. It’s tolerant of wear, grows in most soils and keeps its green color even when temperatures are hot, but it becomes brown or straw-colored in the fall. Weeds can become a problem during its winter dormancy period, and some varieties can be killed by harsh winters. If planting in the Northeast, consider winter-hardy varieties such as Meyer or Emerald. Zoysiagrass takes two or three years to become established and, because it’s so tough and dense, needs to be mowed more often than some other species.