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What Kind of Grass to Plant Around an In-Ground Pool?

Grasses for sites around an in-ground pool should require little maintenance, especially in terms of fertilization, irrigation and mowing. Grasses that need lots of fertilizer and water can cause run-off, which can leach into the pool water. As most varieties of turfgrass require regular irrigation and fertilization to thrive, plant ornamental grasses. These plants come in a range of colors, heights and textures, require little maintenance and don't need to be mowed. Choose grasses that are hardy in your region's U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone rating.

  1. Zone 4

    • USDA zone 4's average annual low temperatures reach minus 30 degrees F. Blue lyme grass (Elymus arenarius) tolerates dry soil and thrives in sun to light shade. Hardy in zones 4 to 10, this grass grows from 3 to 4 feet tall and has flat, gray-blue foliage. It grows in upright clumps. Ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinaera) grows from 2 to 5 feet tall and is hardy in zones 4 to 9. It grows well in light shade and tolerates drought, dry soil and salt. Ribbon grass has green-and-white striped foliage and blooms with white and pink flowers in early summer.

    Zone 5

    • In USDA zone 5, average lows reach minus 20 degrees. Alkali droopseed (Sporobolis airoides) is hardy in zones 5 to 8. It grows to 5 feet tall and has clumping, gray-green foliage. It blooms with pink flowers in summer and prefers full sun. Alkali droopseed tolerates drought and thrives in a range of soils. Wild sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) grow well in sun to shade. This 3- to 5-foot-tall grass is hardy in zones 5 to 9 and tolerates heat and dry or poor soil. It has wide, green foliage that turns yellow in autumn.

    Zone 6

    • To thrive in USDA zone 6, grasses must tolerate average lows that reach minus 10 degrees. Hamelin dwarf fountain grass (Panicum virgatum "Hamelin") is hardy in zones 6 to 9 and grows from 1 to 2 feet tall. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils. This fine, dark green grass produces white flowers in summer. Oriental fountain grass (Pennisetum orientale) grows to 2 feet tall and thrives in sun or shade. It needs well-draining soil and is hardy in zones 6 to 9. This dense, clumping grass has gray-green foliage and produces white-to-pink plumes from summer through fall.

    Zone 7

    • In USDA zones 7, average lows reach 0 degrees. Weeping love grass (Eragrostis curvula) is hardy in zones 7 to 9. It tolerates drought, sand and clay soil and thrives in full sun exposures. This 3-foot-tall grass has green foliage that turns coppery-yellow in winter. It blooms with arching, lilac-gray panicles in midsummer. Lindheimer's muhly (Muhlenbergia lindherimeri) is also hardy in zones 7 to 9. It grows in clumps of fine, blue-gray foliage to 5 feet tall. Lindheimer's muhly prefers full sun and well-drained soil and tolerates drought.

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Groundcovers & Vines
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