The ideal lawn looks different for everyone, but they all have something in common: high-quality grass. Depending on your climate, soil, and maintenance preferences, the type of grass for your lawn will vary. In this article, we’ll go over how to find the right variety of grass for your lawn.

Consider Where You Live

A lot of people will say it doesn’t matter where you live because “it’s just grass.” In actuality, where you live is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing grass for your lawn. People who live in colder climates are better off planting grass like the tall fescue or perennial ryegrass. Centipedegrass, Bermudagrass, and St. Augustine grass are best suited for lawns in warmer climates.

Don’t Forget About Maintenance

No matter what type of grass you choose, you take care of it on a regular basis. You can’t just plant grass and leave it. Similar to a pet or even a child, you need to take care of the grass in order for it to flourish. 

Some grasses, like Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass, are lower maintenance, so you don’t have to spend as much time on them. For example, perennial ryegrass needs to be watered up to at least six to 12 inches of the soil. Bermudagrass only needs to be watered one to 1.5 inches, but this depends on the soil.

How you take care of the grass and what turf supplies you’ll need depends on its type. The fertilizer and weed killer you use will depend on the type of grass you have and what your environment is like. If your lawn is experiencing a drought or sees a lot of traffic, you’ll choose a different fertilizer than when you’re trying to help it grow quickly.

Lawn Damage

Another factor that comes into play when choosing grass is its hardy nature. Despite the appearance, some types of grass are highly resilient to damage. Damage-resistant grass is ideal for people who have pets or a family. Ryegrass, zoysiagrass and Bermudagrass are most resistant to damage whether it’s physical or from the weather.

Acidity of Your Soil

If this is your first time learning about the ins and outs of your lawn, you may not know that your soil is acidic. In fact, the acidic nature of your lawn is how the grass flourishes. Everyone’s lawn has an acidity level, though not all of them are the same.

If the acidity levels aren’t balanced, your grass won’t thrive. The recommended acidity level ranges from six to 7.5 as it allows a majority of grass to grow properly. Be sure to check with a lawn care professional to measure the acidity levels of your lawn.

You’d think that with something as simple as grass, it’d be easy to grow. However, this isn’t always the case, especially for people who are just getting their green thumb. If you’re unsure of what to do, contact a lawn care professional to assist you.