The Best Grass for Warmer Climates
Summer is the best time to get out and enjoy your amazing lawn. But the foundation for your enjoyment is based on a grassy lawn that requires good maintenance and knowing the best warm-season grass for your lawn.
Thankfully, we have compiled the best types of warmer climate grasses; Bermuda grass, Centipede grass, St. Augustine grass, Zoysia grass, and Buffalo grass. They can all withstand warmer climates and have different levels of drought tolerance.
Let’s dive in!
Bermuda Grass
Its leaves are dark green and pointed. Plus, it has a vibrant root system of stolons and rhizomes that spread out above and below the ground, forming a dense lawn. Also, Bermuda grass needs frequent watering and can tolerate being shortened. This reduces the number of times it needs mowing during the summer.
Centipede Grass
Its blades are coarse, light green, and grow slowly, and its stolons spread above the ground. Also, its leaf blades are about an inch in length. Centipede grass grows well in full sunlight in a sand-based area with a pH of 5.5, and annual rainfall of about 40 inches. Centipede grass isn’t fit for heavy traffic like a baseball diamond, parks, schoolyards, and lawns.
St. Augustine Grass
St. Augustine is a slow-growing type of grass with broad, coarse leaves, and the leaves have slightly rounded tips. Importantly, St. Augustine grass is resilient and heat resistant. It needs frequent watering but can survive heavy rainfall. It isn’t cushiony and soft as some types, but it can tolerate mechanized lawn equipment and heavy foot traffic.
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia has dark-green leaves with short, prickly leaf blade tips and grows perfectly in bright sunlight. It’s a thick, low-growing grass that spreads by stolons and rhizomes. It absorbs water quickly and handles heat, drought, and partial shade.
Zoysia grass turns bright green during spring but becomes brown during winter. Preferably, use it for golf courses and athletic fields because of its warm climate durability.
Buffalo Grass
It is a bluish-green and low-growing grass and reaches about 11 inches. However, drooping blades make it look shorter. Buffalo grass is heat and drought resistant but goes dormant during winter if it isn’t watered frequently. The best months to plant buffalo grass are in April and May. Golf courses, parks, school grounds, cemeteries, and roadsides are the best places to grow buffalo grasses.
Caring for Warm-Season Grasses
Like any other plant, drought resistance is increased by providing ideal growing conditions. Healthy soil, infrequent deep watering, and mowing help increase the drought resistance of any grass.
Diseases and Pests of Warm-Season Grasses
Diseases and pests in warm-season grasses are a concern for most homeowners. Clinch bugs, grubs, mole crickets, and fungal diseases are common nuisances. Luckily, Rainforest LA, Inc. can help you choose the best types of warmer climate grasses and create an aesthetic landscape for you.
Hire Our Exceptional Landscaping Services Today!
Hopefully, you’ve learned the best warm-season grass for your lawn, especially during summer. Keep your lawn luscious and resilient to heavy traffic, whether for play dates, swim lessons, or barbecues. Rainforest LA, Inc. can help keep your lawn perfect throughout summer by helping you choose the best grass. Get in touch with us for the perfect landscaping service.