Just as every lawn is different and has different needs, your grass comes in many different varieties as well. The needs of your grass and lawn can be due to the climate and geographical location of your area. To help you have the most understanding of your lawn, we researched eight different types of grass and identified their advantages and disadvantages. See which type of grass is found or would be best for your lawn!
Bermudagrass
Advantages
- Strongly recommend for residential and commercial landscapes, golf courses, sport fields, parks, and recreation areas
- Excellent heat tolerance (up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Excellent wear resistance
- Superior drought resistance
Disadvantages
- Poor shade adaptation- requires full sun for most of the day to grow properly
- Poor adaptation to cool or damp climates
Centipedegrass
Advantages
- Low maintenance
- Good for general purposes
- Grows well in full sun
Disadvantages
- Poor water resistance with slow growth pattern
- Sensitive to drought
- Sensitive to low temperatures, going dormant in the winter months
Fine Fescue
Advantages
- Tolerates both hot and cold weather well
- Upright growth habit creates nice even-looking grass
- High drought tolerance
Disadvantages
- Moderate wear resistance and does not recover well from severe injury
- Not wholly tolerant of shade
Kentucky Bluegrass
Advantages
- Widely used in cool, humid, semi-arid and temperate regions, like Ohio
- Recovers quickly from occasional wear and moderate foot traffic
Disadvantages
- Poor shade adaption and only a few varieties are moderately adapted to partial shade
- Somewhat poor drought resistance and can go into summer dormancy if there is no irrigation
Ryegrass
Advantages
- Great drought tolerance
- Very easy to maintain
- Can thrive in both cold winters and hot summers
- Fair wear resistance
Disadvantages
- Very few disadvantages
St. Augustinegrass
Advantages
- Excellent drought resistance
- Moderate wear resistance
- Well adapted in coastal regions and thrives in heat
Disadvantages
- Very poor tolerance in low temperatures
- Shade adaption extremely varies between varieties
Tall Fescue
Advantages
- Deep root system avoids drought
- Good for a tough play lawn and recommended for a wide variety of uses, such as roadsides, parks, and sports fields
- Great wear resistance
- Grows in a variety of climates
Disadvantages
- Very few disadvantages
Zoysiagrass
Advantages
- Superior wear resistance
- Tolerates heat very well
- Remains green and resists short periods of drought
Disadvantages
- Slow to recover from severe thinning
- Slow to grow in partial shade
- Subject to winter dormancy
Want the next steps for your lawn’s care?
In lawn care, being late can mean the difference between a beautiful lawn, and one that is full of weeds. That's why we've laid out step-by-step everything you need to know when it comes to lawn care material and when to apply it. The best part is that this guide is yours, absolutely FREE by clicking on the link below. Or for more information on our plans and prices, click here.