What Type Of Grass Is Best For Your Yard?

If you're building a new home or have decided to re-seed or replace your existing lawn, you're likely wondering what type of grass will work best for your property. There's no one universal answer. The type of grass that will work best for you depending on what part of the country you live in, how you use your lawn, and your soil type.

Common types of lawn grass

1. Bermuda grass. Bermuda grass is thick and spreads rapidly. This type of grass is also resistant to most weather extremes, especially drought, which makes this grass a favorite for property owners in the southeastern United States. Drawbacks of this grass are that it doesn't do very well in shady areas and (in the sun) it can be difficult to keep out of flower beds and other areas where you'd prefer not to have grass.

2. Kentucky blue grass. A favorite of horse farms, Kentucky blue grass is hearty and adapts to both cold and warm climates. It's slightly blue tint is attractive and it grows equally well in both sunny and shady locations.

3. Fescue. This type of grass comes in several varieties, including fine, tall and red fescue. Noted for being drought resistant, fescue can also stand up to high traffic areas. Some types of fescue have a slightly blueish tint.

4. Zoysia. Zoysia is an attractive grass that needs little mowing to stay looking nice. However, zoysia takes a relatively-long time to get established and is a poor choice for a yard that gets a lot of foot traffic.

5. Buffalo grass. A good choice for hot climates, buffalo grass thrives in heat and humidity. It's also slow-growing so it needs less maintenance than many other types of grass. However, this isn't a good grass to plant in areas with sandy loam soil.

6. Ryegrass. As close to a universal lawn grass as is available. Perennial ryegrass can adapt to all but the most extreme cold weather conditions, is thick, and establishes itself quickly. However, this type of grass is among the least drought tolerant.

Since the best type of turf for your property is the one that best suits your climate, lifestyle and soil, it's wise to do a little research on the different types of grass available in your area before you make a final decision. Chosen correctly, your lawn should stay healthy and attractive for as long as you own your home.