Lawn Types for Different Climates
If you live in the southern part of the country, choose from warm-season grasses like:
- Bermuda grass
- St. Augustine grass
- Centipede grass
- Zoysia grass
If you live in the northern part of the country, you probably have a cool-season lawn. The most common cool-season grass types are:
- Fescue grass
- Bluegrass
And, if you live in the center section of the country — the transition zone — you may have success with grasses such as Bermuda grass, fescue grass and zoysia grass.
Lawn Types for Warm Climates
Warm-season grasses stand up to hot weather and lots of sun, offering strong growth even in the summer months. They give you the perfect foundation to enjoy hot, sunny summer weather in your backyard — whether you’ve got children playing in a sprinkler or you just want to relax on the porch and enjoy your landscape.
Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass is a fast-spreading turf with branching light- to medium-green blades. Well-suited to southern climates, it looks right at home with features like stucco exteriors, clay tile roofs and palm trees, but it fits with any type of home or landscape. Complement a Bermuda grass lawn with well-trimmed, low-growing shrubs for a clean look.
In a backyard, Bermuda grass is durable enough to stand up to traffic from guests at an outdoor dinner party, a playful pet or from kids climbing in and out of a pool. It recovers from damage relatively quickly. The fine to medium texture of Bermuda grass contrasts nicely with the coarser textures of many evergreen shrubs and hardscape creations.
Seed Bermuda grass between spring and summer and apply fertilizer during the weeks of late spring or early summer. Feed again in the late summer or early fall.
St. Augustine Grass
St. Augustine grass is a great fit for deep south locations with sandy soil. St. Augustine grass has wide blades that give it a coarse texture. It’s a low-growing grass, so consider accenting it with neatly trimmed foundation plants and hedges that won’t overpower your lawn. Since this grass creates a dense lawn, it helps prevent weed growth that would mar your perfect green landscape.
St. Augustine also gives you a resilient backyard grass that stands up to foot traffic, pets, dry conditions and the hot summer sun. The distinctive blue-green color of St. Augustine grass creates a nice background for colorful foliage and flowers, so feel free to explore different color combinations.
Centipede Grass
Centipede grass is another southern grass with a low-growing habit. It creates a lush setting for dense foundation plantings that have a more natural look. Centipede grass has a rougher texture than some other grass types, so consider pairing it with trees and shrubs with large foliage like palms and palmettos.
The texture and light green color of centipede grass blend well with water features, from decorative koi ponds to larger natural ponds or waterways. It can handle a lot of sunlight, but it’s also a shade-tolerant grass, so it creates a nice, cool carpet for a shady backyard.
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia grass is a tough, warm-climate grass that creates a thick, soft lawn. Zoysia grass may require more maintenance than some other types of grass, but the result is a tidy, manicured look. Your efforts give you a dense, dark green lawn that deters weed growth.
Zoysia grass is drought resistant, thanks to a deep network of roots. It’s perfect for hot, dry areas but it also has some resistance to cold. It can work in the middle of the country as a transitional grass.
You can plant a zoysia grass lawn from the middle of spring through early summer. Fertilizing is best from spring to early summer and again between late summer and fall.
Lawns for Cool Climates
Cool-season turfgrasses have cold hardiness, but don’t handle high heat as well as warm-season grasses. These factors mean they’re at their best in areas with cold winters. Lawns with these grasses handle warm weather, but their best growth periods are spring and fall.
Tall Fescue Grass
Tall fescue grass is a cool-season lawn favorite, but it stands up to heat as well as cold, so it works in the middle, transitional zone of the country. Tall fescue grass is relatively easy to maintain with regular mowing, so you don’t have to put a lot of work into a lawn to get great-looking results.
In addition to giving a front yard extra curb appeal, tall fescue grass makes a great turf for backyards. This grass creates a tough light- or medium-green lawn for play and pets alike, and you can deal with any bare spots that do occur by reseeding them. This lawn also does well in limited shady areas, so tall fescue grass gives you a spot to relax under a tree on warm days.
Seed tall fescue grass in early fall. You can seed in spring as well, but a hot, dry summer can damage a new tall fescue lawn. Fertilize the lawn early in spring or early summer with another feeding in the late summer or fall.
Bluegrass
Bluegrass or Kentucky bluegrass is another turfgrass to consider for northern, cool-season areas. As the name suggests, bluegrass gives you a lawn with a rich, blue-green appearance. While it doesn’t require a lot of care, some regular maintenance, such as proper mowing, fertilizing and watering results in a thick, manicured lawn with a dense growth pattern.
While bluegrass loves full sun, it flourishes in partial shade as well, so it makes a nice retreat for relaxing. It’s good for lawns that get lots of activity, with blades that bounce back quickly from foot traffic.
Bluegrass works best with early spring or early fall seeding. If you had a mild winter, fertilize the lawn early in the spring. If the winter was harsh, wait till late spring. Follow up with another feeding in late summer or early fall.
Lawn Types for the Perfect Yard
No matter where you live, you’ve got options for creating a great-looking lawn. Different characteristics and maintenance requirements let you tailor your lawn to your lifestyle and needs, whether you love caring for your landscape or just want to relax and watch the kids play.
Your local Lowe’s stocks grass that’s perfect for your climate, so you can be sure you’ll get a lawn that thrives in your location. Look at our guide, Finding the Best Grass Seed for Your Lawn, to get more details on different grass types and see How to Plant Grass Seed when you’re ready to start your new lawn. Talk to a Lowe’s Red Vest associate for more tips on selecting and caring for your lawn.