There are many factors to consider when selecting the right grass for your lawn. From sunlight to maintenance to irrigation and more, below we’ll highlight some key considerations.
What zone do you live in?
The U.S. is split into various plant hardiness zones. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive at a given location. North Carolina is split between zones 7B and 8A which is considered the transition zone, an area where we have both hot summers and cold winters. The transition zone means we can often grow both cool and warm season grasses depending on the conditions of your individual yard – namely the sun and shade in particular areas.
How much sun do you get?
Warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, Zoysia and Centipede require full-sun conditions and will start to thin out if these varieties do not receive adequate sunlight. Cool-season grass like Tall Fescue tolerates shady areas much better and tends to be more stressed in full-sun areas.
Are you up for maintenance?
In general, grasses such as bermudagrass and Centipede are on the lower-maintenance side while Tall Fescue and Zoysia are good choices for someone who enjoys working in the yard.
Pets or children?
Pets and children bring high traffic to lawn areas. Along with high traffic, the high pH in dog urine tends to leave burn spots on the lawn. Grasses like bermudagrass, Zoysia and Centipede are creeping/spreading lawn types which means they have a high recovery rate. When your dog urinates and causes a burn spot, there is no need to take action, the lawn will repair itself. However, with Tall Fescue lawns, many of these grasses require reseeding each year to prevent a thinning lawn.
Do you have irrigation?
Certain grasses require more water than others so your willingness to water is a significant factor when selecting a grass type. Tall Fescue requires a lot more water in the summer months because it’s a cool-season grass that thrives in cooler temperatures. However, you must be careful about how much water you put in full-sun areas because excess water on the leaf blades can lead to plant diseases such as brown spots.