What are Warm Season Grasses?

Warm season grasses are the grasses that are grown in warm areas – hence the name. Most of these grasses are grown in the southern region of the United States and in tropical areas because they grow best in temperatures above eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Warm season grasses can be a difficult type of grass to grow, so it is important to know what you are getting into and make sure your climate is right for these grasses before beginning.

What are Warm Season Grasses?

Some of the most popular warm season grasses include Bahia, Bermudagrass, Buffalograss, Carpetgrass, Centipide, St. Augustine, and Zoysiagrass. Other strains are available, but these aforementioned grasses are typical in terms of their growing patterns and needs.

Warm season grasses are known for their ability to remain tough and durable in the elements, as opposed to cool season grasses. Warm season grasses also do not need as much water as other grasses that thrive in cooler seasons. However, when the temperature becomes cooler in the winter months, warm season grasses typically turn brown.

One drawback to warm season grasses is that they commonly have the problem of developing lots of weeds, which can make them difficult to maintain. In addition, some kinds of warm season grasses are known as “creeping” grasses, which means that they will grow and spread outside of where they are planted. This potentially means that they could grow into a neighbor’s yard unintentionally, which could in turn mean more grooming, edging and trimming on your part. There is also a lot of maintenance involved in keeping a warm season grasses looking their best.

You should be very wary of choosing warm season grasses unless the climate will really be best for their needs, so make sure you check with a professional to ensure warm season grasses are right for you. If you determine that warm season grasses are indeed the best option, there are several options for beginning a yard with warm season grass. For example, you can use sod instead of seed to plant, and this usually makes taking care of the lawn easier in the long run. Investing in good soil will also help you in the long run by cutting down maintenance time. Be careful about having different kinds of warm season grass in your yard since the different strains will encroach upon the other’s growth ad different varieties will mix with each other.

Choosing a grass type can be tricky, so consult with a professional if you are looking to design the perfect green lawn for your property.