Not all grass is created equal. The maintenance requirements of your lawn will vary depending on the type of grass you plant. In this article, you will discover different types of grass, their characteristics, their benefits, and the best way to keep them in top shape.
Grass Types: Overview, Benefits, and Maintenance Requirements
There are countless types of grass, and not all of them are suitable for lawns. For example, maiden grass is considered a true grass and looks attractive, but it grows too tall and in clumps, making it unsuitable for a lawn.
The grasses we’ll cover in this article are those commonly used in lawns. Lawn grasses fall into two categories: cool-season and warm-season. We will discuss the most common type of grass that falls into each category and how you can tell the difference between grass types, their benefits, and maintenance requirements.
Cool-Season Grass Types
Cool-season grasses grow best in the spring and fall when the air and soil temperatures are cool. This category includes fescues, bluegrass, and ryegrass.
Fescues
There are two kinds of fescues: tall fescues and fine fescues.
Tall Fescues
Appearance: Tall fescues have leaves that look like dark green wide blades with a coarse texture. The tip of the leaf is sharp and pointed.
Benefits: The best thing about tall fescues is their high heat, traffic, and drought tolerance. Even if you plant this grass in areas with high foot traffic and no shade, it will still thrive. It also does not require frequent watering, which means more savings on water bills. On top of that, the grass has a deep root system that allows it to survive even in clay and alkaline soils.
Maintenance: Tall fescues have a high growth rate, so you need to mow the grass every five to six days and maintain a three-inch height to prevent weed problems. In terms of watering, you can water it as little as three to five times throughout the summer.
Fine Fescues
Appearance: Fine fescues feature narrow and bristling leaves with soft and fine textures, which means it isn’t painful to walk on them barefoot. This type of grass thrives in areas with large amounts of shade, such as areas with many trees and surrounding structures. This feature also means they don’t have high heat tolerance.
Benefits: You won’t have difficulty growing this type of grass if your property has a lot of shade. In addition, this grass is resistant to drought and high foot traffic.
Maintenance: Like tall fescue, this variety is low maintenance. However, you need to keep its height within one to three inches. It also needs 18 to 20 inches of supplemental irrigation. If you have a large lawn, it is always best to hire a lawn care company to take care of these specifications.
Kentucky Bluegrass
Appearance: Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most popular grasses used in lawns in the United States. This grass has soft, velvety blades that can remain dark green for up to 12 days during the growing season. The leaf blade has a boat-shaped tip and typically appears stiff.
Benefits: The best thing about Kentucky bluegrass is its ability to heal itself when damaged and spread better than any other cool-season grasses.
Maintenance: Kentucky bluegrass requires moderate to high maintenance because of its low heat tolerance. Lack of water causes its roots to start receding, so you have to water the grass regularly. The grass requires as much as two inches of water per week during summer and needs around three pounds of nitrogen after the first year of its growth.
In terms of mowing, you need to cut the grass when it grows above two inches. Avoid cutting the grass below one inch because it can encourage crabgrass growth. Crabgrass growth should be prevented as soon as possible because it’s so difficult to control that you’ll need a professional lawn care company to get rid of it.
Ryegrass
Appearance: Ryegrass can be perennial or annual. It features tough, dark green leaf blades with tapered or sharp pointed tips and a shiny back part of the leaf. The grass forms clumps instead of spreading via rhizomes or stolons.
Benefits: There are many perks to adding this type of grass to your lawn. It has the highest wear and traffic tolerance of any cool-season grass. This type also germinates quickly, making it a great option if you want to grow a lush natural turf in a short amount of time. The fast germination also helps prevent weed invasion.
Maintenance: Since ryegrass grows fast, it will require frequent mowing. In addition, the plant has a low tolerance for heat and drought, so you need to water your lawn frequently.
Warm-Season Grass Types
These grasses thrive from June through early September and stay green until August. They adapt well to dry and hot weather.
Bermuda Grass
Appearance: Bermuda grass is one of the most common types of grass planted in lawns. It has small, linear, blue-green leaves with rough margins. The upper surface feels hairy, but it’s smooth on the undersides.
Benefits: Bermuda grass loves the sun and has an extensive root system, which allows it to grow rapidly and survive under extreme climate conditions. But for these reasons, you may not find this type of grass ideal if you want different types of grasses in your lawn.
Another benefit of Bermuda grass is its ability to withstand heavy foot traffic.
Maintenance: Bermuda grass does not do well in shaded areas, so you have to ensure it receives enough sunlight. Other than that, maintaining this type of grass is fairly easy. Your lawn care routine should still include mowing, fertilizing, watering, and weed and pest control. It will need at least one inch of water to retain its green color. You must also keep its height within one to two inches.
St. Augustine Grass
Appearance: St. Augustine grass has a glabrous, blue-gray rounded leaf. It is widely used along the Gulf Coast in the U.S., throughout the Caribbean region, and in Australia, the Hawaiian Islands, etc. However, it isn’t common in Canada.
Benefits: St. Augustine grass tolerates salt, so it’s ideal for properties along the coast. And unlike Bermuda grass, this type of grass is easier to control. It also has good shade tolerance and can handle light foot traffic.
Maintenance: Like any other type of grass, St. Augustine needs mowing, supplemental watering, and fertilization to stay dense, weed-free, and green. Mowing heights can range from one to three inches, and mowing frequency is once every five days in summer and late spring.
Take note that there are many other types of grass out there. The ones included in this article are simply the most common types of grass you’ll find.
Keep Your Lawn Healthy and Pristine With the Help of Professionals
Healthy lawns not only add to the value of a property but also improve its curb appeal.
If you are looking for lawn care services near the Greater Toronto Area, consider LawnMart. The team is knowledgeable about the most suitable types of grass for Canadian lawns and knows what it takes to ensure your lawn is in its best condition. Whether you have cool-season or warm-season grass, you can count on the team to keep it green and healthy.
LawnMart uses natural methods and organic products for lawn maintenance, so you do not have to worry about any adverse effects involving chemical products.
To learn more about the company’s lawn care services, please contact the team today.
