Do you have a beautiful backyard at your home? Ever wanted to cover your backyard with grass but not sure to which grass is best suitable for your conditions? Today there are hundreds of different types of grasses available and the process of selecting one that best suits your conditions can be really difficult and confusing.
If you are residing in and around California, and are looking to have a beautiful green grass lawn, you would know the type of grass you need and whether the grass you’re choosing would go with the soil in your backyard.
The grass that best suits any region depends on a number of factors like water requirement, type of soil and climatic conditions. Other factors that can be considered before selecting a particular grass are level of maintenance required, look and texture, cost, ease of installation and length of the grass.
1. Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass is one of the best types of grass that suits the conditions of California. Believed to have arrived in America from Bermuda, the grass blades have rough edges and a greyish green color.
- Water Requirement: It requires a decent amount of watering.
- Maintenance Required: Very low maintenance required. Just do not forget that you have planted them in your garden and you’d be fine.
- Cost: The grass has a fine turf even after its low cost, which can make it a great buy.
- Installation ease and feel: Easy to install and comfortable feel, making this a good buy for newbies to the world of gardening.
- Length: The length is usually short and usually ranges between 4-6 inch.
- Climatic Conditions: It is more preferable under warm climatic conditions. The favorable climate temperature ranges between 24-37 degrees.
- Type of Soil: Bermuda grass grows best in saline soils so it’s important to check the soil salinity in your backyard.
- Best time to plant: The best time to plant it is during summers for a healthy growth.
- Other Details: It has a high traffic tolerance and high resistance to droughts.
2. St. Augustine Grass
St. Augustine grass is also a type of grass with flat and broad leaf blades with a dark green color and usually form a thick layer.
- Water Requirement: St. Augustine grass requires frequent watering, so you need to ensure that you would be able to tend to your garden daily.
- Maintenance Required: The level of maintenance required ranges from medium to high based on different situations.
- Cost: The cost of the grass is high compared to others.
- Installation ease and feel: The installation process is simple and the grass gives extremely soft feel.
- Length: The length of the grass usually is between 1.75’’ to 2.00’’ (inches).
- Climatic Conditions: It is best suitable for tropical and sub-tropical regions with warm climate.
- Type of Soil: It grows best in soils with pH value ranging between 5.0 and 8.5.
- Best time to plant: It is usually grown in summer and spring.
- Other Details: It has low tolerance to traffic and droughts and requires frequent fertilization.
3. Bahia Grass
Bahia grass is one other type of grass that is best suited for conditions of California. Also known as ‘Common Bahia’, the leaf blades are flat, hairless and textured.
- Water Requirement: It has a very low water requirement, so you do not have to worry about watering them everyday.
- Maintenance Required: Low maintenance makes it more desirable when compared to other grasses.
- Cost: It has a very low cost.
- Installation ease and feel: Easy installation and the grass is very soft giving a comforting feel.
- Length: It is a low growing grass with the blades around an inch long.
- Climatic Conditions: Warm climatic condition is suitable for its growth.
- Type of Soil: Sandy Soil with high saline content is favorable.
- Best time to plant: The best time to grow the grass is during the summers.
- Other Details: It has high traffic tolerance and high resistance to droughts.
4. Buffalo Grass
Buffalo grass is a perennial warm season grass that forms a thin layer and suitable for the conditions of California. It has a very thin turf with soft blue green leaves and a fine texture.
- Water Requirement: Occasional watering is required.
- Maintenance Required: It requires very less maintenance.
- Cost: The cost is very low compared to other types of grass.
- Installation ease and feel: The process of installation is very easy and gives a comfortable feel.
- Length: It usually grows 2-5 inches high if left untouched.
- Climatic Conditions: Hot climate with high temperatures is also tolerable.
- Type of Soil: It grows best in moist soil.
- Best time to plant: The planting of buffalo grass seeds should be usually done in spring or early summer for best growth.
- Other Details: It has a high tolerance to traffic and high temperatures and requires little fertilisation.
5. Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass, also known as ‘Common meadow grass’ is a perennial grass that grows well in cold and moist climates. It usually has a dark green color linear leaves with boat-shaped tips.
- Water Requirement: Kentucky bluegrass requires regular watering.
- Maintenance Required: The maintenance required is low.
- Cost: It is very cheap and most common and popular cool season grass.
- Installation ease and feel: It is very easy to plant and has high-quality texture with a comfortable feel.
- Length: It is a tall growing grass with average height reaching as much as 60 inches if left untouched.
- Climatic Conditions: The grass grows well in cold and moist climates making this one of the best buys if you live in California.
- Type of Soil: It grows best in well-drained and fertile soil, so you can easily grow it in your backyard along with fruit trees.
- Best time to plant: Late spring or summer is the best time to plant the grass.
- Other Details: It has low tolerance to traffic and droughts and needs regular fertilization and decent amount of sunlight for optimum growth.
No matter which grass type you’re buying for your garden in the backyard, do remember to tend to your lawn every day. It will ensure that the plants remain healthy and you’ve a lawn that you’re proud of.