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Lawn Grass Types: Complete Guide

Find the perfect grass for your climate, soil, and lifestyle. We cover every major turfgrass species with expert maintenance advice.

Which Grass Type is Right for You?

Northern US (Zones 2-6)

Cool-season grasses thrive here. Best choices:

  • Full Sun: Kentucky Bluegrass or Tall Fescue
  • Shade: Fine Fescue or Tall Fescue
  • Low Maintenance: Fine Fescue

Transition Zone (Zones 6-7)

Both grass types can work. Best choices:

  • Full Sun: Tall Fescue, Zoysia, or Bermuda
  • Shade: Tall Fescue or Fine Fescue
  • Low Maintenance: Zoysia or Tall Fescue

Southern US (Zones 8-11)

Warm-season grasses are best. Best choices:

  • Full Sun: Bermuda or Zoysia
  • Shade: St. Augustine or Zoysia
  • Low Maintenance: Centipede or Zoysia

Warm-Season Grasses

Warm-season grasses thrive in temperatures between 80-95°F and go dormant (turn brown) during winter. They're best suited for USDA zones 7-11.

Bermuda Grass lawn Zones 7-10

Bermuda Grass

Cynodon dactylon

Pros:
  • Excellent heat tolerance
  • Self-repairing
  • Traffic durable
Cons:
  • Poor shade tolerance
  • Goes dormant in winter
  • Invasive

Best For: Full sun lawns in hot climates, sports fields

Maintenance: Medium-High

Complete Guide →
St. Augustine Grass lawn Zones 8-11

St. Augustine Grass

Stenotaphrum secundatum

Pros:
  • Best shade tolerance (warm-season)
  • Lush appearance
  • Salt tolerant
Cons:
  • No seed available
  • Chinch bug prone
  • High water needs

Best For: Shaded lawns in coastal and southern areas

Maintenance: Medium-High

Complete Guide →
Zoysia Grass lawn Zones 6-11

Zoysia Grass

Zoysia japonica

Pros:
  • Dense carpet texture
  • Drought tolerant
  • Low maintenance
Cons:
  • Slow to establish
  • Expensive
  • Brown dormancy

Best For: Low-maintenance lawns in transition zones

Maintenance: Low-Medium

Complete Guide →
Centipede Grass lawn Zones 7-10

Centipede Grass

Eremochloa ophiuroides

Pros:
  • Very low maintenance
  • Thrives in acidic soil
  • Low fertilizer needs
Cons:
  • Poor traffic tolerance
  • Sensitive to alkaline soil
  • Slow growing

Best For: Low-maintenance lawns in southeastern US

Maintenance: Very Low

Complete Guide →

Cool-Season Grasses

Cool-season grasses thrive in temperatures between 60-75°F with active growth in spring and fall. They're best suited for USDA zones 2-7.

Kentucky Bluegrass lawn Zones 2-7

Kentucky Bluegrass

Poa pratensis

Pros:
  • Self-repairing rhizomes
  • Beautiful blue-green color
  • Traffic tolerant
Cons:
  • High water needs
  • Slow germination
  • Disease prone

Best For: Northern lawns with full sun and regular watering

Maintenance: High

Complete Guide →
Tall Fescue lawn Zones 3-8

Tall Fescue

Festuca arundinacea

Pros:
  • Deep roots (drought tolerant)
  • Shade tolerant
  • Adaptable
Cons:
  • Bunch-type (needs overseeding)
  • Coarser texture
  • Not self-repairing

Best For: Transition zone lawns, variable conditions

Maintenance: Low-Medium

Complete Guide →
Fine Fescue lawn Zones 3-7

Fine Fescue

Festuca spp.

Pros:
  • Best shade tolerance
  • Very low maintenance
  • Drought tolerant
Cons:
  • Poor traffic tolerance
  • Thin in full sun
  • Clumpy growth

Best For: Shaded areas, low-traffic lawns, eco-lawns

Maintenance: Very Low

Complete Guide →
Perennial Ryegrass lawn Zones 3-7

Perennial Ryegrass

Lolium perenne

Pros:
  • Fast germination (5-10 days)
  • Fine texture
  • Traffic tolerant
Cons:
  • Not drought tolerant
  • Short-lived
  • High water needs

Best For: Quick repairs, overseeding, sports fields

Maintenance: Medium

Complete Guide →

Quick Grass Comparison

Grass Type Season Zones Sun Needs Drought Traffic Maintenance
Bermuda Warm 7-10 Full Sun Excellent Excellent Medium-High
St. Augustine Warm 8-11 Sun-Shade Moderate Moderate Medium-High
Zoysia Warm 6-11 Sun-Part Shade Excellent Very High Low-Medium
Centipede Warm 7-10 Full Sun Moderate Poor Very Low
Kentucky Bluegrass Cool 2-7 Full Sun Moderate Excellent High
Tall Fescue Cool 3-8 Sun-Part Shade Excellent Very Good Low-Medium
Fine Fescue Cool 3-7 Part Shade-Shade Excellent Poor Very Low
Perennial Ryegrass Cool 3-7 Full Sun Fair Excellent Medium