The lawn must be lush, beautiful, and attractive. To maintain this appearance, you must have the right grass type for your garden. The suitable grass should align with the area’s climatic conditions and soil type.

In addition, ensure the following procedures are correctly followed to choose the grass for your lawn to flourish properly. Some of the practices include:

• Seeding and weeding
• Fertilizing and aeration
• Watering and drainage
• Edging and scarfing 
• Lawn Mowing

This article will be a great source of knowledge to guide you on the various factors you must consider when deciding on the suitable grass for your lawn. It also highlights the different types of grass that can correspond with the other factors you consider, aiding you in making informed decisions. 

6 Factors to Take into Consideration When Choosing the Right Grass For Your Lawn

When selecting the best grass to plant for your lawn, you must consider various factors. First, consider your geographical location, the type of soil, the maintenance required, the purpose of your lawn, and your intended activities in the lawn area. 

The following factors will help the type of grass you choose to be healthy, lush, and beautiful throughout the year. The factors include:

1.      Your Geographical Location

The area you live in determines the type of grass you can plant for your lawn. Cool-season grasses are best in areas with climates catalyzed by cold winters and mild summers. 

The cool-season grasses flower in spring and fall and remain green throughout the winter. However, they are affected by heat and can turn brown in the summer if they are not properly maintained. 

The most common cool-season grass varieties include:

·         Kentucky Bluegrass

This bluegrass thrives in direct sunlight and is not friendly to shaded areas. It has an attractive, delicate appearance and requires more regular maintenance.

·         Fine Fescue

Though less attractive than other cool-season grass types, fine rescue grass requires less maintenance and is extremely tolerant. It does well in shaded areas and can withstand drought conditions. Fine rescue is ideal for lawns with limited rainfall and direct sunlight.

·         Tall Fescue

Its coarse texture makes it unattractive. Tall fescue has a high pest tolerance and is not exposed to lawn thatching. It’s a low-maintenance type of grass conducive to heat and drought environments.

·         Perennial Ryegrass

The perennial ryegrass is ideal for homes with pets or busy families because of its high tolerance for activities and traffic. Ryegrass is appealing, just like Kentucky bluegrass, which makes it a perfect mixing blend. 

In areas that experience mild winters and hot summers, warm-season grasses are the perfect lawn grasses. These grasses are usually dormant in winter due to their non-preference for cold weather and thrive well in summer.

The most common warm-season grass varieties are: 

·         Bermuda grass

Bermuda grass is a less preferred grass variety because of its texture, ease of invading unwanted areas, and high resistance to lan thatching. Despite many dislikes, Bermuda grass can quickly repair itself and has a high tolerance.

·         Augustine grass

The Augustine grass is named after a native of the Gulf States. It requires moderate maintenance, has thick lawns, and is lush. 

·         Centipede grass 

Centipede grass, also called lazy man grass, requires minimal maintenance. It is resistant to lawn pests and grass diseases that affect the grass. It also has a healthy, green appearance. 

·         Zoysia grass 

If you are looking for thick, thick turf, go for Zoysia grass. It seems healthy and friendly in most months of the year, though it is dormant in other months and is dethatched annually.

Due to the thick turf, Zoysia grass can choke out pesky weeds.  

Both cool-season and warm-season grasses thrive well in transitional zones. For the best lawn results, consider blending the two types of grass in your garden. 

2.      The Soil Acidity Levels of Your Lawn Area

Different grass varieties require diverse levels of soil pH, with most types of grass doing well on 6–7.5 acidity levels. For Zoysia grass, a soil acidity level of between 5.5 and 6.5 is ideal, while for Kentucky bluegrass, a pH level of between 6 and 5 is most preferred. 

In cases of high soil acidity levels, most types of grass (both warm and cool seasonal grass) may not grow properly. Therefore, lime is applied annually to enable various grass types to thrive.

Alternatively, consult your local lawn care professional to test your soil, verify your soil acidity levels, and recommend the type of grass that can relate to the PH levels. 

3.      Expected Wear and Tear Activities

When choosing the ideal grass type for your lawn, consider the expected wear-and-tear activities that will be performed on it. In cases where children and pets engage in active activities, the lawn will undergo much wear and tear. 

To compensate, choose a grass type that is more tolerant and can rejuvenate and repair it quickly. This lawn will require more maintenance activities, such as feeding, watering, and weeding, to stimulate recovery. 

If your lawn experiences less activity, consider a delicate and less-tolerant grass type. These areas require less maintenance as they are less prone to damage and failure. 

In busy lawn areas, go for Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass, tall fescue, or perennial ryegrass, which is highly tolerant of high traffic. For less active lawn areas, consider Kentucky blue grass or centipede grass, which are less tolerant but more attractive. 

4.      The Lawn Care Procedures Required

Lawn care practices and regular scheduled maintenance are essential to achieving a healthy, lush, and attractive lawn. Some types of grass require minimal maintenance, while others require robust fertilizer application, aeration, weeding, watering, edging, thatching, and mowing. 

Get adequate knowledge of the lawn care the grass type requires and match it with how much you are ready to deliver. The course grass types, such as Bermuda grass, require lower maintenance levels, while the beautiful and appealing Kentucky blue grass needs more lawn care activities.

When choosing a variety such as the Kikuyu grass, which grows fast, is tough, and is expensive, be ready to mow regularly. You can even mow your lawn weekly in the summer to achieve that neat look.

5.      Exposure time to Sunlight or Shade

Sunlight or shade exposure time is an essential requirement when choosing a grass type for your lawn. Some kinds of grasses need lots of sunlight. For instance, warm-season grasses require a minimum of eight hours of direct sunlight each day to survive.

If your lawn area is covered by shade most of the day, the warm-season grass types may not suit your lawn space. 

Nevertheless, cool-season grasses need less direct sunlight. Four to six hours of direct sunlight is enough for cool-season grasses to flourish, making them a perfect choice if your lawn area is exposed to long shade hours per day. 

6.      The plant form used (seed or instant turf)

You can choose to sow seeds or lay instant turf rolls. For each form, several procedures are required that will cost time, resources, and finances. 

Seeded lawns are much more cost-effective, but they require regular and more intensive care during the germination and establishment period, which can take months. 

For a fast-growing lawn, use turf rolls. They are easier to lay and grow to usable levels in a week. However, the costs involved in buying and maintaining quality turf rolls, especially in expansive areas, can be relatively high. 

Additional Tips 

• Add gypsum and sand washed from rivers to improve root penetration in areas with heavy clay soil. This helps open soil structures. 
• Meanwhile, in sandy soil with lower moisture retention power, add Scott’s lawn builder’s top dress mixture to the soil wetter with every drop of granular to improve the soil structure.
• To ease your lawn watering process, consider drip irrigation by installing sub-surface drip irrigation tubes in your new lawn area. Make sure you computerize it by fitting it with a timer and a moisture sensor, making the watering process automatic. 
• Some areas are generally unsuitable for growing lawns, such as areas that are too wet, shady, or dry. In such cases, opt for landscaping to make our space attractive.
• When planting your lawn, avoid planting when temperatures are extremely high.
• Carry out local research to establish what grass varieties do well in your area. For example, runner grasses can self-repair quickly in high-traffic areas. 

Choosing the perfect grass type for your lawn may be easy but challenging and require a consultation. Find a lawn professional near you to ease your selection process. 

A professional will test your soil and suggest the best grass type or the preferred blend of grasses for your lawn, aligning with its purpose. This will guarantee an attractive, lush, healthy lawn for the year.