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Warm-Season grasses – Warm Season Grasses tend to grow well and flourish in warmer climates, hence the name. The warm season grasses include Bermuda, Zoysia, and Buffalo grasses. Most Warm-Season grasses are grown in the southern region of the United States and various tropical areas. These grasses tend to grow hardiest and best when temperatures exceed 80 degrees F. During the winter months, Warm-Season grasses will usually go dormant and turn brown(especially if you dethatch a bermuda lawn)

A common reaction to the browning of Warm-Season grasses is to reseed your lawn during the winter months with a Cool-Season grass such as a ryegrass and/or fescue to keep a green looking lawn year-round. In general, Warm-Season grasses are known for being rather tough and durable grasses that require less watering then their Cool-Season counterparts. The potential draw-backs to Warm-Season grasses are their tendency to develop thatch and weeds. With some “creeping” varieties, problems can arise when the grasses grow out of your established yard boundaries and require constant trimming and edging if not properly maintained.

Four major types of warm-season lawns

There are FOUR types of warm season grasses

When trying to decide on a lawn, you have to think about:

• how much shade will be on your lawn
• what will the lawn be used for(kids running and playing or just beauty)
• How high do you want to mow it
• What texture do you want to show off

The four types of warm season grasses are:

1. Bermuda grass (most popular)
2. Centipede grass
3. St. Augustine grass
4. Kikuyu grass
5. Zoysia grass.

Bermuda grass: This is by far the most popular type of warm season grass. Bermuda can handle cold OK. Bermuda, does need plenty of sun and can handle traffic. Needs a lot of water during hotter months(flooding).  Mowing height is low.

Centipede grass: Has a difficult time with allot of traffic, needs to be ornamental.  It’s texture is not fine or course, but medium.  Mowing height is medium.

Saint Augustine grass: Very rough and coarse texture and hates the cold. Flourishes in warm weather.  Does better with minimal traffic. Mowing height is high.

Kikuyu grass: Another very rough and coarse-textured.  Similar to St. Augustine grass.

Zoysia grass: This grass has a fine texture and can do ok with colder weather.  Needs plenty of sun like bermuda.  Traffic tolerance is OK. Mowing height is medium.