Q. How can I tell what kind of grass to use for my lawn? There are so many different types!
Selecting the best grass for your climate and situation depends on several factors. Is the area going to get full sun exposure, partial shade, or full shade? Does the soil hold water (clay) or does it drain rapidly (sandy)? Will the area get much foot traffic? Do you need to plant grass to control erosion? How often will you be able to mow it? Each variety has advantages and disadvantages that you should know about before making a decision.
Bent grass is extraordinarily beautiful and is frequently used on golf courses. It does well in the coastal areas north of Los Angeles where the weather is often cool and humid and can tolerate some shade and frequent mowing. It will not tolerate heavy foot traffic, extreme heat or water stress and requires frequent fertilization.
Bermuda grass is very tough, drought-tolerant, and can endure foot traffic. It requires frequent mowing and de-thatching. It will go dormant in the winter months, so you may have an unsightly lawn for part of the year.
Rye grass (winter rye) can be used to overseed a Bermuda lawn since it grows (and is green) throughout the winter when Bermuda is dormant. It does not tolerate heat and will promptly die when the weather becomes warm in the spring.
Tall fescue is very popular in Southern California since it tolerates heat and is disease-resistant. Once established, it enjoys deep but less frequent watering. It does not produce rhizomes, so de- thatching is not an issue.
Fine fescue (red fescue, Chewings, or hard fescue) is a popular choice for slopes since it can be left unmown and is somewhat shade-tolerant.
Kikuyugrass grows well in coastal Southern California and is known to be weed-resistant. Unlike most turf grasses, it is stolong-propagated. Unsurprisingly, thatch tends to build up quickly, so it will need frequent de-thatching.
Zoysia enjoys full sun but is also shade-tolerant. It is slow to establish but develops deep roots, meaning that it is more resistant to water stress.
Buffalo grass (particularly U.C. Verde) is very drought-tolerant once established. It is propagated by plugs, so the time it takes to fill in a lawn depends on initial planting density. It tolerates light foot traffic and can be mowed or left to grow. The blades are fine-textured and an attractive gray- green color. It has a short winter dormancy period, but will green up in early spring.