Which Variety Of Grass Should You Choose For Your Lawn?

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Growing and maintaining a green patch of grass on your property seems like a relatively trivial endeavor from the outside. It’s something that practically anyone can do, right?

Well, it turns out that things aren’t as simple as you might imagine, especially when you throw all of the different species of grass into the mix. It turns out that the seeds you decide to sow depend heavily on the climate in the region you live in and the amount of light the grass gets throughout the season.

What’s more, the grass type you choose can have profound effects on how your lawn ultimately winds up. It could look terrific. But, at the same time, the grass might not thrive at all.

This point is one that Puget Construction & Landscape emphasizes. You need to be strategic when it comes to having a green and verdant lawn. You can’t just rely on blind luck to get you the results you want.

So what are your options when it comes to grass species? And how should you use them?

Shade Tolerance

Some of us have lawns where the grass is in the shade for vast portions of the day, perhaps because of neighboring trees or properties. Most species will struggle to thrive in these conditions, with most needing at least six hours of sunlight per day to survive. However, varieties like Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo can survive being in the shade for around 70 percent of the day. So, as long as they are in sunlight for approximately four hours, that should suffice.

Remember, many varieties of grass can barely tolerate shade at all. Some types will die if they are in shadow for more than 10 percent of the day, so you need to be careful.

Trampling Tolerance

The amount people will walk on your grass will also determine the variety that you sow. We’ve all watched in horror as our beautiful lawns become muddy messes during long, wet winters. So is there anything you can do to stop this?

It turns out that there are a couple of varieties that thrive well in high traffic conditions. Kikuyu is the best for lawns where kids play, or you want to do sports. Thanks to its root structure and ability to spring back after trampling, it can handle tremendous wear and tear. Other varieties, like zoysia, also do well because of the high levels of silica they contain.

Drought Tolerance

Finally, the climate can play a massive role in the appearance of your lawn. Some species require regular watering while others remain green and verdant well into drought season even if they don’t receive a drop of moisture.

Again zoysia is one of the top choices here. It’s a highly drought-resistant turf that can remain green and stay alive for longer under extreme water restrictions.

If you don’t like zoysia, you can also try couch. Stadiums tend to use these grasses so they can keep the water content of their pitches low and players safe.

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