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| Hi all-
We moved into our house last year and our lawn looks pretty bad. It's a big mix of weeds, crab grass, and grass (not exactly sure what type). Anyway, I just applied a weed killer (Ortho - the kind that kills St Augustine) and am planning to seed the first of April. I'm having a difficult time deciding what type of grass to plant. I don't want an award winning lawn. Just something that looks decent, can handle dog/kid traffic, and requires little maintenance (e.g., water, mowing, fertilizing, etc.) I don't want to spend the money on sod, so it's down to seeding. Bermuda was my initial thought as it does well in the heat and I'm not too concerned about flowerbeds, but I only want to mow every 1-2 weeks. It doesn't look like that would work with bermuda. Centipede also looks like a possibility, but I've read that takes months to years to actually grow. What's my best option? Would bermuda stand a chance if it was only mowed every 2 weeks? What other grasses do well down here in north Texas? Thanks! |
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| Bermuda is out since you don't want to mow more than once a week, and most of the best ones are sodded varieties. Bermuda not mowed often becomes thin and unattractive. It also requires monthly fertilizer. Centipede is probably out as well. Centipede likes acidic soil, and I believe central Texas' soil is typically alkaline. Plus it does take a while to establish, and needs to be cut low like Bermuda, so that's out. St. Augustine is probably your best option but it is almost always sodded or sprigged as a seeded variety is very new, not very good, and not readily available. So what does that leave? Zoysia, seashore paspalum and hybrid bluegrass. Seashore paspalum is probably out since it requires low mowing. That leave Zoysia and hybrid bluegrass. Both can get by with weekly mowings, both do well in heat, zoysia being a warm season grass handles it better. Zoysia will turn tan in winter, while HB will probably remain green. Hybrid bluegrass would probably do better if you planted it in the fall, Zoysia needs to be planted in late spring. Both need to be watered in times of drought, and both need some degree of care, as all lawns do. |
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- Posted by texas-weed 7A (My Page) on Sat, Mar 17, 12 at 22:52
| Well you are in between a rock and hard place, because you have just eliminated every viable option available to you. You have basically three choices in TX. Bermuda in both seed and sod. Saint Augustine is only available as sod. Zoysia. There is one or two varieties available as seed but germination rates are poor, and they are not very desirable cultivars, and require extreme TLC to get established. |
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| Thanks for the response. I thought Dallas was too far south for bluegrass. I didn't think it was an option. Also, what about Bahia grass? Just found it online and it seems to have many of the characteristics I'm looking for. And if it matters, my yard is mostly sunny with some shade. We've got 3 trees in the front, but they're not enormous and let some sun through. Thanks again! |
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| "Thanks for the response. I thought Dallas was too far south for bluegrass." Kentucky bluegrass yes, Hybrid bluegrass (Kentucky X Texas bluegrass) no. Do a little research online. Bandera and Reveille are two popular cultivars of hybrid bluegrass. |
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| Great, I'll check into those. What are your thoughts about Argentine Bahia grass? Thanks! |
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| I've found information about Bandera and Reveille, but no place to purchase it online. Do you happen to know of any places? Thanks! |
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| You have to poke around the internet. Pawnee Buttes carries some varieties, and I think Newsom Seed does as well. Stay away from Solar Green as I have seen studies showing it isn't very drought tolerant. Reveille seems to be one of the better ones in terms of drought. |
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- Posted by texas-weed 7A (My Page) on Sun, Mar 18, 12 at 15:43
| You are going to be real sorry if you go with Texas Blue Grass come June/July. It can only be planted in the Fall and is restricted to the Pan Handle region of the state. Drive around DFW and try to spot a lawn with it. There is a very good reason you cannot find a lawn or the seed in DFW. |
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- Posted by dchall_san_antonio 8 San Antonio (My Page) on Sun, Mar 18, 12 at 21:17
| St Augustine is the only grass that comes any comfortable distance to your dream grass. Too bad you killed it before asking for help. Seeding the first of April? Only a northern grass like fescue or KBG would germinate in cool soil. Bermuda can only be seeded in hot soil. June is a good time for bermuda. The other grasses you are asking about all have issues with Texas soil or climate. As you drive around there are only two lawns - bermuda and St Augustine. Don't fight Mother Nature. Pick one of the ones that works in your region and make it work. St Augustine has the added feather that you don't need to mow it at all if you (and your spouse and neighbors) can stand really tall grass. I'm running that experiment right now. Some of mine is knee high. My dog gets her exercise plowing through it. |
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- Posted by texas-weed 7A (My Page) on Mon, Mar 19, 12 at 9:20
| Dave do you have a cat or two to control rodents? I agree SA should be kept at 3 to 5 inches, but even that height can lead to rodent problems. Snakes dig it too. |
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