6 Best Types of Grass for Your Lawn: A Complete Guide

Looking for the best type of grass for your lawn? You’ve come to the right place. We have a list of the best types of grass and their uses. Whether you want to make your own lawn or just improve it, we’re here to help!

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Without the appropriate basic knowledge of grass types, you may end up dealing with numerous struggles to keep your grass looking good. These struggles can lead to unnecessary time and effort spent on trying to keep your lawn maintained.

Keep in mind that there are thousands of different types of grasses worldwide, but this article is only meant to cover some of the most common grasses used on lawns in the United States.

If you already have a lawn but need some help in getting it to recovery, then you should start with our article on How to Keep Your Lawn Green and Thick.

Cool-Season Grasses and Warm-Season Grasses

The first step in determining the best grass for you is understanding what grasses are suitable for your region and climate. There are two categorizations of grasses in regard to climate: cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses.

The graphic below illustrates where cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses grow best. The graphic also shows a small overlap area called the transition zone, where both cold-season grasses and warm-season grasses can be sustainable (generally).   

With this in mind, you’ll want to do some research on which grass type would be suitable for your lawn specifically. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite types of grasses based on the look, feel, and maintenance. Check them out below!

Best Types of Grass for Your Lawn

1. Kentucky Bluegrass  

Kentucky Bluegrass is a cool-season grass / transitional zone grass and is quite popular among homeowners in the United States.

With Kentucky Bluegrass, you’ll get a dense, lush, dark green lawn that is not just beautiful but also durable. It is the most common type of grass used in backyards.

You will notice that Kentucky Bluegrass has a soft overall texture. This grass generally has a rounded tip and fine blades.

You’ll see this grass growing back every year, which means you’ll be investing in a durable, long-term lawn. However, the resiliency of this grass results in heavy growth during the spring and fall, which means more time spent on maintenance.  

If you live in the northern region of the United States, Kentucky Bluegrass might be your best bet. That’s because the grass can withstand very cold temperatures throughout winter.

If you want to buy some Kentucky Bluegrass seed, you can check out some prices on eBay.

2. Perennial Ryegrass

If you are looking for a versatile grass that matches multiple environments, you should consider Perennial Ryegrass.  

Perennial Ryegrass is a cool-season grass / transitional zone grass. These seeds germinate relatively quickly, so you don’t have to spend as much effort when first planting the seed.

Perennial Ryegrass has fine blades, which means you can use them to create a lush lawn with ease.

This grass will give you a lush lawn year-round and will even be able to retain its nice light green color throughout winter.

However, make sure you’re not in a place where temperatures are too extreme. Perennial Ryegrass does well in more moderate climates where it doesn’t get too hot or cold.

Perennial Ryegrass is a great option mainly because of the fast growth associated with this grass. With light shading, you can retain the good looks of your lawn grass.

This grass is recommended for people who live in the northern regions of the United States. However, keep in mind that it can’t resist colder weather as well as the previously mentioned Kentucky Bluegrass.

If you want to buy some Perennial Ryegrass seed, you can check out some prices on Amazon.

3. Tall Fescue Grass

Tall Fescue is another cool-season grass / transitional zone grass known for doing well in colder environments.

If you live in the United States’ northern region, this grass will retain its lush appearance throughout the year. Likewise, the grass can also withstand heat during summer.

Another unique feature of Tall Fescue grass is that it has a high shade tolerance, which means it can survive in areas with less sunshine.

You will notice that the grass has a coarse texture compared to other popular grasses.

As a best practice, you’ll want to keep this grass at the height of approximately ½ inch.

Fine Fescue, a variety of fescue, has similar characteristics to Tall Fescue but has thinner blades, as the name suggests.

If you want to buy some Tall Fescue seed, you can check out some prices on Amazon.

4. Zoysia Grass

Zoysia is a warm-season grass / transitional zone grass, so if you live in the southern United States, Zoysia is a great option to consider.

This grass is ideal for people who are looking to have a lush lawn because this grass grows in relatively thick.

Because you can get this grass to grow in thick, Zoysia grass can usually perform well in high foot-trafficked areas. For this reason, some people place Zoysia grass in their walkways or outdoor play areas.

The blades of Zoysia grass offer a medium texture. You can mow this grass to a height of around 1 to 2 inches to retain the best looks of this beautiful and thick grass in your backyard.

One of the unique features of Zoysia grass is that it has a high drought tolerance but also handles humid weather conditions very well.

However, it is important to note that Zoysia grass requires considerable time to germinate and grow into its full form.

When you plant the Zoysia seeds, you can plant fewer seeds since the grass grows relatively thick. For this reason, this grass is a great option for pets.

If you want to buy some Zoysia grass seed, you can check out some prices on Amazon.

5. Buffalo Grass

People with tight schedules, who don’t have a lot of time to take care of their lawn, should consider Buffalo Grass.

Buffalo Grass is a warm-season grass / transitional zone grass with the ability to withstand colder temperatures (relative to other warm-season grasses).

This grass is particularly known for its ability to do well in warm/dry climates.

Buffalo Grass requires much less watering than some other types of grasses discussed in this article. However, the tradeoff is that the grass can end up dry, brown, and patchy in some cases.

You can find several variations in Buffalo Grass, which includes fine textures as well.

The grass will grow relatively quickly and is best mowed at the height of around 1 to 2 inches. Then you can retain the overall performance and use it without encountering any significant issues.

If you want to buy some Buffalo Grass seed, check out eBay for prices.

6. Bermuda (Bermudagrass)

Bermuda is another warm-season grass / transitional zone grass that is known for its resiliency.

Many people love this grass because regular watering and mowing are usually enough to keep this grass in good shape.

This grass is known to recover well from surface damage or heavy foot traffic due to its ability to grow quickly. The fast-growing nature of this grass also means consistent mowing is required, but other than that, this grass is relatively easy to maintain.

Bermuda grass has a high heat tolerance but is also generally sensitive to colder temperatures in shaded areas. So if you plan to use Bermuda grass in your yard, keep in mind that your lawn will need a healthy amount of full sun exposure.

If you want to buy some Bermuda grass seed, you can check out some prices on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mix different types of grasses or grass seed?

Certainly! Many different types of grasses can be used on your lawn, but it’s a good idea to ensure they are compatible. Grass seed is even sometimes sold pre-mixed with different types of grasses.

Why do dogs eat grass?

Dogs eat grass mainly due to boredom or anxiety. However, there are situations where your dog would eat grass because of digestive issues.

By carefully observing your dog, you will be able to confirm whether they are struggling with any digestive health issues or not. If you see repeated vomiting, you should take your dog to a vet.

Why is my grass yellow?

Yes, grass will continue to grow during the fall and winter months. However, you will experience a significant slow in grass growth due to lower temperatures.

When the temperature drops under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the slowed grass growth will become more apparent.

For the same reason, you will not have to worry about mowing your lawn as often during the fall and winter months.

While matured grass will continue to grow slowly during the winter months, grass seed tends to lay dormant in the winter months and begin sprouting in the spring months.

Does grass grow in the fall/winter months (October, November, December)?

There could be many reasons your grass is yellow in color. Nutrient deficiencies, improper fertilizing, and lack of sunlight are the most common causes.

However, you will also see yellow-colored grass due to problems caused by insects and diseases. Make sure not to provide too much or too little water to grass, as it can remove the nutrients or lead grass towards malnutrition.

What grass is used for golf putting greens?

There aren’t any specific requirements for the types of grass selected for putting greens.

However, grass varieties, such as creeping St. Augustine grass, Bentgrass, Bermudagrass, and Poa Annua, are widely used for putting greens.

For golf courses, there can be dozens of grass varieties planted within one square foot.