Types of Grasses You Must Know Of

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Grass is grown on lawns. It serves as pasture for grazing animals. When driving along grass-covered stretches of land, when traveling in the countryside, when mowing the lawn, when walking barefoot on it - we come across grass so often. But we do not know about its variety. Here, we tell you about types of grass.

Grass - green in color and comforting to the eyes, carpeting landmasses, creating landscapes, always looking greener from the other side! Do you know about the different types of grass? Do you know which type prefers which season? Here we tell you that.

Grass can be classified under two broad categories. Warm weather grasses Cool weather grasses

Warm Weather Grasses

Most of the warm weather grasses turn brown during the cooler seasons. They are native to tropical regions and flourish even during the months of scorching heat. Drought tolerance is seen in some grasses of this type.

As these grasses grow older, they form a dense covering on land. They are mostly found in the Southern regions. Grasses like Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, and Bahia grass can be grouped under this category.

Cool Weather Grasses

These types of grass turn brown during the hot seasons. They exhibit their drought-resistant nature by being dormant during certain periods. They maintain their green color during the colder times.

A few types of these grasses can be grown together. Their leaf types and textures are compatible with each other. Some of the grasses that fall into this category are Fescue, Bluegrass, and Ryegrass.

Blue grass is not named because of its color. It got its name from the color of its seed head. It grows during spring and summer up to a height of two to three feet.

It belongs to the genus 'poa'. Kentucky bluegrass is one of it's famous types. It has the ability to spread into thin areas. It is fairly tolerant to hot and cold temperatures.

Fescues , classified as cool weather grasses, are shade-tolerant, resistant to drought, and remain green throughout the year. Fescues include sub-species like creeping red fescues and tall fescues. They are found in Canada. Ryes are similar to fescues.

They are native to Europe, Asia, and northern regions of Africa. Perennial Ryegrass is grown with Kentucky bluegrass. They germinate speedily. It is fairly tolerant to extreme temperatures, both high and low.

Bent grass is another type of cool weather lawn grass. It is regarded as the most beautiful of the lawn grasses. It requires a high amount of maintenance.

Bermuda grass is cold and drought tolerant. It spreads quickly. It loves sunlight and thrives well during the warmer seasons. Its require less maintenance.

Mainly use on sports fields, golf courses, and parks. It is native to the African Savannah. It is popularly grown in the Southeastern U.S. and is best for walking.

St. Augustine grass is deep-rooted and fast-growing. It can survive in mild winter temperatures. It has originated from the tropical regions. Compared to the Bermuda grass, this type is less tolerant to cold and drought. In the Southeastern parts of US and in California, it is known as carpet grass.

Zoysia is a type of grass belonging to warm weather grasses. It is attractive-looking and drought-resistant. It got its name from the Austrian botanist Karl von Zois. Zoysia grasses are the first to turn green during the spring season and turn brown after the first frost.

They are native to Japan and China. Zoysia is also known as Japanese Lawn grass or the Korean Lawn grass.

Centipede grass is another type of a warm weather lawn grass. It can adjust with less fertile soils. It resists grass pests and requires the least maintenance. Bahia grass is the grass of the lawns and the pastures. It is prone to fewer diseases. It is good for sandy and acidic soils.

Bamboo is the name of a tribe of flowering perennial evergreen plants in the grass family Poaceae. The largest members of the grass family are the Giant bamboos. The Bambusa ventricosa species, when grown in pots, becomes dwarf. Bambusa multiplex Tiny Fern and Bambusa multiplex Golden Goddess are dwarf species of bamboo.

Apart from those mentioned here, there are various types with interesting names of grasses. One of them is monkey grass . It is a green, perennial grass, adapting well to adverse weather conditions. It prefers dampish soil. It never needs to be mowed. It is mostly used as a ground cover.

Buffalo grass reminds us of herds of buffaloes grazing and it is from these buffaloes that the grass got its name! This type of grass is the main source of food for buffaloes on the Great Plains. The water requirement of buffalo grass is low.

Lemon grass is a herb, which is one of the main constituents of herbal medicines and beverages. You can actually grow it in your backyard! Pampas grass can grow to a height of 3 meters. It has long and slender leaves and is evergreen. In places like California, it is known as the invasive weed.

Here's something about selecting grass for your lawn.

Consider the part of the country you live in. Consider the climate and amount of rainfall your region receives. This is because some types of grasses require high amounts of rainfall while others do not. Think if you love gardening or not. You can accordingly opt for grasses requiring a high or low maintenance.

At times, grasses like Fescue requiring low maintenance don't tolerate traffic. So consider the traffic of people your lawn is likely to get. Understand the amount of sunlight required by the various types of grasses and see which needs of the grass your lawn can satisfy.