Which Type of Grass is Best Suited for Your Jonesboro Lawn?

While entertaining for the holidays this year, take a look at your current landscape. Maybe you need a reprieve from the in-laws, so you step outside for some fresh air. What do you see? Is your grass green, brown? Has it gone dormant for the winter? How much do you really know about the type of turf you have in your backyard. Was it there when you bought the house, or did you let the landscapers do their thing? Today, we’re going to talk you through the different types of grasses that exist, the most common we have here in Jonesboro, how to ensure you are choosing the right turf type for your specific lawn, and lawn care that will keep your grass healthy.

Two Different Types of Grasses; Warm Season and Cool-Season

There are two different types of grass, each containing its own varieties. They are cool-season and warm-season. Cool-season grasses grow best in northern climates with moderate summers and cold winters. Warm-season grasses thrive more in the southern regions that have hot summers and mild winters. Jonesboro and the surrounding areas are in a transitional zone, which means we typically use a mixture of both cool-season and warm-season grasses.

When choosing a type of grass, we first considers several factors, such as:

  • How much shade does your Jonesboro yard get
  • How much rain are we experiencing that year
  • How much work do you want to put into your lawn
  • The amount of traffic over your grass
  • What specific look you’re going for with your yard

First, let’s talk about the differences between some of the most common warm and cool-season grasses found here in Georgia:

Common Warm-Season Grasses Found in Jonesboro, GA

Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass is one of the most popular grasses found in the southern U.S. and the Jonesboro area. Due to its high tolerance for high traffic, it’s often used here on golf courses and sports fields. It’s well adapted to intense heat and our hot summers, it grows quickly and recovers well in times of drought. Its downfalls? It can grow so fast that it will often encroach on your flower beds, and it doesn’t do well in shaded areas. If you choose bermudagrass for your lawn, make sure you lay another type of grass on the shaded areas of your property.

St. Augustine
Another common grass type used in the south is St. Augustine. Unlike bermudagrass, it is shade tolerant and has a distinct coarse texture and dark green color. It doesn’t require a lot of maintenance and isn’t affected by most pests. However, it doesn’t fare well in high traffic, and its grass blades become flattened and compacted easily. If your lawn is not used for many activities, St. Augustine may be the perfect grass for you.

Centipede
This type of warm-season grass is perfect for someone who doesn’t want to or has the time to care for their lawn. Known as the “lazy man’s grass,” centipede requires very little maintenance and has light to medium leaves with a coarse texture. It is tolerant of our Jonesboro heat and grows fine in the sun or shade. On the downside, it doesn’t do well in high-traffic areas, and it’s a slow-growing grass and mostly prefers acidic soil.

Zoysia
Zoysia is an excellent grass for our region because it thrives in warm, sunny weather, but it can tolerate dips in temperatures when they occur. It is drought-resistant and creates a dense, carpet-like grass that establishes quickly. It thrives in direct sunlight but can grow well in partial shade. It’s not a fan of heavy foot traffic and can overtake your flower beds if not mowed regularly.

Common Cool Season Grasses in Jonesboro, GA

Because Georgia falls within the transition zone, many lawns also contain cool-season grasses or a mixture of both. This can be helpful because when the temperatures get cooler, and the warm-season grasses go dormant, the cool-season grasses will perk up. Consequently, you’ll enjoy a green lawn all year round. Two of the most common types of cool-season grasses utilized here in Georgia are fescue and Kentucky bluegrass.

Fescue
Fescue turf has wide, dark green grass blades that stay green even throughout the winter. It is relatively heat-hardy and can quickly take over for your warm-season grass when it goes dormant. Fescue is known for its bright green hues and pairs nicely with zoysia or Bermudagrass. This grass type does well in both sun and shade, and while it has a decent amount of drought tolerance, you will need to water it a bit more during a dry spell.

Kentucky Bluegrass
One of the most attractive-looking grass species, Kentucky bluegrass has dark-colored leaves, a soft texture, and does well even under heavy foot traffic. It prefers partial sun to mostly shade, and of all the grass varieties, this one needs the most diligent watering. It handles droughts better during the cool season but can struggle during the summer. You should only need to mow it once weekly, and it should have no trouble handling the colder weather that occasionally occurs in winter. If you spend a lot of time outdoors on your lawn playing games with the family, this is a perfect choice.

For All Your Lawn Care Needs In Jonesboro and the Surrounding Area, Call On Duncan’s Green Team

The team at Duncan’s can help you decide which type of grass is best for you. We specialize in lawn care and landscaping here in Jonesboro and surrounding areas and work with the most common types of warm and cool-season grasses grown in Georgia. Our eight-step lawn care program is customized to meet the needs of both cool-season and warm-season grasses providing the fertilization and weed control these turfs need to remain healthy and thrive.

Learn more about our highly effective lawn care program as well as all of our other services by visiting our website. You can also reach out to us online or give us a call at 770-478-0098. For our landscaping division, call 770-473-7700.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

© 2024 Duncan Green Team | All rights reserved.