The city of Spring, Texas, often feels more like summer (because it is hot), and that means warn-season turfs that can withstand the heat are the best grass types for beautiful lawns.
Located just a few miles away from the Gulf of Mexico, winds coming from the southwest bring extreme heat and stifling humidity through most of the year. This proximity to the ocean means there also is plenty of rainfall, which averages almost 50 inches per year.
With Spring’s subtropical climate, these are the four best grass types for lawns:
1. Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass is easy to care for, extremely drought-tolerant, holds up to foot traffic, and thrives in full sunshine.
Classification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Below-ground rhizomes and above-ground stolons
Shade tolerance: Poor
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: High
Maintenance needs: Bermudagrass requires weekly to bi-weekly mowing and fertilization during peak growing season, and regular watering and pest control.
Recommended mowing height: Mow to 1 to 1.5 inches
2. St. Augustine grass
St. Augustine grass isn’t as durable under heavy foot traffic, but the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says it does well in the shade and will remain attractive year-round with proper maintenance.
Classification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Above-ground stolons
Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: Moderate
Maintenance needs: Weekly mowing during peak growing season, fertilization, annual aeration, bi-annual dethatching, pest control.
Recommended mowing height: Mow every five to seven days to a height of 2.5 to 3 inches.
3. Zoysiagrass
Zoysia is a low-maintenance turfgrass that can handle the Texas heat and rarely struggles with disease or pest problems.
Classification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Below-ground rhizomes and above-ground stolons
Shade tolerance: Moderate
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: High
Maintenance needs: Light fertilization throughout the year, dethatching in the cool season.
Recommended mowing height: Mow to 0.5 to 2 inches
4. Centipedegrass
Another low-maintenance warm-season grass type, centipedegrass is less tolerant of shade, extended drought, and heavy foot traffic.
Classification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Above-ground stolons
Shade tolerance: Low to moderate
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: Low
Maintenance needs: Weekly mowing, and this grass type will need dethatching and pest control
Recommended mowing height: Mow to 1.5 to 2.5 inches
Although Spring doesn’t have any specific lawn watering restrictions in place, Harris County recommends watering twice per week before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m., when the sun is less likely to evaporate the moisture. Early morning is always best since nighttime irrigation can invite pests and disease.
If you have better (or cooler) things to do than mowing your yard in the heat, hire a lawn care pro in Spring to keep your grass in tip-top shape.
Main Photo Credit: Renelibrary / Businesses in Spring, Texas / CC BY-SA
