A lush, properly-maintained lawn can do more than just beautify your home. It absorbs rainfall, lowers soil erosion, produces much-needed oxygen, and enhances the quality of air by absorbing dust and other particles. Whether you're trying to revitalize existing grass that has been damaged by disease or winter or aiming to grow your lawn from scratch, planting the most suitable grass seed can help you make your lawn look incredibly beautiful.

The good news is that there are over a dozen varieties of grass. Turf grasses generally fall into two primary categories – cool-season grasses, which are highly suited for areas that experience cold winter months and rampant temperature fluctuations like those states that are situated in the northeast, north, upper Pacific and the Midwest. On the other hand, warm-season grasses thrive in warmer climates such as the southern, southeast and Gulf Coast regions of the US.

We have listed down the details and descriptions of the best type of grass seeds that can be grown across the different regions of the nation.

Grass Seed for Warm Seasons

Warm-season grasses are highly resistant to hotter temperatures. Some types of grass seed that you can opt for if you live in a warmer climate include:

1. Bahia Grass

Bahiagrass is a tough, warm-season turfgrass that is highly appropriate for the humidity and heat of the Southern region. It has a low need for water and thrives under full sun or partial shade.

Bahiagrass has a texture that is rougher than other turfgrasses. However, due to its toughness, it can easily handle foot traffic.

2. Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass is another warm-season grass that grows aggressively and can thus, quickly fill up your lawn. It needs to be watered more frequently than Bahiagrass and requires full sun to grow to its maximum potential.

Bermuda grass is also drought tolerant and wear-resistant. Over seeding with rye will allow your lawn to say lush green even during winters.

3. Centipede Grass

Centipede grass is a low-maintenance and low-growing turfgrass that has an extremely rough texture. It is highly suited to the acidic soil of the lower Southern regions. However, it doesn't do well in extremely dry areas unless it is frequently watered.

4. St. Augustine

St. Augustine is a variety of grass seed that grows quite slowly. It has coarse, wide leaves with somewhat rounded tips. St. Augustine is highly heat-resistant and very tough, which makes it a popular choice all across the Gulf Coast, particularly Florida.

St. Augustine has to be watered quite often and can bear heavy rains that are quite common in Southeast US. And even though this grass isn't as cushiony and soft as other varieties, it is highly resistant to mechanized lawn tools and high levels of foot traffic.

5. Zoysia Grass

Zoysia grass is quite similar in some respects to St. Augustine grass. It grows slowly, requires maximum sunlight, and has coarse and stiff leaves. Zoysia grass generally turns brown during prolonged bouts of winter, but it will regain its green color once the temperatures start to increase.

Grass Seed for Cold Seasons

Cold-season grasses are highly resistant to lower temperatures than other varieties and grow quite quickly in the fall and spring. However, their growth does slow down during the warmer seasons. Some cold-season grass that you can opt for include:

1. Fine Fescue Grass

Fine fescue grass is a rapidly-growing grass that has thin leaves with pointed edges. It is frequently used in seed mixes, often mixed with ryegrass and bluegrass seeds.

Fine fescue grass cannot bear long periods of dry and hot weather. However, it's perfect for northern regions as it withstands temperature fluctuations and thrives in both shade and full sun.

Fine fescue is a great grass seed to plant underneath trees. Keep in mind that there are several types of cool-season fine fescues. Hence you need to ensure that you pick one that's suitable for your particular region.

2. Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most commonly planted grass seeds in the cooler northern regions of the US. Several sod farms in the north plant Kentucky bluegrass as it's a reliable seed that results in hearty and healthy lawns. It has very attractive V-shaped leaves in dark green colors that are incredibly soft yet resistant to lawnmowers and foot traffic.

Kentucky bluegrass endures both partial shade and sun. However, it doesn't do well in highly shaded areas. Another feature of Kentucky bluegrass is that its resistant to disease.

3. Perennial Ryegrass

Even though perennial ryegrass has soft, thin, and pointed leaves its stands up quite well to foot traffic. It's very common as it germinates rapidly and grows well in shade and sun, and gets established quicker than other types of cool-season grass seeds.

Perennial ryegrass is typically found as a component of a grass-seed mix. Its generally combined with Kentucky bluegrass seed to develop grass that's highly tolerant to shade. However, a disadvantage of ryegrass is that it grows thicker in certain areas than others, resulting in clumps that can make your lawn appear patchy.

4. Tall Fescue

Tall fescue endures dry and hot weather much better than other varieties of cool-season grasses. Its tough, thick, dark green-colored leaves can tolerate lawnmowers and high amounts of foot traffic quite well.

Tall fescue is quite similar to ryegrass in the sense that it will sometimes grow in thick dark-green, isolated patches.

Last Few Words

By aligning your region's temperatures with the grass seeds   that are most appropriate for them, you can have a beautiful lawn where you can enjoy quality time with your family. Region and weather-appropriate grass seed blends and mixes help offer every growing advantage.

With the improved drought, insect, and disease resistance, grass seed by Grange Co-op can help your lawn reach its highest potential.