There are several varieties of grass to choose from when starting a new lawn in Texas. Choosing the right type of grass for your area is important for maintaining the type of lawn you want. Warm-season grasses are the most commonly grown, but  there are a few situations where heat-tolerant cool-season grasses can work well.

Cool-season grasses are usually started from seed, and warm-season grasses from seed, plugs, sprigs, or sod. For most varieties of warm-season grass, laying sod or planting sprigs and plugs is the recommended approach. Lawns establish more quickly from plants than seed, and are easier to care for. However, growing from seed is much less expensive and newer varieties of turf grass can be successfully started from seed, and can be a good choice if you are able to water daily.

Warm-season Grasses For Texas

Most turf-grasses grown in Texas are warm-season grasses. These varieties of grass are native to tropical regions and are able to withstand hot summers. They are generally drought tolerant and will stay green through most summers. In the winter, most warm-season grasses will go dormant.

• Bermuda grass grows well throughout Texas. It requires full sunlight, and is tolerant of both traffic and drought. This grass is fast-growing and will require frequent mowing. Many varieties of Bermuda grass can be started from seed.
• Zoysia grass also has good drought tolerance, though not as good as Bermuda grass, and can be grown throughout Texas. It can be started from seed, but grows slowly. Zoysia has a moderate tolerance for shade, and requires less fertilizer than other grasses.
• Buffalo grass grows best in central and west Texas. It is low-maintenance, water-efficient, and prefers full sun. Buffalo grass can grow in alkaline soil. Some varieties – such as Texoka, Commanche, and Plains – can be seeded.
• Centipede grass is good choice for east Texas. It prefers higher rainfall than many other warm-season grasses and is less tolerant of drought. Centipede grass can be started from seed, but it grows so slowly that starting from sod is recommended.

Cool-season Grasses for Texas

There are a few cool-season grasses that can be grown in some parts of Texas.

• There are a few varieties of heat-tolerant bluegrass. Scott’s Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix is one. You can also find seed known as Texas bluegrass, which is heat tolerant and can stay green all year in northern and central Texas. It does best in lawns where it will not get much traffic from feet or lawn equipment.
• Tall fescue can be grown in northern Texas. It is shade tolerant and can grow in a variety of soils, but will need more irrigation than warm-season grasses and Texas bluegrass.
• Ryegrass can be used for overseeding Bermuda grass lawns for winter color. If planted in late September or October, it can stay green all winter, then die in the spring to make way for the permanent lawn.

Growing the right grass for your area is the first step toward establishing a new lawn. Once you have selected a variety of grass that will work for your area and decided between seeding or planting, you’ll be well on your way to having a nice, healthy lawn.