Different grass species have different maintenance needs to keep the lawn healthy and attractive. Cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses vary in growth habit and preferred conditions, and even within those categories each species has different care requirements. If you know what type of grass you have in your lawn, then you’ll know when and how short to cut the grass, what time of year to aerate the lawn, and the best times to fertilize. You can look up common grass species in your local area online by zip code to see pictures and learn more about each grass type.
Common Texas Grasses
One of the most common lawn grasses in the central and southern U.S., Bermuda grass is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10. It’s a warm season grass that you can identify it by the deep-green color, rough leaf edges, and spreading (sometimes invasive) growth habit. When it blooms, the grass has a distinctive 3- to 5-fingered seed head.
Zoysia grass is a warm-season variety that grows slowly to form a thick lawn. You’ll recognize it by the stiff leaf blades that feel “prickly” when you walk on it barefoot or touch the grass with your hands. This grass is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9.
St. Augustine grass is another warm-season grass common in southern regions, especially along the coasts. You can identify this grass by the 1/4-inch wide leaves with rounded tips. The color is dark green, and it’s hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10. Some lawns contain a mixture of St. Augustine and Bermuda grasses.
In northern parts of Texas, you’re likely to see a mix of cool-season grasses like bluegrass, rye, and fescue. They’re hardy in USDA zones 2 through 7. The bluegrass and ryegrass have a spreading habit and a soft texture, while fescue grows in coarse clumps. Fescues are sometimes grown by themselves in shaded areas or high-traffic locations, and tall fescue is heat-tolerant enough for north-central Texas.
Species-Specific Care
Warm-season grasses grow actively in late spring through early fall when the weather is warmest. Wait to fertilize them until after they’re started growing, and then follow a regular fertilization schedule until early fall. Warm-season grass should be aerated in the spring.
For cool-season grass, peak growth occurs in the cooler months of the spring and fall. They should be fertilized in the early spring and in the fall, when they’re actively growing. Fall is the best time to aerate cool-season grasses.
To keep them green, cool-season grasses will need more water in the summer. Of the warm-season grasses, Bermuda grass is high-maintenance in terms of water, fertilizer, and mowing requirements. St. Augustine grass also requires plenty of water to thrive. Zoysia takes over a year after planting for the lawn to fill-in but forms a low-maintenance lawn once established.
Grass Cutting Guides
Each type of grass grows best when they’re mowed withing a specific height range. Some grasses thrive when cut to only 1/2 inch tall, while others grow best if you maintain them between 2 and 3 inches. For the healthiest grass, never cut more than 1/3 the total height in a single mowing
- Bermuda grass: 1 to 2 inches
- Zoysia: 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches
- St. Augustine grass: 2 to 4 inches
- Bluegrass: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches
- Ryegrass: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches
- Fescues: 1-1/2 to 3 inches
For each grass, cut at the lower end of the range if the lawn is well-watered and in full sun. Cut at the higher end of the grass’s range to help the lawn survive drought or shaded conditions.
