7 Types of Grass in Alabama: Adding Vibrancy to Your Lawn

Types of grass in Alabama are of so many varieties, and we are sure you will find what you are looking for in this article.

Which grass has the easiest lawn care in Alabama, or which is the best grass for south Alabama?

Continue reading to know the answer to these interesting questions and more.

List of Grass Types for Alabama

1. Tall Fescue

This grass type is native to the Pacific Northwest and southern states of Europe and is a cool-season perennial grass. It is naturally found in wet meadowlands and damp pastures in the state of Alabama and would grow well in these conditions. It develops itself in clusters, giving it its second name, ‘bunchgrass.’

It is grown primarily for manure and grazing, and is signified in being helpful in recycling nutrients and manure and reducing soil erosion. Additionally, it is a cool season grass that develops into a mature sod in three to four years.

Furthermore, tall fescue possesses small rhizomes and propagates through vertical shoots called “tillers” that grow by seed distribution rather than creeping. You can easily spot this clumpy-looking grass type in a lawn containing mixed grass types.

We recommend that the maximum height to keep the grass is three to four inches in length, and that’s because the longer you keep your grass, the harder it is to look for weed growth. As a result of the latter, it needs to be mowed regularly in the northern regions. But if your area is more towards the south, the grass would appreciate if you mow it regularly with a mowing height of about two to three inches.

You do not need to winter or segregate this grass type, because of its characteristic, however, don’t worry if the grass turns brown, as it is common when the heat is high, but you must also remember that it would tolerate the cold, too as it is resilient. Over seeding the grass is necessary to maintain your beautifully kept lawns. It is well capable of handling heavy foot traffic.

2. Bermuda Grass

Native to tropical and subtropical regions, historical documents reveal it was established as one of the primary grasses in southern states in the early nineteenth century. One of the perennial warm-season grasses shows active and visible growth when provided with the perfect growing conditions.  

The grass is mostly used in athletic fields, golf courses, tennis courts, etc. It can also be used for stabilizing roadside banks and pastures. You will see it thrive when the soil requirements are at their utmost required kind, which is an acidic kind of soil that has a well-draining property. 

Mowing this grass type once at the start of every spring is a good idea, because remember that its thriving season is during the end of spring and summer. Once the soil is warmed to at least sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit, it enters its active growth phase. The recommended mowing height for it is one to one and a half inches, for the ideal growth and thriving of the soil.

The grass is heat and drought-tolerant, also, it will withstand heavy traffic and is a favorite among the citizens of the United States because of its resilience. Depending on the residential areas, Bermuda grass may be a leading choice for lawn owners. The grass grows its best in southern lawns. 

3. Kentucky Bluegrass

This grass is widely used and is native to Europe and northern Asia. It was first used and is still used on rolling hills as a pasture grass in the United States. During periods of low rainfall and high heat, Increase its mowing height to three to four inches. 

One thing to be keen about is always be careful not to remove more than one-third of the blade’s total length in one go, as this is a crucial point. On another note, this grass is widely used as a turfgrass in athletic fields, lawns, golf grounds and is planted and in graze land, basically in the areas where it flourishes well.  

Moreover, note that it is a cool-season grass and is more suitable for the northern regions. Some of its varieties are sensitive to drought and heat, while some are vulnerable to stress damage. It is shade tolerant to some extent, but that can be ignored over its exceptional ability to self-repair, make sure that the soil is kept moist but of course not overly watered, or else it will be harsh for the growth and establishment of the grass, it may lose its color and become weaker. 

4. Zoysia Grass

First introduced to the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century, This warm-weather-loving grass is native to Korea.  Because of its dense turf, it is mostly used in golf courses, parks, and other places with heavy traffic areas.

Most gardeners make the mistake of allowing the grass to its maximum height and then mowing it. But it is best to mow it often and mow no more than one-third of its actual length. Make sure that you would provide the soil that is slightly acidic, and locate it in a place with direct sunlight, hence the leaves would feature such a beautiful green color.

It is drought-tolerant and is not a heavy feeder, which is why you must fertilize it less often. On another note, it propagates by the sturdy branching rhizomes and stolons, which take way longer than the other grasses to establish. When you invest in this grass, the lawn it would create is mostly put together by strip sodding, sprigging, and plugs, but it can also be done by seed sowing.

5. St. Augustine Grass

The grass, also known as buffalo grass, is native to the Caribbean, South America, and the southeastern United States. It performs its best in the southern and warmer regions of the country, as it would thrive so well in Alabama.

When you wish to invest in this, you can propagate it only from transplanted sod or plugs, and when it grows, the ideal mowing height for the grass is two and a half to three inches.

This is the type of grass that would thrive in the warmer seasons, which are spring to summer, and it has a fast growing rate, but would also require at least ninety days before the first frost to establish itself. However, you cannot rely on the mass production of seeds for commercial usage. 

It grows more quickly than the other popular lawn grasses to the extent that it can even give weeds a tough time. On the other hand, once it gets cultivated, the grass would develop on its own, mostly through stolon, because it does not tolerate drought tolerance and loses its beautiful color in winter.

To grow it well, note that you need to ensure it has proper feeding because it is a heavy feeder and can handle moderate foot traffic but not heavy ones. Additionally, it is a great grass to grow on the coastline because of its salt tolerance. Just ensure that the location is partly sunny, and the soil is a well draining one. 

6. Perennial Ryegrass

Grass has wide use all across the United States, but of course, its use differs from region to region, and one of the best states would be Alabama. It is a permanent part of the northern and southern lawns that need a pop of color, has a characteristic of a quick germination rate, and is valued for providing shade to neighboring grasses. 

The perennial grass is more suitable to be grown in the southern regions as one of the cool-season grasses. It is the most common grass in Alabama and is a favorite in permanent and temporary lawns.

Furthermore, the heat and drought tolerance of the plant varies with the variety, you can see its proper growth in spring and in fall. In addition, you need to mow the lawn grass as soon as it shows active growth, and it should not be grown over one and a half to two and a half inches. 

7. Centipede Grass

It is native to China and Southeast Asia and has been used in the United States since the introduction of grass seeds. This is the type of grass that is a much-loved warm-season grass and is extremely sensitive to cold, and it shows active growth in warm seasons.

The ideal mowing height for the grass is one to two inches, which means it is perfect for maintaining the dreamy grass you have been working so hard to achieve. Furthermore, it propagates by stolons and is a light feeder; under-fertilizing does more good than over-fertilizing, because it may harm or weaken the grass.

This grass type is low-maintenance and far more heat tolerant than the other grass species. It has the easiest lawn care, and you do not need to look after it once it starts growing. Rather, you can even forget about it after that.  It is mostly grown in the southeastern regions of the United States. Furthermore, it is distinguished by its shallow root system.

Conclusion

We all love a beautifully kept garden but often need clarification on widely available varieties.

Whichever grass type you decide to grow, remember the following important points from the article above:

• The most carefree grass is the forgiving and friendly Centipede. It is ideal for homeowners with little time to tend to their lawns.
• You can grow St. Augustine if your lawn is home to weeds.
• The fast-growing grass will leave no room for nasty and unwanted weeds.
• Tall fescue grass and zoysia are the perfect mat-forming grasses for your lawn.

But you are lucky, as our grass experts are here to help you with everything related to grass, which means now you know so much. After discovering these plants that are a favorite in Alabama, which grass would you like to grow?

References

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/zoysia.html
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/centipedegrass-maintenance-calendar/
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/zoysiagrass/

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