A lot of time is spent on your lawn hosting barbecues, playing games with your kids, and enjoying time with the pets. You probably put a lot of effort into planting your garden, designing your landscape, and creating the right atmosphere. Maybe you’ve even bought a new grill, comfortable patio furniture and have invested in new outdoor games such as bean bag toss and bocci ball. But quite possibly, you have overlooked one of the most critical components of a good landscape, the actual grass itself. Most of us move into a house after the lawn is established and never give it any thought. But there are a variety of factors to consider when choosing the right type of grass for your property. Some of these factors include:
- How much rain do we get in the Sioux Falls area
- How much shade does your yard experience?
- How much work do you want to put into your lawn?
- The amount of traffic that typically occurs on your lawn
- The specific look you are going for
Read on and learn everything there is to know about the different types of grass along with the common varieties grown right here in Sioux Falls. Then, the next time you need to plant new grass seed, you can best determine the combination that works well for you.
Cool-Season vs. Warm-Season Grasses
Cool-Season Grasses
All types of grass fall into two categories, cool-season, and warm-season grasses. Cool-season grasses consist of turf types such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and ryegrass which grow best in northern climates with modern summers and cold winters. They are perfect for cool, humid weather with temperatures that fall between 60 and 70 degrees. When soil temperatures fall consistently below 45 degrees, cool-season grasses will go dormant.
Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses include St. Augustine, centipede, Bermudagrass, and zoysia and thrive in the southern regions with hot summers and mild winters. They tend to be thicker and go dormant in the winter when temperatures drop below 65 degrees. St. Augustine and zoysia fair better in humid, subtropic climates such as the southeast and Gulf, while Bermudagrass thrives more in warm but dry climates.
The Types of Grasses Most Common in Sioux Falls
Here in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, due to our colder climate, we primarily have cool-season grasses with a mix of warm sometimes blended in. The most common types of grass we see in this area include:
Kentucky bluegrass
One of the most attractive looking cool-season grasses, Kentucky bluegrass grows rapidly, has dark green leaves, a soft texture, and does well in heavy foot traffic. It will tolerate light shade or full sun and prefers well-drained soil. However, it is more susceptible to lawn diseases and pests and can struggle during a hot summer. Out of all the cool-season grasses, Kentucky bluegrass needs the most diligent watering. To help control diseases, it is often mixed with perennial ryegrass.
Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is a popular turf seed used in the north due to its cold, heat, and drought tolerance. It has wide, dark green grass blades that stay green throughout the winter. It is perfect for those lawns that experience heavy foot traffic, including athletic fields and golf courses. It is less susceptible to pests than Kentucky bluegrass and acts as a natural weed controller blocking out the sunlight weeds need to grow. It grows well in both sun and shade and does well in all soil types. The one downfall to Tall fescue is that it grows fast; therefore, it may require more mowing, something to consider if you have a large yard or little time to care for your lawn. Tall fescue is often paired with zoysia or Bermudagrass for vibrant green color.
Fine-leaf fescue
This grass variety has thin leaves, is highly adaptable to all sorts of conditions, and doesn’t require a lot of attention. It’s often added to grass seed mixes because it tolerates drought and shade well, but fine-leaf fescue isn’t considered very attractive.
Ryegrass
Ryegrass is another drought-resistant turf with pale green leaves and a thin, fine texture. It is fast to germinate and grows extremely fast. Ryegrass is a good way to repair and restore thinning lawns, often called a “nurse crop,” because it’s often included in grass seed blends for its ability to grow rapidly and protect other grasses. It is commonly mixed with Kentucky bluegrass which takes longer to develop. It then acts as a cover protecting the Kentucky bluegrass from the sun until it is established. It is a hardy, low-maintenance grass that is insect and disease resistant. Unfortunately, it grows in clumps and can often appear patchy with bare spots that regularly need to be re-seeded.
Get Quality Lawn Care Services in the Sioux Falls Area With Eagle Lawn & Landscape, Inc.
Regardless of which type of grass your Sioux Falls property has, the quality professional lawn care service we provide at Eagle Lawn & Landscape Inc. can help you grow a lush and thick green lawn. Our five-step complete fertilizer and weed control program provides all cool-season grasses with the nutrients and weed control needed to maintain a robust, healthy lawn.
We also offer a variety of other lawn care services to help maintain a manicured look, including mowing, lawn raking, power raking, and aeration. Learn more about our five-step fertilizer and weed control program as well as all our other services by visiting our website. Then fill out our online contact us form or talk to someone on the phone right now by calling 605-366-1111.
For more tips and ideas regarding lawn care, follow our monthly blog articles. And, next time you’re on Facebook, check us out!