If you’ve ever felt the lush grass at a golf course, you know what a difference the type of grass makes. Even at home, knowing your yard type will affect how you need to treat it. But what kind of grass do you have? Atlanta sits in a temperate zone, so it is home to a variety of grasses, but the ones that do best are:
North Atlanta – Cool Grasses:
- Ryegrass: Grows best and fast in cool, humid or soggy areas, in just about any soil.
- Fescue: A cooler grass that’s better for the north side. Thrives even in the shade.
Temperate:
- Bermuda: Found on fairways and 50 yard lines, and most of the lawns in Atlanta. Hardy, thick, doesn’t mind 90 or 30 degree weather, or foot traffic and drought.
- Zoysia: Just right. Enjoys heat, yet tolerates the cold. It loves direct sunlight but can withstand partial shade. Not drought tolerant, though, needs regular watering.
South Atlanta – Warm Grasses:
- Centipede: Drought-tolerant, dominates other grasses and weeds.
- St. Augustine: a deep south warm weather grass with a wide blade. Endures sun and high temperatures, and is often found along Georgia’s coast.
The best ways to get to know your lawn grass better are:
Hardware Store: Talking to locals who know the grass, the weather and the ground composition in your neighborhood can provide perhaps the most useful information on its care and treatment.
Online: There are grass identifying websites, but Pennington seems to have the most clear photos. The site includes information about the hardiness and identifying characteristics of each type. Sodsolutions.com gets really technical about blade size and spreading habits.
Mobile Apps: The two most highly recommended grass identifiers are PlantNet and PictureThis, both available for Android and iOS. Take a photo and PlantNet should be able to identify the grass on the spot. PictureThis works the same way. Is it a weed? Both apps not only recognize grass, but thousands of other plant varieties.
University of Georgia: The UGA Extension Office is always eager to talk about agriculture in any form. There is a lot of turf information on the website, or else give them a call to ask about their sampling and analysis programs. They may direct you to your county’s agricultural extension office.
Atlantans take pride in their homes. A beautiful lawn says, “Welcome!”