The 6 most popular types of grass that grow in Memphis, Tenn., lawns

Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Tennessee aerial view

Frequent garden and landscape maintenance is an effective way to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your house. Moreover, it is an activity that enables creativity. However, if you love gardening and keeping up with lawn maintenance, it helps to be familiar with the difficulties and complications associated with it – and the fact that you have to really be committed to the job.

There are several traits that good gardeners have that can help you enhance and beautify your front or back yard. But there is no question that the type of grass you have plays an instrumental role in everything. The grass must be chosen with respect to the condition and fertility of the soil and the climate of the region. The right type of grass will not only beautify your lawn but also be durable and well-adapted to your region. If you’re a resident of Memphis, Tennessee or another neighboring area, and are looking for the most popular types of grass available, look no further. Mentioned below is a list of grass suitable for growing in your Memphis lawn:

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1. Zoysia

Zoysia japonica 'Compadre' in a lawn
Photo Credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Zoysia is one of the best grass types that you can go for in this case. It has a rough and tough texture and the narrow leaves don’t get easily trampled or deformed. Moreover, this turf grass is light green in color and is perfect for lawns, parks, sidewalks, etc. It is also quite easy to maintain and does not require a lot of care. However, it can be easily damaged due to high temperatures. Therefore it is important that a bit of shade is provided.

Grass Plug and Seed Options:
Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)
Zoysia Emerald Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)
Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)

2. Bermuda

close-up of bermudagrass
Photo Credit: rawpixel / CC0

This is another type of turf grass that is suitable for Memphis lawns. Its aggressive growth makes it highly resistant to weeding. Just like Zoysia, Bermuda is also very rough and tough, which makes it more durable and less of a bother to maintain. It can also survive easily in droughts and extreme temperatures. Maintaining this grass is not an issue. However, it may require a bit more of your attention during winter as you would have to mix it with other types of grass including ryegrass in order to keep it from invading your flowerbeds.

Grass Seed Options:
Pennington Bermudagrass Bare Spot (5 lb. bag)
Pennington Smart Seed Bermudagrass Mix (8.75-lb. bag)
Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass (10-lb. bag)
Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass (50-lb. bag)

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3. Centipede

closeup image of centipedegrass
Photo Credit: James Becwar JamesBecwar / Wikimedia Commons / CC0

Centipede is the turf grass you need if you are looking for a low maintenance, tough grass. You can also grow it with acidic soil. This type of grass has a rough texture and can withstand weed and pest infestations. Moreover, this low maintenance grass is also very appealing and turns lush green in color during mildly hot weather.

Grass Seed Options:
Gulf Kist Coated Centipedegrass Seeds (1 lb.)
Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Centipedegrass (3.75 lbs.)
TifBlair Centipedegrass (5-lb. bag)
Pennington Centipedegrass and Mulch (5-lb. bag)

4. Fescue

Close up image of fine fescue grass with a hand on it
Photo Credit: Aaron Patton / Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program

This cold resistant grass is one of the best options to opt for. There are a number of varieties that fall in this category. All Fescue varieties can tolerate drought, shade, heat and general damage. However, the tolerance of different grass-types may vary. The only drawback of this type of grass is its intolerance of high temperature as it can be easily damaged during summer. In order to make sure Fescue grass in your lawn stays well even in summers, you must over-seed it with some warm season grasses.

Grass Seed Options:
Triple-Play Tall Fescue Grass Seed Blend (5000 sq ft)
Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed (choose your size)
Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix (7 lb.)

5. Bluegrass

close-up photo of annual bluegrass
Photo Credit: NY State IPM Program at Cornell University / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Bluegrass is a cold-season grass and is perfect for lawns that receive no or less shade. It remains beautifully green for almost the whole year. However, it is not very drought resistant and might also get damaged due to high temperatures. Moreover, the grass requires a bit more attention and has to be kept maintained.

Recommended: Scotts Turf Builder Kentucky Bluegrass Mix Grass Seed

6. Ryegrass

Close up image of perennial ryegrass
Photo Credit: Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Ryegrass is a more commonly found grass specie in Tennessee. You can find it almost everywhere – gold courses, parks, athletic fields. This means it can handle a lot of foot traffic without getting damaged. While most people use it to mix with other grass seeds, some prefer planting it alone in their lawns and gardens. This is not a high maintenance grass and is best for giving a vibrant look to your garden even during winter. Ryegrass is also drought as well as heat resistant.

Grass Seed Options:
Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)

You must carefully choose the best and most suitable grass type for your lawn. This would require you to consider the weather condition in your region as well as the condition of the soil in your lawn. Once you have decided on a grass type, you can purchase the seeds from any nearby box store. Moreover, you can also order them online.

Have more questions about grass types or lawn care? Visit our Memphis lawn care page for more information.

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Main Photo Credit: Kruck20 / Canva Pro / License

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Jake Hill

Jake Hill grew up working for his dad's landscaping company, and spent over 6 years covering the lawn care industry for LawnStarter. His expertise has been featured in The Huffington Post, Realtor.com, Homecity.com and more. Now he is founder and Editor in Chief of DebtHammer.org.