The best grass types for Dallas, Texas, are drought-tolerant, warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, Bermuda, centipede, and Zoysia that can endure hot temperatures with little water.
Here in Denton, in far North Dallas, we have a Bermudagrass lawn, which looks terrific but requires regular mowing. My dad usually mows the lawn every four days until near the end of July.
Grasses can be high maintenance, low maintenance, or somewhere in between. Some Dallas-area lawns will need to be watered more. Some grass types thrive in full sun.
What is the best grass type for YOUR Dallas lawn? Choosing the right Dallas grass depends on the conditions of your yard, including the amount of sun (or shade), foot traffic, and how much effort you want to expend on lawn maintenance.
Take the quiz below to find which grass type our lawn care research recommends for your yard, then read more about each of the 4 best grass types for Dallas.
Dallas Lawn Grass Decision Calculator
Find the Dallas grass that is best suited to the conditions of your yard and your maintenance preferences. Our calculator considers key factors such as shade tolerance, drought resistance, foot traffic, maintenance requirements, and soil type.
🌱 Grass Match Calculator for Dallas
Answer a few questions to find the perfect grass type for your Dallas lawn
1. St. Augustinegrass
St. Augustinegrass, with its coarse texture, is ideal for Texas’s warmer regions and flourishes in temperatures between 75 and 90 degrees.
St. Augustine has a coarser texture than other warm-season grasses, but that texture is great for covering up weeds and other minor turf problems. Certain St. Augustinegrass varieties can perform well in shade, making them a good option for homes with lots of trees.
Dallas-Area Pro Tip from Bradley Rearden of Rearden Landscape and Maintenance in Midlothian: “St. Augustinegrass is a great choice for Dallas lawns. It thrives everywhere and is easy to maintain.”
- Shade tolerance: Moderate
- Drought tolerance: Moderate
- Foot traffic tolerance: Low
- Mowing height: 2.5 to 4 inches
- Potential for disease: Moderate to high
See Related: 7 Best Fertilizers for St. Augustinegrass
2. Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass does well throughout Texas, but it is primarily suited to the warmer areas of the state.
Bermudagrass is highly drought-tolerant and visually appealing with its dark, blue-green color. It requires full sun. Bermudagrass is often used for lawns, athletic fields, and golf courses.
This grass type is available in several varieties in North Texas, including:
- Blackjack
- Blue-muda
- Contessa
- Jackpot
- LaPaloma
- Majestic
- Panama
- Riviera
- Sunbird
Dallas-Area Pro Tip from Jose Tovar of Tovar Landscaping of Fort Worth: “I recommend Bermudagrass sod for Dallas-area lawns. Other sod, such as St. Augustine, can be invasive and take over neighboring lawns.”
- Shade tolerance: Low; thrives in full sun
- Drought tolerance: High
- Foot traffic tolerance: High
- Mowing height: 1.5 to 2.5 inches (common Bermuda)
- Potential for disease: Moderate
See Related:
- 7 Best Fertilizers for Bermudagrass
- How and When to Fertilize Bermudagrass Lawns
- How to Keep Bermudgrass Out of Flower Beds
3. Centipedegrass
Dallas is ideal for growing centipedegrass because it tolerates both full sun and partial shade. As it cannot handle heavy foot traffic or extended periods of drought, this slow-growing grass species is a good low-maintenance choice for homes with small, low-traffic lawns.
This grass has several varieties with textures ranging from medium to coarse, and they can all withstand heat effectively. Despite its sensitivity to cold, centipedegrass can usually survive Texas winters.
However, centipedegrass typically performs best in acidic soils found in East Texas. Most soils in Dallas are alkaline, so homeowners will need to test the natural pH of their soil to determine if centipedegrass is right for their yard.
- Shade tolerance: Low
- Drought tolerance: Moderate
- Foot traffic tolerance: Low
- Mowing height: 1 to 2 inches
- Potential for disease: Low to Moderate
See Related:
4. Zoysia
Due to its strong drought resistance, weed resistance, and moderate shade tolerance, Zoysiagrass is becoming increasingly popular in dry, warm regions of Texas. Zeon Zoysia and Palisade Zoysia are two of the many types of Zoysiagrass available for Dallas homeowners.
Zoysiagrass feels great on bare feet and is a deep, rich green. This type of grass is less labor-intensive to maintain than many others since it grows slowly and fills in densely, requiring less frequent mowing and preventing weeds from intruding.
Even in dry, hot weather, Zoysiagrass can withstand heavy foot traffic.
Dallas-Area Pro Tip from Martin Vel of ABCesped of Fort Worth: “Zoysiagrass looks great, is easier to maintain, and can grow in shade.”
- Shade tolerance: Moderate
- Drought tolerance: Moderate
- Foot traffic tolerance: High, but recovers slowly from damage
- Mowing height: 1 to 2 inches
- Potential for disease: Low to Moderate
See Related:
Comparing the Best Dallas Grass Types
Dallas-Area Pro Tip from Cole Duncan of Lone Star Mow Co. of Fort Worth: “We recommend all grass types! Everyone’s property is different, and which type of grass you choose is important. Many factors go into it, like how much sun or shade the lawn gets, watering habits, even whether you have pets or not.”
Check out these pros and cons of each grass to learn about your Dallas-area lawn:
| St. Augustinegrass | |
| Pros: ✓ Shade-tolerant ✓ Hides weeds and turf damage | Cons: ✗ Low foot traffic tolerance ✗ Needs frequent mowing ✗ Develops thatch easily ✗ Needs regular fertilization ✗ Susceptible to diseases ✗ High maintenance |
| Bermudagrass | |
| Pros: ✓ Drought-tolerant ✓ Grows well in full sun ✓ Withstands high foot traffic | Cons: ✗ Frequent mowing due to fast growth ✗ Develops thatch easily ✗ Needs regular fertilization |
| Centipedegrass | |
| Pros: ✓ Tolerates full sun ✓ Low fertilizer needs | Cons: ✗ Can’t withstand extended drought ✗ Low foot traffic tolerance ✗ Shallow root systems ✗ Easily damaged by alkaline soil ✗ Sensitive to cold |
| Zoysiagrass | |
| Pros: ✓ Moderately drought-tolerant ✓ Withstands heavy foot traffic ✓ Low maintenance ✓ Infrequent mowing ✓ Requires low nitrogen fertilization ✓ Weed-resistant | Cons: ✗ Prone to thatch buildup ✗ Recovers slowly from damage |
See Related: 10 Best Drought-Tolerant Grasses for Your Yard
Make Lawn Care Easy: Hire a Dallas Lawn Care Pro
Whatever type of grass you have, you can ensure your Dallas lawn survives the growing season, even in the extreme Texas heat. It just takes regular mowing, watering, weeding, feeding, and some TLC.
That takes time – which you may not have. Whether you have Bermudagrass or Zoysiagrass, our Dallas-area lawn care pros can handle all your mowing and lawn care chores.
LawnStarter’s Dallas-area lawn care services are also available in Irving, Arlington, Richardson, Plano, and even up here in Denton where I live. With our app, it’s easy to book LawnStarter’s 20+ lawn care, landscaping, tree care, and other outdoor services.
Read More:
- How to Ensure Your Lawn Survives the Dallas Summer Heat
- 7 Lawn Watering Tips for Dallas
- Guide to Fall Lawn Care in Dallas
- Winter Lawn Care Guide for Dallas
- 20 Best Drought-Tolerant Plants for Texas
Sources:
- “Centipedegrass.” By Casey Reynolds, turf expert. AggieTurf.
- “Keeping Your Lawn Alive During Drought.” By James McAfee, turfgrass Extension specialist. Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center.
- “St. Augustinegrass.” By Casey Reynolds, turf expert. AggieTurf.
- “Turfgrass Selection for Texas.” By David R. Chalmers, professor, and James McAfee, turfgrass Extension specialist. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
Main Image Credit: Illustration by Whitney Lehnecker / LawnStarter; Adobe Stock photos
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