- Bermudagrass<\/a><\/li>
- Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>
- St. Augustinegrass<\/a><\/li>
- How to Choose the Best Grass for Your San Diego Yard<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Bermudagrass<\/h2>
![\"green](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_pexels-rovenimagescom-949584.jpg\")
Bermudagrass Photo Credit: Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Bermudagrass is a very common grass type for most of the U.S. It\u2019s a warm-season grass<\/a> that needs a lot of sunlight, but it\u2019s tough and resilient. Tolerant of heat, drought, traffic, and salt, this grass is a medium- to high-maintenance option for many lawns. It doesn\u2019t handle cold temperatures very well and thrives in the southern part of the country. <\/p>
Bermudagrass<\/a> grows quickly and needs about an inch of water per week from rainfall or irrigation to thrive. It may need fertilizer or other soil amendments to look its best, but it spreads easily via stolons and rhizomes (above and below ground, respectively). So if you\u2019re looking for durable grass, Bermudagrass might be a good pick for you. <\/em><\/p>
- Classification:<\/strong> Warm-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads by:<\/strong> Stolons and rhizomes<\/li>
- Shade Tolerance: <\/strong> Low<\/li>
- Drought Tolerance:<\/strong> High <\/li>
- Foot Traffic Tolerance:<\/strong> High<\/li>
- Maintenance Needs:<\/strong> High<\/li>
- Mowing Height:<\/strong> 1-1.5 inches<\/li>
- Potential for Disease:<\/strong> High; susceptible to dollar spot, spring dead spot, leaf spot, large patch, rust<\/li>
- Color\/Texture:<\/strong> Light to dark green; fine to medium leaf texture<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Seed Options:
\u2013 <\/strong>Pennington Bermudagrass Bare Spot<\/a> (5 lb. bag)
\u2013 Pennington Smart Seed Bermudagrass Mix<\/a> (8.75-lb. bag)
\u2013 Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass<\/a> (10-lb. bag)
\u2013 Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass<\/a> (50-lb. bag)<\/p>Tall Fescue<\/h2>
![\"Tall](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3863142192_ab8342d487_k-1.jpg\")
Tall Fescue. Photo Credit: Matt Lavin<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Tall fescue is a cool-season grass<\/a> with good heat tolerance. It\u2019s also shade, disease, and drought tolerant, so for San Diego yards with low to moderate amounts of shade, this grass type may be a good fit. Its self-repair is limited, so if it thins out, you may need to overseed. <\/p>
Tall fescue<\/a> establishes easily and germinates quickly, so within a few weeks of seeding, you should see some progress. Tall fescue grows deep roots, which help it to grab water and nutrients from deep within the soil. It also requires less fertilizer than other grass types and grows well in various soil types.<\/p>
- Classification:<\/strong> Cool-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads by:<\/strong> Bunch-forming grass<\/li>
- Shade Tolerance:<\/strong> Moderate<\/li>
- Drought Tolerance:<\/strong> High<\/li>
- Foot Traffic Tolerance:<\/strong> High (must be overseeded if thinning occurs)<\/li>
- Maintenance Needs:<\/strong> Low<\/li>
- Mowing Height:<\/strong> 1.5-3 inches<\/li>
- Potential for Disease:<\/strong> Low; susceptible to brown patch<\/li>
- Color\/Texture:<\/strong> Dark-green; coarse texture<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Triple-Play Tall Fescue Grass Seed Blend<\/a> (5000 sq ft)
\u2013 Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (choose your size)
\u2013 Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix<\/a> (7 lb.)<\/p>St. Augustinegrass<\/h2>
![\"St.](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_800px-stenotaphrum_secundatum_variegatum-1-the_regent_hill-yercaud-salem-india.jpg\")
St. Augustinegrass . Photo Credit: Yercaud-elango<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> St. Augustinegrass is a great pick for warm areas. This grass does not do well with cold temperatures, but it is moderately drought tolerant, so the Southern California climate is a perfect fit. It\u2019s a quick-growing grass that does well in moderately shady areas. St. Augustinegrass spreads via above-ground stolons and has a somewhat dense growth habit. <\/p>
As a moderate-maintenance turfgrass, expect to mow St. Augustinegrass<\/a> regularly and fertilize during the growing season (approximately March through October). However, don\u2019t cut it less than 1 inch when you mow, as you risk placing too much stress on the grass. Mowing too low weakens the turf and may make it more susceptible to weeds, pests, or disease.<\/p>
St. Augustinegrass doesn\u2019t hold up under very high traffic, so if you have more than the normal wear and tear on your lawn, you may need to consider another option.<\/p>
- Classification:<\/strong> Warm-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads by:<\/strong> Stolons<\/li>
- Shade Tolerance:<\/strong> Low to moderate<\/li>
- Drought Tolerance:<\/strong> Moderate <\/li>
- Foot Traffic Tolerance:<\/strong> Moderate<\/li>
- Maintenance Needs: <\/strong>Moderate<\/li>
- Mowing Height:<\/strong> 1-2 inches<\/a><\/li>
- Potential for Disease:<\/strong> High; susceptible to take-all root rot, brown patch, gray leaf spot, pythium root rot, fairy ring<\/li>
- Color\/Texture:<\/strong> Blue-green, coarse texture<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Plug Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Seed Ranch St Augustine Seville Grass Plugs<\/a> (2 Trays)
\u2013 Seed Ranch St Augustine Floratam Grass Plugs<\/a> (2 Trays)<\/p>How to Choose the Best Grass for Your San Diego Yard<\/h2>
Soil Type<\/h3>
The first step to a healthy lawn is knowing your soil<\/a>. The southern part of California consists mainly of clay<\/a> soil. Being close to the coastline, clay soil helps retain essential nutrients due to poor drainage but can contain high amounts of sea salt that can harm plants. <\/p>
Know the nutrients your soil currently contains by doing a soil test,<\/a> as this will help you to determine the fertilizer you\u2019ll need for optimal grass growth. The exact look and feel of your lawn will depend on the grass type you choose, but a lush, green yard is attainable no matter what type you go with.<\/p>
Here are other factors that are important when choosing the best grass for your San Diego yard.<\/p>
Heavy-Traffic vs. Low-Traffic Areas<\/h3>
While some homeowners want to enjoy low-level activities in their grass, such as yoga, some will be actively involved in their yards, playing sports with their children. Therefore, they will need grass that can withstand constant foot traffic from pets and people. Here is how these grasses measure up. <\/p>
Best grass types for high-traffic areas:<\/strong><\/p>
- Bermudagrass and tall fescue <\/li> <\/ul>
Best grass types for low to moderate traffic:<\/strong><\/p>
- St. Augustinegrass <\/li> <\/ul>
How Much Maintenance?<\/h3>
If you want to take pleasure in the beautiful weather that San Diego provides year-round, the last thing you want to do is work hard to keep your grass looking good. Instead, you will likely want to enjoy the beauty of your grass while also enjoying the weather. Here are the grasses with the highest and lowest maintenance requirements.<\/p>
High-maintenance:<\/strong><\/p>
- Bermudagrass<\/li> <\/ul>
Low to moderate maintenance:<\/strong><\/p>
- St. Augustinegrass and tall fescue<\/li> <\/ul>
Sun vs. Shade<\/h3>
One more important factor to consider is how much sun or shade your grass will receive. If you have a lawn shaded by trees or buildings for most of the day, consider a grass type with a moderate shade tolerance. However, if you have a yard that is exposed to full sunlight most of the year, choosing a grass that loves the sun is a great choice. <\/p>
Grasses with moderate shade tolerance:<\/strong><\/p>
- Tall Fescue<\/li> <\/ul>
Grasses with low to moderate shade tolerance: <\/strong><\/p>
- Bermudagrass<\/li>
- St. Augustinegrass<\/li> <\/ul>
If you\u2019d like to explore other options, grass alternatives<\/a> work well for some homeowners. These grass alternatives include artificial turf, ground cover, and ornamental grasses, to name a few. However, keep in mind that only some of these alternatives raise property value<\/a>.<\/p>
Call in the Pros<\/h2>
When you are ready to grow the best grass type for your San Diego lawn, don\u2019t go it alone. A San Diego lawn care expert<\/a> can help you select the best grass type for your yard and lifestyle. Then, let our pros cut and maintain your lawn going forward to enjoy a healthy stand of grass year-round.<\/p>
- Tall Fescue<\/li> <\/ul>
- St. Augustinegrass and tall fescue<\/li> <\/ul>
- Bermudagrass<\/li> <\/ul>
- St. Augustinegrass <\/li> <\/ul>
- Spreads by:<\/strong> Stolons<\/li>
- Spreads by:<\/strong> Bunch-forming grass<\/li>
- Spreads by:<\/strong> Stolons and rhizomes<\/li>
- Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>