- Bermudagrass<\/a><\/li>
- Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>
- Zoysiagrass<\/a><\/li>
- St. Augustinegrass<\/a><\/li>
- Buffalograss<\/a><\/li>
- Best Grass Seed for Northern California<\/a><\/li>
- Best Grass Seed for Southern California<\/a><\/li>
- Best Grass Seed for Central California<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Bermudagrass (Cynodon<\/em> species)<\/h2>
![\"close-up](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-from-rawpixel-id-5911985-original-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: rawpixel<\/a> \/ CC0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> This warm-season grass<\/a> is often used in golf courses, but it\u2019s also very common in Californian lawns. There are many varieties of Bermudagrass<\/a>, each with a a slightly different set of characteristics.<\/p>
Pros: <\/strong>Bermudagrass is popular with homeowners because it can handle a lot of foot traffic and because of its excellent heat and drought tolerance. It can also tolerate the cold well despite being a warm-season grass, so it isn’t too out of place in Northern California.<\/p>
Cons: <\/strong>It\u2019s a fast-growing and high-maintenance turfgrass; it needs frequent mowing, dethatching, and fertilization, and it often invades your landscape beds<\/a>. Aside from that, it also has poor shade tolerance and needs full sun to survive. Lastly, although it can handle the cold, it goes dormant and turns brown whenever the temperature gets too low.<\/p>
- Classification: <\/strong>Warm-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads Through: <\/strong>Aggressively through stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems)<\/li>
- Tolerances<\/strong><\/li>
- Shade: <\/strong>Low. Keep in full sun<\/li>
- Drought: <\/strong>High<\/li>
- Foot Traffic: <\/strong>High. Recovers quickly from damage<\/li>
- Diseases and Pests: <\/strong>Good resistance to disease, but diseases are common; low resistance toward insects.<\/li>
- Maintenance Needs: <\/strong>Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate, develops thatch easily, and needs regular fertilization<\/li>
- Mowing Height: <\/strong>\u00bd to 1 \u00bd inches for hybrid cultivars, 1 \u00bd to 2 \u00bd for common Bermudagrass<\/li>
- Soil pH: <\/strong>6 to 6.5<\/li>
- Soil Type: <\/strong>Tolerates most soil types<\/li> <\/ul>
The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program lists a few cultivars of hybrid Bermudagrass that you can use in your garden: Tifgreen, Tifway II, and Santa Ana. They\u2019re all rather similar, but the first two are better at keeping their color in the winter, while the last one handles smog better.<\/p>
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 (Festuca arundinacea<\/em>)<\/h2>
![\"tall](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3863142192_5ee6dd93d7_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Turf-type tall fescue<\/a> is a cool-season grass with a coarse texture. This turfgrass has wide, dark green grass blades and is very popular throughout the Golden State, even in the hotter parts of Southern California.<\/p>
Pros: <\/strong>Although tall fescue is a cool-season grass<\/a>, it\u2019s quite a drought-resistant one; it can also handle a lot of wear and tear, disease, and heat. Thanks to its deep roots, tall fescue is also very low maintenance, thriving even in the face of mild neglect. Lastly, it stays green all year round, unlike warm-season grasses.<\/p>
Cons: <\/strong>While tall fescue can tolerate drought well, it will become dormant when faced with an extended drought. Unlike other grasses, dormancy isn\u2019t something this turfgrass can shake off easily. It recovers very slowly, needing to be overseeded when it sustains significant damage.<\/p>
- Classification: <\/strong>Cool-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads Through: <\/strong>Weakly through rhizomes, grows in bunches<\/li>
- Tolerances<\/strong><\/li>
- Shade: <\/strong>Moderate<\/li>
- Drought: <\/strong>Moderate to high, but extended drought will really hurt it<\/li>
- Foot Traffic: <\/strong>Moderate<\/li>
- Diseases and Pests: <\/strong>Moderate<\/li>
- Maintenance Needs: <\/strong>Needs frequent mowing, especially in the spring<\/li>
- Mowing Height: <\/strong>2 inches, but only mow when the grass reaches 3 inches tall<\/li>
- Soil pH: <\/strong>5.5 to 6.5<\/li>
- Soil Type: <\/strong>Tolerates a variety of soil conditions but does best in well-draining fertile clay soils<\/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>Zoysiagrass (Zoysia <\/em>species)<\/h2>
![\"Zoysiagrass](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/47968290767_f917cd3595_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: K-State Research and Extension<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> This warm-season grass is a good choice for homeowners that don\u2019t want to exert a lot of effort on their lawns. Zoysiagrass<\/a> is deep emerald green, dense, and rather stiff. In California, two species of Zoysia are common: Zoysia tenuifolia<\/em> and Zoysia japonica<\/em>.<\/p>
Pros: <\/strong>Unlike Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass grows slowly, so it doesn\u2019t need a lot of maintenance. It also has good tolerance to foot traffic, drought, heat, salt, and cold, and it can also handle a little shade. <\/p>
Cons: <\/strong>While Zoysiagrass is cold-tolerant, it is slower to green up once spring comes around. Because it grows slower, it also recovers slower when faced with diseases. Despite this slow growth, it\u2019s prone to developing thatch and to spreading into your flower beds.<\/p>
- Classification: <\/strong>Warm-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads Through: <\/strong>Stolons and rhizomes<\/li>
- Tolerances<\/strong><\/li>
- Shade: <\/strong>Moderate<\/li>
- Drought: <\/strong>Moderate to High<\/li>
- Foot Traffic: <\/strong>High<\/li>
- Diseases and Pests: <\/strong>Good resistance to disease but recovers slowly<\/li>
- Maintenance Needs: <\/strong>Doesn\u2019t need a lot of fertilizer; it develops thatch easily when overfertilized<\/li>
- Mowing Height: <\/strong>1 to 2 inches<\/li>
- Soil pH: <\/strong>6 to 6.5<\/li>
- Soil Type: <\/strong>While some cultivars tolerate various soil types, Zoysiagrasses typically prefer well-draining soils<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Plug and Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Zoysia Plugs <\/a>(50 Large Grass Plugs)
\u2013 Zoysia Plugs <\/a>(50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
\u2013 Zoysia Plugs <\/a>(100 Plugs)
\u2013 Zoysia Emerald Grass Seeds<\/a> (1\/8 lb. of seeds)
\u2013 Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds<\/a> (1\/8 lb. of seeds)<\/p>St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum<\/em>)<\/h2>
![\"St](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/St-Augustine-Grass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Stickpen<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ Public domain<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Dense and coarse, St. Augustinegrass<\/a> is a blue-green to medium-green warm-season grass that\u2019s great for homeowners living near the coast. It\u2019s quite salt-tolerant, so it’s one of the best grass types for Los Angeles<\/a> and other coastal cities with salty air.<\/p>
Pros: <\/strong>Once established, it\u2019s almost indestructible, resisting heat, drought, pests, weeds, and disease quite well. It\u2019s also one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses out there, so it won\u2019t suffer in a lawn with trees. Lastly, it grows fast.<\/p>
Cons: <\/strong>Unlike Zoysiagrass and Bermudagrass, St. Augustine isn\u2019t very cold-tolerant, nor can it handle foot traffic all that well. It also requires more lawn care than Zoysiagrass, needing frequent mowing and dethatching.<\/p>
- Classification: <\/strong>Warm-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads Through: <\/strong>Stolons<\/li>
- Tolerances<\/strong><\/li>
- Shade: <\/strong>Moderate. Most shade-tolerant warm-season grass<\/li>
- Drought: <\/strong>Moderate to high, but it will need water to stay green during drought<\/li>
- Foot Traffic: <\/strong>Low<\/li>
- Diseases and Pests: <\/strong>Moderate to High<\/li>
- Maintenance Needs: <\/strong>Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization (2-6 applications from spring to fall)<\/li>
- Mowing Height: <\/strong>3 \u00bd to 4 inches<\/li>
- Soil pH: <\/strong>6 to 7.5<\/li>
- Soil Type: <\/strong>Tolerates most soil types but prefers moderately fertile, moist soil. Doesn\u2019t like compact soils.<\/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>Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides<\/em>)<\/h2>
![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/PIXNIO-4149-800x600-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Titus Tscharntke<\/a> \/ Pixnio \/ CC0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Although buffalograss<\/a> is typically found in the Great Plains, there is a variety that thrives in the Golden State. Formerly known as \u201cUC Verde\u201d buffalograss, California buffalograss<\/a> (Buchloe dactyloides<\/em> \u2018UC Verde\u2019) was developed by researchers to withstand West Coast droughts. Unlike most other grasses, this warm-season grass can only be propagated through plugs.<\/p>
Pros: <\/strong>California buffalograss is very low maintenance; you only need to mow it every 2 to 3 weeks, and it\u2019s drastically less thirsty than other grasses. It\u2019s also quite resistant to weeds and doesn\u2019t need a lot of chemical treatments for fungi and insects.<\/p>
Cons: <\/strong>Like most warm-season grasses, buffalograss goes dormant in the winter, turning it brown. It also doesn\u2019t tolerate shade well.<\/p>
- Classification: <\/strong>Warm-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads Through: <\/strong>Stolons<\/li>
- Tolerances<\/strong><\/li>
- Shade: <\/strong>Low<\/li>
- Drought: <\/strong>Very high, but it will turn brown in the summer if you don\u2019t water it<\/li>
- Foot Traffic: <\/strong>Moderate<\/li>
- Diseases and Pests: <\/strong>Moderate to High<\/li>
- Maintenance Needs: <\/strong>Very low maintenance, needing little water; only needs to be mowed every 2 to 3 weeks but can also be left unmowed if you want a meadow look<\/li>
- Mowing Height: <\/strong>1 to 1\u00bd inches, but can be left unmowed<\/li>
- Soil pH: <\/strong>6.5 to 7.5<\/li>
- Soil Type: <\/strong>Prefers clay soils<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 <\/strong>Everwilde Farms Buffalograss Seeds<\/a> (1 lb. of seeds)
\u2013 Scotts Pursue Buffalograss with Natural Seed<\/a> (1 lb. of seeds)
\u2013 Outsidepride Perennial Buffalo Grass Seed<\/a> (2 lb. of seeds)<\/p>Best Grass Seed for Northern California<\/h2>
Northern California is part of the Pacific Northwest, which is cooler and wetter than the rest of the Golden State. As such, many cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass<\/strong>, colonial bentgrass<\/strong>, perennial ryegrass<\/strong>, and fescue grasses (tall fescue <\/strong>and fine fescue<\/strong>) do well in Northern California. You can also use Bermudagrass<\/strong> if you don\u2019t mind it going dormant in the winter.<\/p>
If you live near San Francisco, check out our article on the best grass for the Bay Area<\/a>.<\/p>
Best Grass Seed for Southern California<\/h2>
Southern California tends to be very hot and dry, so homeowners in this part of the state should invest in heat-tolerant and drought-resistant grasses like Zoysiagrass<\/strong>, Bermudagrass<\/strong>, St. Augustinegrass<\/strong>, California buffalograss<\/strong>, and Kikuyugrass<\/strong><\/a>. You can also use tall fescue<\/strong> if you prefer grass that can stay green throughout the year.<\/p>
While not a turfgrass, you might want to consider sand dune sedge<\/strong><\/a> as a landscaping grass option.<\/p>
Best Grass Seed for Central California<\/h2>
Central California has less extreme temperatures than either Northern or Southern California. However, it can still get rather hot, so Bermudagrass<\/strong>, St. Augustinegrass<\/strong>, Zoysiagrass<\/strong>, and tall fescue<\/strong> are good turf choices for this part of the state.<\/p>
FAQs About the Best Types of Grass for California<\/h2>
Is California in the transition zone?<\/strong> - Spreads Through: <\/strong>Stolons<\/li>
- Spreads Through: <\/strong>Stolons<\/li>
- Spreads Through: <\/strong>Stolons and rhizomes<\/li>
- Spreads Through: <\/strong>Weakly through rhizomes, grows in bunches<\/li>
- Spreads Through: <\/strong>Aggressively through stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems)<\/li>
- Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>