Selecting the proper lawn grass is extremely important to avoid future problems on your site. In the Concho Valley, the turf species most often used include St. Augustine, Bermuda (common or hybrid), zoysia, buffalo grass and tall fescue.
It’s important to understand that each turfgrass species, as well as varieties within species, hasweaknesses.
For example, all the lawn grasses will do well in full sun, but only a select few perform well in the shade. Others have a higher level of drought tolerance, while some have excellent salt tolerance.
Maintenance practices such as mowing height and frequency, fertilization and irrigation can differ among turfgrassesas well. It’s up to you to do your homework and select the correct lawn grass for your landscape. Making the proper selection will pay dividends for you in the end.
St. Augustine is a warm-season lawn grass (growing from March through October) and is most noted for its ability to tolerate shady sites. This grass spreads from stolons (above-ground rooting stems, or runners), lacks extreme cold hardiness, and does not recover or sustain itself well in high-traffic areas. It is best established from sod or plugs during its growing season.
Bermuda (common or hybrid) is a warm-season lawn grass that lacks shade tolerance, but performs well in high-traffic areas. It spreads from stolons and rhizomes (below-ground rooting stems). This grass is utilized for all types of areas, including lawns, utility sites, commercial sites, sports fields and golf courses throughout Texas.
Hybrid Bermuda grass (i.e. Tifway 419) is best established from sod, sprigs, or plugs – no seed source is available. Common Bermuda grass can be established from sod, sprigs or plugs, or with seed. It is best to establish this grass during its growing season from April through September.
Zoysia is another warm-season lawn grass that is also noted for its ability to handle shade. Because it spreads from both rhizomes and stolons, it can recover from moderate traffic – although the recovery is quite slow compared to Bermuda grass. It is used for lawns, commercial sites and specific locations on sports fields and golf courses. It is best established from sod during its growing season of March through October.
Buffalo grass is also a warm-season lawn grass best noted for its ability to recover from drought. The two main drawbacks of buffalo grass are its lack of overall density (weed issues) and lack of shade tolerance.
It spreads only from stolons (rather slowly), so it tends to lack the traffic tolerance of Bermuda grass. It is best established from sod during its growing season from March through October.
Tall fescue is a cool-season lawn grass (growing from October through May) that is noted for its ability to tolerate shady sites. It has moderate traffic tolerance. This grass can provide year-round green for your yard, but will require additional supplemental irrigation during the summer months to maintain this verdant appearance.
It is best established from seed in the fall or early spring months. Established tall fescue lawns need re-seeding each fall season to maintain a dense cover.
Once you have chosen the correct turfgrass, it’s imperative that you take the necessary steps to properly prepare your site for planting.
Taking a soil sample for analysis is a good first step to determine the nutrient levels in your soil. Next, use a non-selective herbicide (i.e. Roundup – glyphosate) to control all of the vegetation in your lawn area. Be extremely careful around trees and other plants that you want to save. You do not want any of this non-selective herbicide to accidentally get on the leaves, stems or roots of your valuable plants.
Then, remove all debris from the site, including the dead vegetation. Finally, till the site 4 to 6 inches deep. If you are considering any type of material to modify your topsoil, now is the time to incorporate it during this tillage process. Level and firm the soil so you have a nice, clean surface free of clods and ready for planting.
We have posted two documents that cover turfgrass selection and establishment at cosatx.us/parks. There you will also find lists, descriptions and maps of all of the parks you and your families can enjoy here in San Angelo.
Remember, prepare your site correctly, plant the proper turfgrass, and enjoy your beautiful new lawn!
Roger Havlak is the Parks senior manager for the City of San Angelo. Contact him at 325-659-8563 or roger.havlak@cosatx.us.
