If you want a healthy lawn that is easy to care for, choosing the appropriate type of grass is crucial.  Some people may think that all grass is basically the same.  However, each variety has its preferred living conditions.  Keeping an organic lawn in good shape is much easier if you grow a variety that suits your location.  Here are some tips for choosing the right grass for your lawn.

You might be surprised to discover how many types of turfgrass (the grass used for lawns) are available for the home gardener.  Plant breeders have put a lot of effort into developing new and hardier varieties that thrive in different climate, sun, and soil conditions.  Some new grasses even resist disease and insect pests.

There are two broad categories of turfgrass species: cool season and warm season.  As you might expect, cool-season grasses favor moist climates with cold winters and mild summers.  The most abundant growth occurs in the spring and fall.  During the summer, these grasses may turn brown and become dormant to cope with extended heat waves.  Popular cool-season varieties include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, bent grass, and several types of fescue.

On the other hand, warm-season grasses thrive in locations with mild winters and very hot summer temperatures.  With these varieties, the most vigorous growth happens during the summer.  Bahia grass, Bermuda grass, centipede grass, carpet grass, St. Augustine grass, and zoysia grass are commonly used warm-season varieties.

In addition to choosing a grass that is appropriate for the climate, you need to consider the amount of sun the lawn will receive.  Every yard is different, of course.  Many types of grass, such as Kentucky bluegrass, do best in full sun.  However, if your yard has large trees that cast a lot of shade you should plant shade-tolerant grasses such as red fescue or tall fescue.

Don’t forget to think about your lifestyle and how the lawn will be used.  Is the lawn primarily for show, as an accent to the rest of the garden?  Or will the grass be subjected to heavy traffic from kids and dogs?  Perhaps you’re looking for a low-maintenance lawn that can tolerate infrequent watering and mowing.  It’s a good idea to talk to a qualified local gardener who can advise you on the best grass types for your situation.

You’ll find that most grass seed and sod is a combination of two or more grasses that complement each other.  In fact, planting only one type of grass in a lawn is not recommended.  A blend will produce the most satisfactory result.  Even within the cool-season and warm-season grass categories, there are certain varieties that prefer hotter, drier weather and others that perform best in cooler conditions.  If you plant two or three grasses together, your lawn will grow more consistently and look prettier for a greater portion of the year.

When you go shopping, you’ll notice that the seed package lists a lot of information, including the percentage of each grass seed by weight and the percentage of weed seed.  It also specifies when the seed was tested for germination - look for packages where the testing date is in the current year.

You could be living with a lawn for a very long time, so be sure to choose the correct type of grass.  You will save yourself a lot of headaches by getting this part of the equation right.  By following these tips and learning about the different grass varieties, you can make the best decision.  The reward for careful planning will be a healthy, attractive lawn to grace your home landscape.