Houston’s Most Popular Grass Types
Houston’s Most Popular Grass Types have evolved to withstand the city’s hot, humid summers and mild winters—conditions that can be both a curse and a blessing for lawn care. Selecting the right variety is essential for nurturing a thick, lush lawn that thrives in Houston’s climate. Below are five of the most widely used grasses across the Greater Houston area: St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia, Bahia, and Centipede.
This article gives an excellent overview. Over the next few weeks, we will be posting detailed blog posts devoted to each of the grass types. Watch for step-by-step instructions on how to mow, water, feed, and deal with common pests or diseases that affect each type.
Houston’s Most Popular Grass Types – St. Augustine Grass
St. Augustine is a Houston staple. Its broad, dense blades and dark green color hold up well to hot, humid weather—also accepting moderate traffic.
Major Advantages
Shade Tolerance: Performs well under partial shade, so it will be perfect if your land has big trees for shade spots.
Rapid Coverage: Spreads rapidly, filling in bare spots with proper care.
Points to Consider
Pest Susceptibility: Watch for chinch bugs, particularly on lawns that are ignored.
Disease susceptibility: Commonly referred to “St. Fungistine” grass, it has a bit more weakness to disease if mowed improperly or overwatering.
Maintenance: Needs regular mowing, watering, and fertilizing to maintain its density and evenness.
Houston’s Most Popular Grass Types – Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass is renowned for its fine texture and superior resilience. It has the capability to grow in full sun and can withstand heavy foot traffic with no issue, this type of grass is usually applied on stadiums, golf courses etc because of its high resilience.
Key Benefits
Durability: Perfect for active families with children or pets.
Drought Tolerance: Deep roots allow it to withstand hot, dry spells once established.
Points to Consider
Sunlight Requirements: Suffers in the shade, so place it where it will get plenty of sun.
Constant mowing: Since the grass is a sun-lover and is an “alpha” grass, it might need the most mowing of all these grasses on this blog. Particularly if you want to reel mow or mow low.
Aggressive Spread: Will spread into flower beds or adjacent lawns if not edged and regularly maintained.
Houston’s Most Popular Grass Types –
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia is prized for its versatility and a dense, carpet-like texture. It develops into a dense turf that excludes most weeds by nature. It’s a medium fine blade of grass that’s soft and perfect for most green spaces.
Key Benefits
Moderate Shade Tolerance: Performs well in areas with a combination of sun and shade.
Weed Control: Its compact growth habit helps to minimize weed incursions.
Things to Note
Slower Development: Takes patience if you’re beginning with plugs or sprigs.
Initial Cost: Generally more expensive to install than St. Augustine or Bermuda. But in the long term it is less expensive since it needs less mowing than st. Augustine or bermuda and less weed control treatments thanks to its natural dense canopy
Common Houston Grass Type- Bahia Grass
Bahia grass is a highly durable grass and is most often used in less groomed or rural areas. It is coarse-bladed and extremely drought- and heat-tolerant and is a low-maintenance option for open fields. I would not suggest the use of this grass on green areas or on residential areas that are frequented on a regular basis since this grass has an extremely coarse and aesthetic appearance.
Also, it forms their seed heads stalks rapidly and when you need to mow even the sharpest blades will find it difficult to get a proper cut on the first go.
Key Benefits
Low Water Needs: Will tolerate full sun without regular watering.
Low Fertilizer Requirements: Requiring less by nature, keeping overall lawn maintenance costs low.
Things to Note
Seed Heads: Forms upright, V-shaped seed heads if not mowed regularly.
Texture: The rough blades can be less soft underfoot than other grasses.
In conclusion, I’d recommend to avoid this grass type especially for residential areas, it is time consuming to mow and is tough on your mower if let loose and it gets overgrown.
Common Houston Grass Type- Centipede Grass
Dubbed the “lazy man’s grass,” Centipede grass is a slow grower and does not need much fertilization. It is moderately resistant to foot traffic and is renowned for being relatively low maintenance. Oftentimes confused with St. Augustine, it has the same qualities but in lesser degree. One of these is color; it does not have that “dark green color” we all want.
Key Benefits
Low Maintenance: Takes less mowing and fertilizer compared to most other types.
Acidic Soil Tolerance: Often a great fit for the mildly acidic soils of Southeast Texas.
Points to Ponder
Slow Recovery: Being slow-growing, if it is damaged by heavy traffic or insects, it may take a while to recover fully.
Light Green Color: Gives a lighter green color—some homeowners may want darker greens.
Overall, St. Augustine is often selected for its more wanted attributes.
Why the Right Grass Is Important
Choosing the perfect grass for your Houston lawn will reap benefits down the line in terms of time, water, and money. Every type handles differently the weather elements of:
- Sunlight levels
- Soil type
- Traffic stress
- Planned maintenance commitment
By coordinating your choice with your yard conditions and your own preference, you’ll enjoy a healthier, more vibrant lawn year-round. Also, here is a general resource to help you identify your grass type.
Stay Tuned for Our Upcoming Posts
We’ll be publishing comprehensive guides to each of the different types of grass over the coming weeks. Look out for tips on:
Mowing Schedules & Best Practices: Maintain your lawn’s appearance without scalping.
Watering & Irrigation Tips: Don’t over- or under-water, particularly in Houston’s sun.
Fertilization & Weed Control: Learn when to fertilize your lawn and how to minimize chemical usage.
Pest & Disease Management: Identify common problems early and protect your lawn from seasonal onslaughts.
In the meanwhile, check out our other blog post “Lawn Care Myths Busted- what works (and What Doesn’t)”
Ready to Change Your Lawn?
If you’re up for a green, healthy lawn minus the uncertainty, Evergreen Outdoors is ready to assist. We create and upkeep beautiful Houston landscapes that flourish in our regional climate.
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Stay tuned for future blog posts that will feature each type of grass in more detail. Together, let’s keep your Houston lawn its best!