Grass

Bahia grass is a coarse, low-maintenance warm-season lawn grass that thrives in sandy, acidic soils of the Deep South. Argentine bahia is the preferred variety for home lawns. Extremely drought tolerant but produces unsightly seed heads between mowings.

Buffalo grass is the only native North American lawn grass. It needs minimal water (1 inch per month), minimal fertilizer (0 to 2 lbs nitrogen per year), and infrequent mowing. Ideal for the Great Plains and drought-prone regions in zones 4 to 8.

Centipede grass is the lowest-maintenance warm-season lawn: minimal fertilizer (1 to 2 lbs N), slow growth, and tolerance for poor acidic soil. The #1 killer is over-fertilizing. Best in zones 7 to 9 with sandy, acidic soil.

Fine fescue is a group of narrow-bladed cool-season grasses (creeping red, chewings, hard, sheep) that are the most shade-tolerant lawn option. Low maintenance, low fertilizer, and excellent for under trees and shady areas in zones 3 to 7.

Kentucky bluegrass is the gold standard cool-season lawn grass: dense, dark green, and self-repairing through underground rhizomes. It requires more water and fertilizer than fescue but produces a premium appearance. Best in zones 3 to 7 with full sun.

Perennial ryegrass is the fastest-germinating lawn grass (5 to 7 days) with excellent wear tolerance. Primarily used as a blend component with bluegrass (10 to 20%) for quick establishment and as winter overseeding on bermuda lawns in the South.

St. Augustine is a warm-season grass with the widest blades of any lawn species. It's the shade champion among warm-season grasses and the dominant lawn type in Florida and the Gulf Coast. Cannot be grown from seed; requires sod, plugs, or sprigs.

Tall fescue is the most heat-tolerant cool-season grass, making it the best choice for transition zone lawns (zones 6 to 7). It's a bunch-type grass that needs annual overseeding to stay dense. Stays green March through November in the Central Plains.

Zoysia is a warm-season grass that forms a dense, carpet-like lawn and survives into zone 6, making it viable for transition zone lawns. It goes dormant (brown) in winter. Once established, its density naturally crowds out most weeds.