How to Get the Greenest Lawn

Summer has come and gone; another season has been spent battling to keep your lawn green and lush.. You've watered, weeded, fed, raked, mowed, mulched and it still doesn't quite have that gorgeous, rich green of a truly healthy lawn. With fall coming, now is the time to think about your lawn for next year and correct some of the problems you encountered this year.

First, consider the type of grass you have. Some varieties of grass are simply greener than other varieties. If you live in the south, chances are that your lawn is Bahia grass. Bahia grass is not an especially attractive grass, nor is it very green, but it is highly drought tolerant and very hardy. Bermuda grass would be a good substitute, especially the Tifgreen and Tiflawn varieties (available primarily as sod) which are used for golf course greens in the south. If you are in the west, you may have buffalo grass, which is native to the low-rainfall areas, but is a blue-green color. Buffalo grass is hardy, but, unlike Bahia and Bermuda grass, will withstand the cold winter temperatures found in the northwest. You might consider replanting or transplanting with a fescue mixed with Kentucky bluegrass. This is a good option for almost anyone in a mild-to-moderate climate zone. If you have rye grass, a very popular, low-cost option, chances are it will die out once the real heat of summer sets in as it has very little tolerance for heat. Some varieties of ryegrass are mixed with Kentucky bluegrass with very nice results, especially the Manhattan II variety which contains the fungus endophyte, a known pest repellant. Endophytes can be dangerous to livestock, and potentially harmful to domestic house pets that may be inclined toward chewing on grass. Whatever grass you have, make certain it is the right kind for your region and kind of shade. It is also critical that you know how to care for the kind of grass you have so it provides all the beauty of its kind.