7 Common Grasses that Thrive in Greensboro, NC

Homeowners in North Carolina can choose to grow a large variety of grasses, depending on their needs and preferences. Regardless of whether you want resilient grass or full-shade turf, there are several different options for you if you live in North Carolina. 

Let’s take a closer look at the 7 common grasses that thrive in Greensboro, NC.

1. Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass is a warm-season grass and has a coarse texture. It is deep green in color and is highly resistant to wear and tear from heavy foot traffic. It also thrives well in full sunlight. This resistant grass is useful for lawns that have heavy use as the grass can recover quickly from any damage. 

This type of grass is not shade tolerant so if the lawn receives less than 6 to 8 hours of sunlight, it is recommended to choose another type of grass, preferably one which is more tolerant to shade. 

The ideal mowing height for Bermuda grass is around 1 to 2 inches. 

2. Centipede Grass

Centipede grass is considerably slow-growing and mostly recommended for growth in warm season. It has an apple-green color and very coarse texture. This is a low maintenance type of turf-grass, is significantly heat resistant and works excellently as a versatile turf. 

Centipede grass does not grow in most soils, which makes it quite rare in the United States. However, the soil in North Caroline is perfect for growing centipede grass. If, as a homeowner, you don’t have time to frequently fertilize your lawn, centipede grass can be the perfect turf solution for you. 

However, you should know that centipede grass is not suitable for lawns with heavy foot traffic. The ideal mowing height for centipede grass is around 1.5 inches to 2 inches as the grass usually grows to only about 3 inches tall.

3. Tall Fescue

Tall fescue is a cool-season grass and grows in almost every part of the US. This is a dark green-colored grass and has slim, narrow blades. This grass is extremely resistant to shade, cold, heat and drought, which makes it ideal for lawns that suffer from seasonal problems, such as browning. 

Homeowners usually mix tall fescue seeds with the already existing turf to add weather resistance to the lawn. Tall fescue is an excellent variety of grass to grow in any lawn or yard in Greensboro, NC.

The ideal mowing height for tall fescue grass is around 2 to 3 inches. 

4. Fine Fescue

Fine fescue is named for its dark green color and significantly fine textured blades. This is a cool-season grass and grows well in shade. It is also significantly drought resistant and can grow well even in pool quality soils. 

However, this grass tends to grow in clumps, instead of spreading over the ground. Landscaping and lawn care experts at Eden advise homeowners to mix fine fescue seeds with tall fescue seeds or Kentucky Bluegrass seeds to cover an entire yard. Fine fescue grass is not recommended for a lawn that receives less than 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. This grass is also not recommended for growth in lawns that see heavy foot traffic. 

The ideal mowing height of fine fescue grass is around 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches (when mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass) and around 2.5 inches to 3.5 inches (when mixed with tall fescue). 

5. Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass is a cool season grass. It is mostly recommended for use when you need to overseed other turf grasses because it has a fast germination rate. Usually, perennial ryegrass is mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass to fill in dirt patches that develop in lawns. It also allows the lawn to become more tolerant to extreme weather. 

However, perennial ryegrass is not recommended for growing in lawns that receive less than 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day, as it has less shade tolerance than other grasses. 

The ideal mowing height of perennial ryegrass is 1.5 to 2.5 inches (when mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass).

Apart from these, some other types of common grasses that thrive in Greensboro, NC are:

6. Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky Bluegrass is incredibly popular as a cool-season grass. It is finely textured and highly resistant to cold temperatures. It is recommended to mix Kentucky Bluegrass with tall fescue grass to add more heat resistance to your lawn, especially if you live in or around Greensboro, North Carolina. The reason is that Kentucky Bluegrass is a cool-season grass and does not thrive well when planted alone, especially in hot conditions. Apart from this, it is not recommended to plant Kentucky Bluegrass in heavy foot traffic lawns. Besides this, Kentucky Bluegrass is also more prone to pest infestation than other types of grasses. 

The ideal mowing height for Kentucky Bluegrass between 2.5 inches to 3.5 inches (when mixed with tall fescue) and around 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches when planted alone. 

7. Zoysiagrass

Zoysiagrass is a warm-season grass that has an incredibly dense and dark-green turf in warm climates. This grass is actually highly resistant to heat and drought. It is also one of the best low-maintenance lawn grasses as it requires less frequent mowing as compared to other warm-season grasses. 

However, as this grass is extremely dense, it is recommended to be mowed only with a freshly sharpened lawn mower. This grass is springy and forms a thick soft cushion that feels good for walking. This grass is highly tolerant to heavy foot traffic and is excellent for heavy-use lawns. 

The ideal mowing height for Zoysiagrass is around 1 to 2 inches. 

Conclusion

The 7 most common grasses that thrive in Greensboro, NC are the Bermuda grass, centipede grass, tall fescue, fine fescue and perennial ryegrass, besides Kentucky Bluegrass and Zoysiagrass. To find more details and to know if these or any other grass an thrive in your Greensboro lawn, you can simply call and consult with expert landscapers and lawn care company, Eden.