| A lush, velvety green lawn is the dream of every | | | | quickly during spring and autumn. In the summer |
| homeowner, and this dream can usually be achieved if | | | | months, it's practically dormant. Bermuda grass, on the |
| the owner gives a thought to what kind of grass will | | | | other hand, grows well in the summertime but cannot |
| work the best in his climate and soil conditions. | | | | deal with freezing temperatures. |
| It doesn't matter how attractive your flowerbeds, | | | | Experts suggest that heavy traffic areas - where your |
| vegetable garden, trees and statuary are. If the green | | | | kids play kickball or catch - need such hardy types as |
| grass between these items isn't green, if there are | | | | perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, or Bermuda grass. If |
| dead spots, then your whole landscape will be | | | | you don't want to be watering your grass on a regular |
| affected. | | | | basis, prairie grass, buffalo grass or blue grama grass |
| So you must select your lawn grass carefully. Items | | | | is the choice to make. |
| you must consider are your climate, how you intend to | | | | Ornamental lawns, which will have no children to |
| use the lawn, the amount of time and money you | | | | damage them, do quite well with Kentucky bluegrass. If |
| want to spend on maintaining it, and which parts of | | | | you live near the coast with its salt water, fescue and |
| your lawn are sunny, which shady, and which a | | | | St. Augustine grass are good choices as they tolerate |
| combination of each. The pH balance of your soil is | | | | salt well. These are also a good idea in those states |
| also a consideration. | | | | where salt is used to cover the roads during winter. |
| Plant breeders have been working with grass for a | | | | Finally, if your lawn gets a mixture of sunshine and |
| hundred years to develop new strains to meet a wide | | | | shade, the best thing to do is use a mixture of grasses |
| range of lawn needs - you just need to find out what | | | | suitable for each type. That way, if one grass fails, the |
| your needs are. And sometimes, lawns need more | | | | other will still keep the lawn looking nice and attractive. |
| than one type of grass. Lawns in northern climates are | | | | It's important to read the labels when buying grass |
| more likely to need a mix of grasses than those in the | | | | seed, so you know exactly what you're getting. Keep |
| south, just because of the colder weather and snow. | | | | an eye on germination rates, and make sure the seed |
| Some grasses grow in different seasons than do | | | | is dated for use in the current year. If your garden |
| others. For example, the famous Kentucky bluegrass | | | | center is offering bags of grass seed on discount |
| likes the weather to be cool and moist, and so grows | | | | because they're over a year old...don't risk it! |