Lawn Care Tips: What Grass Type Is Right for Your Yard?

A vibrant, lush lawn is a homeowner’s dream. It’s the canvas upon which the rest of your landscaping design unfolds. The cornerstone of an impressive lawn is choosing the right grass type. By making an informed choice, you can enjoy a lawn that offers season-long beauty with less struggle to keep it green. Cutting Edge Landscaping is here to help you make the right selection so your lawn stays healthy and beautiful all seasons of the year. Below, we offer a few of our tips for selecting the right type of grass for your yard. Our team is here to help you with your landscaping goals.

Understanding Grass Types

In the cool, moderate summers and often cold winters of Northwest Indiana, cool-season grasses are the primary choices. A few options include:

• Kentucky Bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass, the most common grass for Northern lawns, boasts a dark color and medium texture. Despite its intolerance of shade and propensity for thatch, it fills in bare spots on its own, creating a highly attractive lawn. 
• Perennial Ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass, while it doesn’t spread or fill in bare spots on its own, tolerates traffic well and establishes very quickly. With a fine-textured and dark-color appearance, it is among the most attractive grasses.
• Tall Fescue. Tall fescue exhibits good heat and drought tolerance. While this type of grass traditionally has a coarser texture, newer varieties have a pleasing appearance. It is not prone to thatch and shows good pest tolerance.
• Fine-leaf Fescue. Fine-leaf fescues are excellent for low-input sites and shady areas. They need little maintenance, making them a practical, convenient solution. 

Grass for High-Traffic Sites

For high-traffic areas that take a lot of wear from kids and pets, blends of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass work best. They recover rapidly from wear, providing a durable and attractive lawn.

Maintenance Requirements

Each grass type has specific needs, including mowing height, fertilization, watering, and sunlight. For instance, Kentucky Bluegrass loves full sun and needs plenty of water, while Fine-leaf Fescue can tolerate drought and shade.

The Significance of Grass Variety

Yes, the variety of grass matters greatly. Each species offers variations in texture, color, and growth rate. Newer varieties often have unseen advantages like better tolerance of diseases, pests, or harsh weather.

Sod, Seed, or Sprigs?

You can establish new lawns by sod, seed, or sprigs. While sod is quick but has higher upfront costs, seed saves you money initially but may take a year to develop a thick stand. Sprigs are planted in the soil and gradually spread until they’ve filled in to form a solid lawn. We are happy to help you decide which may be best suited to your needs.

Talk to Our Landscaping Team

Choosing the right grass type for your lawn can dramatically affect its appearance and ease of maintenance. It’s essential to consider your local climate, the conditions in your yard, and your willingness to provide care when selecting the right grass type.

Need guidance? Cutting Edge Landscaping is here to help. Our team of professional landscapers can guide you through every step of this process. Together, we can transform your outdoor living space into a lush, green oasis. Don’t wait—let’s start creating the yard of your dreams today! Reach out to our lawn care experts for more information.