Best Grass for Lawns in Texas

What is the Best Grass for Texas Lawns?

Hot summers and mild winters make Texas a unique area for grass growth. The size of the state means that Texas residents span a few different climates.

In the panhandle, or the northern part of Texas, rainfall is more common, and winters come with snow and freezing temperatures. In central and southern Texas, near Austin, residents struggle through blazing hot summers and long periods without rain. West Texas weather is hot and dry. It resembles the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona.

The grasses that grow best in Texas are few. They need a combination of defensive properties that resist heat, cold, and drought.

What Grasses Grow in Texas?

The most common and healthy-growing grasses in Texas are:

• Buffalo Grass
• Bermuda Grass
• Carpet Grass
• Bent Grass
• Blue Grass
• Centipede Grass
• St. Augustine

Best Grass for Texas Lawns

These grasses are good for high traffic areas with minimal shade. Just Right Lawns of Austin has extensive experience with these grass types.

Buffalo Grass

It’s one of the few grasses native to Texas. It grows wild in central and south Texas. The buffalo that used to populate the Great Plains used this grass as one of their main food sources. It grows in all seasons and stays low enough to ensure minimal maintenance. It can survive even in the drier, more desert-like places of Texas and is great for large expanses.

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda is durable, versatile, and easy to plant. It boasts superior heat and drought tolerance. Central and south Texans use this grass most often for their lawns, but it’s tough enough to cover athletic fields and parks. Even in hot, dry areas, it will maintain a green color year round. It also grows fast once planted, as long as it receives moderate maintenance.

Carpet Grass

You’ll find carpet grass growing most often in coastal areas. As another of Texas’s native grasses, it has an affinity for wet soil that is low in nutrition. Its blades are rigid and coarse, and it grows dense enough to resist insects. Mowing this grass is easy, but the grass thrives most when at its full length. Since it loves wet soil, lawns with carpet grass away from coastal areas will need regular watering.

Best Looking Grass for Low Traffic Areas

This grass is great for beautiful views and open areas. If you’re landscaping and area with low traffic, this grass might work for you.

Bent Grass

This grass is a low-growing, thin-bladed, extra-dense grass. When mowed, its density ends up uniform, forming a perfect carpet. Bent grass is most often used on golf courses in Texas. The top of the blade is soft and the bottom rigid, making it comfortable and strong at the same time.

Best Grass for Various Regions in Texas

For use only in certain regions of Texas.

Blue Grass

Better known as Kentucky Blue Grass, it grows best in the northernmost areas of Texas. It’s more tolerant of cold than heat and tends to absorb and use water well. It needs regular care but is resistant to traffic. Its soft blades make it great for lawns or use on athletic fields for many sports.

Centipede Grass

Some of its stalks resemble the segmented body of a centipede. It’s a low growing grass that comes from China. It survives well in mildly cold temperatures, so it works best in the south and southeast, and near San Antonio. It doesn’t go dormant and bounces back from Texas cold snaps with healthy, green blades.

St. Augustine

This grass is a widely used warm season grass. You’ll find it most often in tropical Africa, Australia, and Mexico. The moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and non-stop summer heat help St. Augustine reach its full potential. Its blades are wide for soaking up plenty of sunshine, but it will struggle in the winter.

What Features Does Texas Grass Need?

Unusual weather patterns in Texas mean that Texas grasses need to be:

Drought proof

Texas reached serious drought conditions in October 2010. 70 percent of Texas was in drought conditions in August 2014. The state is still under drought conditions today. To keep grass looking healthy year-round, you’ll need to plant a deep-rooted grass that can survive long periods without fresh rainfall.

Heat resistant

Most of Texas shares the long summers and short winters of Mexico. Temperatures reach beyond 110℉ on the hottest summer days. Your grass has to absorb and use that non-stop sunlight that shines from morning until dusk. Grass with wider blades is better at resisting heat.

Traffic tolerant

Texas’s long warm season means people use their lawns for most of the year. Grass can take some abuse from foot traffic, but it will eventually take too much damage to sustain its growth. Grasses with flexible blades in softer soil are more tolerant to year-round traffic.

Cold resistant

Even a single cold snap can destroy your lawn. Even though the Texas winter is mild, temperatures dip below freezing. Even people in the southern extremities of Texas need to prepare their lawns for deep cold. There are a few grasses that will struggle through the summer but flourish through the winter.

Make sure the grass you’re planting or maintaining is right for your region. Also check for characteristics that pertain to where you use the grass.