Grasses for Alabama Lawns

Home lawns are an integral part of the landscape--perfect for lounging and cookouts--a real
asset to any home. A beautiful lawn enhances any landscape by improving not only the
aesthetic and economic value of the home but by providing many environmental benefits as
well. A dense, healthy lawn prevents soil erosion, reduces glare from the sun, helps cool
temperatures on hot days, and absorbs many airborne pollutants, like dust. One other benefit
that lawns provide is the conversion of carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that cleans the air
and gives us fresh air to breath.

Perhaps the most important factor in establishing and maintaining an attractive and trouble-free
home lawn is selecting the turfgrass. Since a home lawn is intended to be a long-term
investment, the proper selection of a turfgrass is an important first step. This decision should be
made carefully, based on many different criteria. Some basic questions need to be answered
before making a final decision on a specific turfgrass for your home lawn. Answering the basic
questions below will make it easier for you to determine the most appropriate turfgrass for
your home lawn.

What type of lawn is desired ?

Everyone would like to have a perfect, dark green, lush lawn that does not need to be mowed,
fertilized, or irrigated, but that turfgrass does not exist. For practical purposes, decide if the
lawn is to be a "perennial yard of the month," an average lawn, or just a cover to lessen soil
erosion and provide soil stability around the home.

What level of maintenance will the lawn be given?

Most turfgrasses will respond to a range of maintenance levels; however, each turfgrass has a
"preferred" maintenance level for optimum results. Levels of maintenance are closely related to
how much time and how much money one wants to spend on the lawn. Obviously, a higher
level of maintenance will require a higher level of cost.

Are there any physical or environmental limitations to the site?

A quality lawn and turfgrass requires irrigation; therefore, water quantity and quality are
important selection factors. Can the area be easily mowed on a frequent basis? Is the lawn
going to be very shaded? What is the soil type? Is drainage going to be a problem?

With answers to these basic questions in mind, use the following information to select the
proper turfgrass for your home lawn.

The following factors should be considered before making a final decision about which
turfgrass will provide you with the most beautiful and enjoyable lawn.

Region of Adaptation

Environmental and soil conditions vary greatly throughout the state of Alabama, and certain
turfgrasses grow better under some of these conditions and locations than others do. There are
several turfgrass species and cultivars from which to choose. Some turfgrasses can be planted
anywhere in the state; others perform best in a certain region of the state.

Turfgrasses can be divided into two basic categories based on their adaptation: cool-season
turfgrasses and warm-season turfgrasses. Cool-season turfgrasses, such as tall fescue and
Kentucky bluegrass, are best adapted to cooler climates and exhibit optimum growth during
the cooler months of fall, winter, and early spring. Tall fescue is the only cool-season turfgrass
that is recommended for home lawns in Alabama. Warm-season turfgrasses, such as
bahiagrass, bermudagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass, on the other
hand, grow best during hot summer months. Most lawns across the state are warm-season
turfgrasses.

Even though Alabama is considered to be in the South, temperatures vary enough from the
northern to southern parts of the state that some turfgrasses are best suited in certain regions of
the state. For example, winter temperature extremes in the northern part of Alabama are too
severe for the survival of St. Augustinegrass, and the summer heat in the southern part of the
state is too severe for the survival of tall fescue. The simplest method to determine which
turfgrass is best adapted to your area is to just check the lawns in your neighborhood or
surrounding neighborhoods to see which turfgrass survives and looks the best.

Stress Tolerance

Turfgrasses vary in their ability to withstand various stresses such as drought, heat, and traffic
or wear. Drought tolerance is a measure of how well the turfgrass will survive extended
periods of dry weather without supplemental irrigation or rainfall. Improper amounts of sunlight
or shade are common stresses on home lawns. Turfgrasses can also be subjected to other
stresses, such as salt in coastal areas around the gulf coast. Traffic or wear tolerance is a
measure of how well a turfgrass continues to grow after being walked or played upon.

Soil Conditions

All the turfgrasses recommended for use in Alabama can be grown in a wide range of soil
conditions. Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a soil. It is measured on a scale
that ranges from 0 to 14, with a pH of 7.0 being neutral. Any soil pH that is below 7.0 is
considered acidic, and a pH above 7.0 is considered alkaline. Turfgrasses differ in their ability
to grow and survive at various soil pH levels. A soil test should be conducted to determine the
soil pH. If the soil pH is greater than 6.5, it can be reduced by adding elemental sulfur. If the
soil pH is too low, it can be increased by adding lime. It is best to make these adjustments to
the soil pH before establishing turfgrass.

Another soil component that is very important in turfgrass selection is soil moisture. Do not
underestimate the amount of moisture that is present in a soil. Some soils dry out faster than
other soils; therefore, it is recommended to monitor soil moisture conditions of the lawn area
over time during and after rainfall. In contrast, some soils do not dry out and remain wet due to
poor drainage. Turfgrasses will probably perform poorly on these types of soils unless the
drainage is improved. Centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass seem to do better than other
recommended turfgrasses in Alabama on overly moist soils.

Sunlight

Most turfgrasses require plenty of sunlight to become well established and grow into a dense,
healthy, lush lawn. Shade from surrounding buildings and/or trees may cause turfgrasses to
become thin and, subsequently, to be invaded by weeds or other pests. Shrubs, ground
covers, or mulches are the best alternatives to turfgrass in these severely shaded areas.
Consider the amount of shade in the lawn area when selecting a turfgrass. If there are fewer
than 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, or only filtered sunlight for most of the day, you should
select a shade-tolerant turfgrass, such as centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, tall fescue, or
zoysiagrass. These more shade-tolerant turfgrasses generally require at least 4 hours of direct
sunlight per day or at least 50 percent sunlight under shade conditions.

Establishment

Some turfgrasses must be established by seed; others must be established by vegetative
plantings, and some can be established by either means. Turfgrasses that must be established
by vegetative propagation can be planted by using sprigs, plugs, or sod.

Turfgrass Color

Turfgrasses also vary in their "natural" green color. The nitrogen fertilization rate will affect the
depth of a turfgrass' color. A heavily fertilized lawn will be a darker green color than an
underfertilized lawn, which will be pale green or even yellow in color.

Turfgrass Texture

Turfgrass texture varies with the different turfgrasses. The choice of turfgrass texture is merely
a visual or personal preference. The categories of turfgrass texture are coarse, medium, and
fine. This is a relative measure of the leaf blade width. Some people prefer fine-textured
turfgrasses that have thin leaves, while others may opt for a coarse-textured turfgrass that has
wide leaves.

Turfgrass Density

The number of leaves or shoots per a given area is a measure of turfgrass density. Turfgrasses
with high density and fine leaf texture generally produce higher-quality lawns. Turfgrasses with
lower density and coarser leaf texture often require a higher mowing height to produce an
acceptable quality lawn. Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass have higher density than other
turfgrasses grown in Alabama.

Maintenance Level

Various turfgrasses grow at different rates and have optimum levels of fertility, mowing, and
irrigation needed to produce a quality lawn. Generally, as the amount of fertilizer and water
applied to the lawn are increased, so is the level of maintenance required. Turfgrasses
maintained at a low level of intensity are fertilized no more than twice per year, mowed as
needed, and watered seldom. Lawns maintained at a moderate level are fertilized about four
times per year, mowed on a weekly basis, and watered as needed. High-maintenance lawns
require monthly fertilization during the growing months, mowing more than once per week, and
frequent irrigation during the growing months.

Mowing Height

The growth habit of each turfgrass determines the optimum mowing height for the highest-
quality lawn. Mowing a turfgrass higher or lower than the recommended height will result in
reduced quality and may weaken the turfgrass, leading to other problems such as invasion by
diseases, insects, and/or weeds. Mowing turfgrasses at their optimum height will result in a
much healthier and higher-quality lawn.

The rotary mower is the most commonly used lawn mower, but it cannot be adjusted to mow
turfgrasses below 1 inch in height without scalping the lawn. A reel mower should be used if
the turfgrass is to be maintained at a mowing height of 1 inch or less.

Mowing Frequency

The turfgrass species and the level of management determine how often a lawn needs to be
mowed. The quality of a lawn will be higher the more frequently it is mowed. The frequency of
mowing can be reduced to a degree by moderating the amount of fertilizer and water applied
to the lawn. Recycling turfgrass clippings can also reduce the amount of fertilizer needed.

Pest Problems

Every turfgrass has some major pest problem that could limit its use in certain areas or
locations. There are several different types of pest problems on turfgrasses in Alabama,
including diseases, insects, nematodes, Armadillos and weeds. Proper turfgrass management
practices will keep most pest problems to a minimum.

Turfgrasses Recommended for Alabama Lawns

After you have recognized the potential limitations of the particular site or lawn and the
maintenance requirements of the turfgrasses you have to select from, the ultimate consideration
is simply this: Which turfgrass do you consider to be the most appealing, the most beautiful,
and the most enjoyable to you? Some may prefer the fine texture; some may want the one with
the dark green color. It's your decision! There are six turfgrasses currently recommended for
use on home lawns in Alabama: bahaigrass, bermudagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass,
tall fescue, and zoysiagrass.

Bahiagrass

Bahiagrass is normally considered a "pasture" turfgrass; however, it can be used for home
lawns. It spreads by both rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (aboveground stems).
Bahiagrass has excellent drought tolerance but forms what is considered to be a low-quality
lawn. It is suitable for low-use or utility turfgrass areas such as roadsides. One of the primary
reasons bahiagrass is considered by most to be an undesirable lawn is the fact that it produces
rather tall seed heads after it is mowed. Seed is available for the two most common varieties,
'Pensacola' and 'Argentine.'

Bermudagrass

Bermudagrass is probably the most common turfgrass used for home lawns in the state. It is a
long-lived, perennial, warm-season turfgrass that is adapted across the entire state.
Bermudagrasses spread by both rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (aboveground
stems) and therefore are aggressive in their growth habit. There are two types of
bermudagrasses available: common bermudagrass and hybrid bermudagrass. Common
bermudagrasses can produce viable seed. More improved seeded common bermudagrass
varieties are becoming available. Hybrid bermudagrasses are superior to common
bermudagrasses as home lawn turfgrasses. 'Tifway' and 'Tifgreen' are two of the most common
hybrid bermudagrass cultivars.

Centipedegrass

Centipedegrass is a slow-growing turfgrass that spreads by stolons (aboveground stems) that
resemble centipedes, hence its name. It is adapted for use as a low-maintenance turfgrass and
is ideal for someone that wants a fairly attractive lawn that needs little care. Most of the
centipedegrass that is sold is of the "common" variety. Improved varieties of centipedegrass
are available, including 'Oklawn' and 'AU Centennial.'

St. Augustinegrass

St. Augustinegrass is native to both the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico and the
Mediterranean. It is primarily used for home lawns in the coastal plains area of Alabama. St.
Augustinegrass spreads by stolons (aboveground stems) and produces some viable seed;
however, most St. Augustinegrass lawns are established by vegetative plantings. St.
Augustinegrass has good salt tolerance and handles shade better than any other warm-season
turfgrass. There are several cultivars of St. Augustinegrass available, including common,
'Bitterblue,' 'Floratine,' 'Floratam,' 'Floralawn,' 'Jade,' 'Delmar,' 'Raleigh,' 'Gulf Star,'
'Mercedes,' 'Palmetto,' and 'Seville.'

Tall Fescue

Tall fescue is a cool-season turfgrass that is tough enough to be grown in certain areas of the
southeastern United States, including Alabama. Tall fescue is a bunch-type turfgrass that
spreads by tillers; therefore, it must be established by seeding. The greatest advantage that it
has over the warm-season turfgrasses is its ability to grow well in shade and stay green
throughout the winter. There are several varieties of tall fescue available, including many new,
improved "turf-type" varieties that have finer leaf texture and improved heat and shade
tolerance. For best results, use a mixture (blend) of three or four of these new turf-type tall
fescues.

Zoysiagrass

Zoysiagrass is native to the Orient and is the most cold-tolerant of the warm-season
turfgrasses. Zoysiagrass is a very slow-growing turfgrass, but it forms a very dense lawn once
established. There are several species and cultivars of zoysiagrass available, but the improved
cultivars are recommended. Some of these zoysiagrasses include 'Z-52,' 'Meyer,' 'Emerald,'
'El Toro,' 'Matrella,' and 'Cashmere.'