- 1). Write down information on your region's climate. Note whether the winters are cold or the summers are hot. Pay attention to how much rainfall you get and whether the air is dry or humid.
- 2). Look at the availability of irrigation. Do you meter your water use, or can you afford to give the lawn regular waterings? Is there sufficient rainfall to keep the soil moist without added waterings?
- 3). Watch how much traffic the yard gets. Do you need a grass that can handle heavy traffic, or does everyone stay off the grass?
- 4). Schedule lawn care. Determine your maintenance standard. Can you mow the grass once a week, or will you let it go longer between mowings? Do you want to avoid using fertilizers and other chemicals? These issues play a role in the type of grass you choose.
- 5). Buy a grass seed that suits the weather. Cool-season varieties can survive cold winters. They include ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and fescue. Warm-season grasses grow best in warmer, Southern regions. Types include St. Augustine grass and bermudagrass.
- 6). Match the irrigation needs of the grass to your region. If your soil is dry and you don't get much rainfall, such as in Western states, use drought-resistant varieties such as bermudagrass. If your soil is wetter, use grass that likes heavier soil, such as bentgrass or dichondra.
- 7). Find a grass that thrives with your maintenance plans. Mixed varieties are a good bet if you want a grass that takes care of itself and grows year-round. The drawback. however, is that mixed species tend to appear less groomed. Bentgrass and dichondra grasses need more time and attention and are more costly. Bermudagrass resists weeds, but spreads and can become a weed itself.
- 8). Plant a grass that can stand up to the expected wear and tear. Zoysia grass and bermudagrass are tougher, but less attractive. Bentgrass and dichondra are more delicate and are easy to destroy, but look beautiful.
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