What type of grass is best for sunny areas on my lawn?

You can use pure blue grass if the area is 100 percent sunny. Most blends include a high percentage of perennial grass-type ryegrass for quick coverage. Otherwise, use a mix of blue grass and fine fescue (this includes the creeping type). Most sunny grass blends contain a higher percentage of bluegrass, perennial rye and some fescue.

Although it is slowly established, the herb zoysia (Zoysia spp. Zoysia is a dark green grass with a medium texture with stiff leaves. It can withstand heat and drought. If zoysia is fertilized during the fall, it will retain its color during the colder winter weather.

Texas A%26M AgriLife Extension recommends zoysia for heavily used lawns and for parks and athletic fields. Bermuda grass (Cynodon spp. Bermuda grass can withstand heavy use during its growing season, from spring to early fall, and is spread both by underground rhizomes and by stallions above ground. It stays dormant and loses its color during the colder months of late fall and winter.

The University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends fine-textured Bermuda grass cultivars for dense grass. When comparing zoysia herb to Bermuda grass, there are a few key differences. While zoysia grows well in both sunny and shady areas, Bermuda needs more sun to grow. Bermuda grass is more tolerant to constant foot traffic than zoysia and is less likely to get sick or be adversely affected by a drought.

Both types of grasses are desirable in residential lawns because of their low maintenance and their relatively strong resistance to drought, diseases and pests. While the thin, blue-green grass of buffalo grass makes it an attractive, uniformly looking grass option, the species is not suitable for high-traffic lawns. Another cool-season grass, Kentucky bluegrass is an impressive lawn, but it comes at a slightly higher maintenance price.