With the arrival of spring, many homeowners begin sprucing up their lawns and yards. Although most people envision a lush, green lawn as the backdrop to their summer, having one is easier said than done.
Although the payoff is well worth it, grass takes a bit of planning, maintenance, and TLC. Before getting to the end result, though, there are some things to be taken into consideration: What type of grass should you have (there are many!)? Should you grow it: from seed or sod? When should it be planted?
The answers to all of these questions depend on several factors. The climate where you live, the amount of traffic your lawn gets, the size of the lawn, and whether you have a garden or water features in your yard should all be considered. When you’re installing a new lawn in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, for example, the weather is significantly different from somewhere in the Midwest or New England.
It can be overwhelming to decide what type of lawn to install, but fear not — you don’t have to do it alone. We’ve put together a guide comparing two popular grass types: zoysia and bermuda.
Zoysia
This type of grass is thick and very dense, making it a popular choice for lawns of all sizes. For families with young children or pets, zoysia is a go-to grass choice because it stands up well to high traffic. It’s extremely low maintenance, requiring little water. Zoysia is also tolerant of sun and heat. In fact, it grows best in full sun but can handle partial shade. This is an important consideration in the sometimes-brutal Dallas summers.
All zoysia varieties are perennial, so the grass comes back on its own each year without much maintenance required on your part. The mild Dallas weather helps this, and zoysia grows very well through the spring and summer, then goes dormant in fall and winter. Zoysia’s density acts as a built-in defense system against weeds, pests, and many common diseases that affect grass, further establishing itself as a low-maintenance lawn choice.
Bermuda
Bermuda grass is commonly used on golf courses, in parks, and on sports fields. That’s because it’s notoriously resilient against high traffic and damage. If bermuda grass does get damaged in some way, it grows back quickly without any human intervention needed. In addition to it being so durable, people often choose bermuda for its deep green color and lush feel under the feet.
It grows naturally in tropical and subtropical regions across the world, proof that bermuda grass is extremely heat tolerant. Bermuda can fare well in environments with tons of direct sun or lots of shade, and it thrives in many different types of soil. While Dallas-Fort Worth weather is generally mild year-round, it can get excessively hot and is also prone to hail storms, so a hardy grass is important.
Choosing Zoysia or Bermuda Grass
Now that you have an overview of each type of grass, it’s a good idea to compare them side-by-side to decide which is right for your lawn. Zoysia has some key advantages over bermuda grass in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
- Climate: Both zoysia and bermuda do quite well in the heat. Bermuda does not like colder weather, however. After just a few consecutive days of cold, it can turn straw-like and lose its color. Overseeding in the fall and winter may be required to prevent this.
- Maintenance: While both kinds of grass are relatively low-maintenance, zoysia needs less routine care. Bermuda grass needs more frequent watering and mowing, generally at least weekly.
- Shade Tolerance: Bermuda needs a ton of sunlight, whereas zoysia is more tolerant of some partial shade. Keep this in mind if you have several trees or other large shaded areas, as bermuda can become bald in spots under shade.
- Growth Rate: Bermuda is notoriously a very aggressive grass that can take over gardens, flower beds, sidewalks, and water features if not monitored closely. While zoysia is slower to take hold, the carpet-like mature grass is well worth the wait.
- Dormancy: Both bermuda and zoysia grass turn brown during dormant periods in cool weather. However, they both come back in mild weather like Dallas’s without much intervention.
- Disease: Because of its density, Zoysia has a natural line of defense against most common diseases and pests. Bermuda is generally pretty healthy also but is more susceptible to some fungal diseases and brown spots.
Zoysia Sod understands that choosing the type of grass to install in your yard is a big decision. If you have any questions or need some help deciding which is best for your Dallas/Fort Worth area lawn, contact us today. With over 15 years of experience, we know lawns.
