Choosing the Right Type of Grass
Grass is the plant most commonly used for a lawn as it is hard-wearing and attractive all year round. There are, however, alternatives to grass, which are discussed in Non-Grass Lawns.
Many modern grass cultivars have been specifically bred to offer particular qualities valued in lawns, such as durability, even colour, compact growth and disease resistance. When selecting grass, make sure that it includes not only the correct species, but also a modern cultivar of that species. New cultivars are introduced every year, so check which cultivars are the best available for your particular lawn requirements. You should ensure that the grass mixture does not contain agricultural cultivars; these are bred to produce vigorous leaf growth for grazing and will need frequent mowing. Agricultural grasses also tend to spread less, and do not always produce a dense, uniform cover.
Before choosing a particular seed or turf, think about the relative importance of the lawn's appearance, durability and upkeep requirements. Some grass mixtures may give attractive texture and colour, whilst others are particularly good for areas of heavy use. The grass should also be appropriate for the growing conditions such as the degree of shade and the soil type and drainage.
Landscape plants, such as turf and shrubs, remove smoke, dust and other pollutants from the air.
Sports Lawns
Areas of grass used for playing sports or ball games need particularly wear-tolerant species that must be able to survive a very low cut and have a fine finish to reduce the effect of the grass on the run of the ball. A lawn for low impact sports such as croquet, bowls or golf can use a mixture of bents and fescues as for high-quality lawns in cool climates. However, heavy use will soon damage the grasses. If a more hard-wearing surface is needed, such as for tennis, it is better to choose a mixture containing perennial ryegrass. The Bermuda grasses should provide a reasonably hard-wearing, attractive surface for warm climates, although some cultivars are more tolerant of wear than others.
Utility Lawns
Utility lawns provide a play area for children or a space for outdoor entertaining, and require a surface that is functional and relatively hard-wearing, but still supplies an attractive, even surface. Cool season lawns should use perennial ryegrass mixed with red fescue (Festuca rubra var. rubra), browntop or highland bent (Agrostis tenuis, A. castellana) and smooth-stalked meadow grass. The Bermuda grasses are usually tough enough for most warm season utility lawns, but may need frequent mowing. Carpet grass (Axonopus), Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) or centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) will provide a lower maintenance lawn, but since they have coarse-textured leaves, they will not provide a very fine finish.
High Quality Lawns
The major requirement of a formal, high quality lawn is a perfect appearance, with an attractive, uniform colour and texture. Lawns in cool season climates should use a grass mixture of fine-leaved bents and fescues, such as highland and brown-top bent (Agrostis castellana and Agrostis tenuis) mixed with Chewing's fescue and slender, creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra var. commutata and Festuca rubra var. rubra). Cultivars of the common Bermuda grass or Zoysia form a high-quality, slow-growing turf ideal for warm season climates.
Flower Rich Grasslands
When creating a flower-rich grassland area, try to use native grass species, as they will tend to establish more successfully, and look much more natural. Most seeds for this type of grass will consist of various native, broad-leaved flowering species and slow-growing grasses. You will also need to take factors such as aspect, soil type and moisture and into consideration; some species will prefer marshy ground, whilst others grow well on dry, well-drained conditions.
Bents and fescues are usually used for cool season grasses, whilst a short-lived grass, such as Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), may be included for initial, fast ground cover. This ryegrass will die out within two years if mown, leaving behind the fine-leaved grasses and broad-leaved flowering plants. Some species need a cold period or overwintering before they germinate, and so may not appear in the first year after sowing.
Flower rich grasslands are rare in warm season climates, as warm-season grasses tend to grow vigorously and smother the flowering plants.
Problem Lawns
For lawns in difficult sites, such as wet, dry or shady areas, try to choose a grass mixture that is specially designed for such conditions. Cool season grasses do not tend to grow readily into a dense, vigorous sward in wet, shady areas, although there are some species that are more tolerant than others. Wood meadow grass (Poa nemoralis) can be sown along with rough-stalked meadow grass (Poa trivialis), although neither tolerates heavy wear or close mowing. Fescues grow reasonably well in these conditions and take a lower height of cut when mowing. Shady areas in warm season regions should be sown with St Augustine grass; it is also salt-tolerant and so is useful for coastal gardens. As it is coarser than Bermuda grass or zoysia grass, St Augustine grass is generally only used where finer species do not thrive.
