Carolina Lawns

Placed on the Web by the Center for IPM

Table 3. Characteristics of Principal Lawn Grasses Grown in North C arolina

	Adaption					Appearance				Maintenance
Lawn grass	Shade	Heat	Cold	Drought	Wear	Color	Texture	Preferred season	Rate of establishment^a	Cutting height (in.)	Fertilizer (lb N/ 1,000 sq ft/yr)	Mowing frequency^b
Western Region
Kentucky bluegrass*	good	fair	very good	good	good	med-dark	medium	fall	moderate	1.5 to 2.5	2.5 to 4	medium
Kentucky bluegrass/ fine fescue*	good	fair	very good	good	fair	med-dark	fine-med	fall	moderate	1.5 to 2.5	2.5 to 3	medium
Kentucky bluegrass/ tall fescue*	good	good	very good	very good	very good	med-dark	med-coarse	fall	fast	2.5 to 3.5	3.5 to 3	high
Kentucky bluegrass/ tall fescue/fine fescue*	very good	good	very good	very good	very good	med-dark	med-coarse	fall	fast	2.5 to 3.5	2.5 to 3	high
Kentucky bluegrass/ perennial ryegrass*	good	fair	very good	good	very good	med-dark	medium	fall	fast	2 to 3	2.5 to 3	med-high
Tall fescue*	good	good	very good	very good	very good	medium	med-coarse	fall	fast	2.5 to 3.5	2.5 to 3	high
Piedmont Region
Bermudagras (common)*	very poor	very poor	very poor	excellent	excellent	medium	medium	spr/sum	fast	0.75 to 1	4.5	med-high
Bermudagrass (hybrid)	very poor	very poor	poor	excellent	excellent	light-dark	fine	spr/sum	moderate	0.75	5 to 6	high
Bahiagrass*	good	good	poor	excellent	good	med-dark	coarse	spr/sum	moderate	2 to 3	1	high
Centipedegrass*	good	good	poor	good	poor	light	coarse	spr/sum	slow	1	0.5	low
Kentucky bluegrass/ tall fescue*	good	good	very good	very good	very good	med-dark	med-coarse	fall	fast	2.5 to 3.5	1.5 to 3	high
Kentucky bluegrass/ tall fescue/ fine fescue*	very good	good	very good	very good	very good	med-dark	med-coarse	fall	fast	2.5 to 3.5	1.5 to 3	high
St. Augustinegrass*	very good	very good	poor	good	poor	med-dark	coarse	spr/sum	moderate	2 to 3	2.5	med-high
Tall fescue*	good	good	very good	very good	very good	medium	coarse	fall	fast	2.5 to 3.5	2.5 to 3	high
Zoysiagrass*	good	very good	fair-good	excellent	good	med-dark	fine-med	spr/sum	very slow	0.75 to 1	1.5	low/med
Coastal Plain
Bermudagrass (common)*	very good	very good	very good	excellent	excellent	medium	medium	spr/sum	fast	0.75 to 1	4.5	med-high
Bermudagrass (hybrid)	very poor	very good	poor	excellent	excellent	light-dark	fine	spr/sum	moderate	0.75	5 to 6	very high
Bahiagrass*	good	very good	poor	excellent	good	med-dark	coarse	spr/sum	moderate	2 to 3	1	high
Centipedegrass*	good	good	poor	good	poor	light	coarse	spr/sum	slow	1	0.5	low
St. Augustinegrass*	very good	very good	poor	good	poor	med-dark	coarse	spr/sum	moderate	2 to 3	2.5	med-high
Tall fescue*	good	good	very good	very good	very good	medium	coarse	fall	fast	2.5 to 3.5	2.5 to 3	high
Zoysiagrass*	good	very good	fair-good	excellent	good	med-dark	fine-med	spr/sum	very slow	0.75 to 1	1.5	low-med

* Can be seeded
Note: Some improved cultivars are better adapted and more pleasing in appearance than the comparison rating provided for a given lawn grass. Check with your county Cooperative Extension Center concerning specific cultivars that have improved characteristics of interest to you. See Table 2 for suggested months of establishment.
^aEstablishment rate is dictated by planting dates, seeding and planti ng rate, intensity of culture, and environment.
^bMowing frequency is dictated by season, intensity of management, and use.