Adjust your mower to leave the grass taller in shaded areas. 60-144" tall (5-12 ft) x 48-72" wide (4-6 ft). Traditional warm- or cool-season grasses do not do well in this area. The grass grows thick and green and keeps its color for most of the year. Warm-season grasses thrive in the lower Southeast and Southwest, where growing-season temperatures range between 80 and 95 degrees. This accent grass is hardy in zones 6 through 9. The best bet is to choose a grass that handles temperature extremes such as a cool-season grass that handles the heat or a warm-season grass that can handle the cold, suggests Neil Christians and Ashton Ritchie in the book, “Lawns.” This warm-season perennial grass can have either coarse or fine texture, and is adapted to a wide range of soils. Hardy Pampas Grass grows to about 5 feet and then sends up airy, white plumes that can reach up to 10 feet tall. Saccharum ravennae 'Erianthus' will grow in colder regions down to a zone 6. USDA Zones 4 to 10; Most grass-like ground cover; Also called monkey grass (though there’s a totally different family of plants that also shares the common name) and lilyturf, this easy-care perennial is a fantastic choice for borders and those awkward areas of ground between sidewalks and the road, or around trees. Mow 1 to 2 inches high. Zones… Traits: Originally from Africa, it thrives in full sun, spreads aggressively, and needs lots of fertilizer. These grasses flourish across cooler northern climates and into the challenging “transition zone," where cool and warm regions overlap. Grass seed can be a challenge for zone 6. Manage mowing in shady spots. St. Augustine grass (zones 8-10)—This heat-tolerant grass has blades of a bluish-green color and coarse texture. Size: To 6 feet tall. Warm-season grasses, such as Bermudagrass, Bahiagrass , Zoysia grass, and Centipede grass , peak in growth during the warmer temperatures of … Features columnar, upright clumps of blue green leaves that sway in the wind. Finding the right grass or MIXTURE of grasses is an important step in planting a great lawn, pasture or sport field. When to plant: April . Well adapted and trouble free … Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis): Blooms earlier than most grasses. The Turfgrass Selection Climate Zone Map - This map, found below, is a color coded map for selection of the type of grass based on climate (rainfall, etc) and on temperatures. In between, across the country, lies the transition zone, where both warm-season and cool-season grasses can do well. Zone 4: Bermuda grass (Cynodon spp.) In southern climates it performs fairly well in semishaded areas, but the farther north you go, it’ll need more sun. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are typically applied to Zoysia grasses in early, mid and late summer. Zoysia grass (zones 5-10)—A popular type of warm-season lawn grass with good cold tolerance. Alternatives: Centipede grass, Bahia grass, Seashore paspalum. Only apply sulfur when the outdoor temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Like many grasses, this tough plant tolerates a wide range of conditions. Name: Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil. Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) Turf Grass Selection Climate Zone Map It is low maintenance, drought tolerant, and grows in both full or part sun. Hardy in USDA zones 2 through 7, these grasses prefer low-traffic areas with well-drained soil. ... may be grown as a permanent lawn in USDA zones 3 through 6 … Choosing Grass Seed. Blue Stem (Andropogon gerardi): An Illinois native grass. Hardy Pampas Grass is a more cold-hardy variety of the popular White Pampas Grass. 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