By Teri Silver

If you want the grass to be greener on your side of the fence, you need to choose the best grass type for your home, soil, and climate. Weeds don’t care about the time of year; they can pop up during every season. Choosing the best type of grass for your home keeps the lawn hardy and looking great in all kinds of weather.

Because of Washington’s diverse geography and climate, choosing the best grass depends on your home’s location within the state. When it comes to hardy turf that withstands cold temperatures, cool-season grasses are the way to go.

Cool-season grasses can survive temperatures below 32 degrees. The Evergreen State falls within the USDA plant hardiness zones 6 to 9. These Cool-season varieties mesh well with the landscaping in Northwest Washington.

Kentucky Bluegrass

When it comes to toughness, Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) is a good choice for yards in Washington. Kentucky bluegrass thrives in fall, winter, and spring when temperatures are cool, and grows more slowly in the summer. KBG prefers full sun (but it can tolerate some shade). Its shallow root system leads to dormancy during the hot summer months. The seeds are often blended with fescue and ryegrass. Mow KBG to 3 inches. IF you’re having trouble setting your mower, a quick service call to Carl’s Mower and Saw will help.

Fine Fescues

Fescues grow well in cool shady areas. These low-maintenance grasses develop dark green blades that do not need much water or fertilizer — the grass spreads itself to fill bare spots.

Fine fescues are easy to mow, and they adapt well to Washington’s climate and soils. However, if your yard gets a lot of foot traffic, fine fescue is NOT a good choice — it does not recover or grow quickly after heavy trampling.

Wet winter weather may also bring red thread disease that sticks around until temperatures rise above 50 degrees.

Ryegrass

Homeowners in the Northwest may find perennial ryegrass is a great choice. Ryegrass germinates quickly and prefers cool, moist environments. It spreads lush green blades over bare spots. But there is a downside: Because it grows so fast, you will need to mow ryegrass more often. You’ll also want to edge at least once a year. Carl’s Mower and Saw rents edgers for those infrequent jobs.

Bentgrass

Bentgrass is typically used on golf courses, but you can plant it in your own yard, too. Trim it often to avoid a shaggy appearance. Here’s an idea: Turn your entire backyard into a putting green for the ultimate golf lover!

Best Grass Types For the Pacific Northwest

The PC NW and Cascade region is mainly in USDA zones 8 and 9. Zone 7 begins in the Cascade foothills — further up is Zone 6. For these areas, homeowners should consider:

  • Fine and red fescues
  • Kentucky bluegrass blended with ryegrass
  • Dwarf tall fescues (especially near the coast because they tolerate salt better than most varieties)
  • Buffalo grass
  • Bermuda grass (microclimates areas)
  • Zoysia – OK for Washington (although better in the warmer climates of Northern California and Southern Oregon)

3 Ways to Choose the Best Grass Type for Your Yard

What looks good and what works well on your property depends on the soil, water drainage, and amount of direct sunlight to the yard.

  • Test the soil for acidity; the pH balance is one key to your choice of grass.
  • Assess how well the lawn absorbs water and where puddles form (if any).
  • Consult a professional from your favorite lawn and garden store or landscaper.

Maintenance

No matter which type of grass you choose, it’s essential to keep your lawn properly maintained. Mowing it too short will leave you with bare spots. It also robs the lawn of energy and leaves it susceptible to weeds. Allowing your lawn to grow too long will make it tough to eventually mow. Mowing with a dull lawn mower blade will tear and pull the grass blades and may eventually kill the lawn. It’s best to have the mower blades sharpened at least once a year. Don’t know how to remove the blade? Carl’s Mower and Saw can do that for you.

To DIY or Not to DIY?

Yes, that is the question, do you really want to do this yourself? Installing a new yard is a huge job that takes a certain amount of expertise — especially difficult if you’ve never done it before. According to LawnStarter, the cost of getting a pro to resod your lawn in western Washington is nearly $1,900.

You may save some money by getting your hands dirty. Or you may end up tearing out the grass (and a few gray hairs) if it’s not planted correctly. Lawn care professionals can save you a lot of trouble in the long run — and back up their work.

Power Your Outdoors with Carl’s Mower & Saw, for over 30 years we’ve been Whatcom & Skagit County’s leading source for service, equipment sales, rentals. and parts. Give us a call at 360-384-0799, or email us at info@carlsmower.com.

 

Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast who spends her weekends mowing her 5-acre lawn. She is an avid do-it-yourselfer who refurbishes anything she can get her hands on.