The best grass to plant for any home in the State of Virginia is based on what area of the state that you call home. Grass types and seeds that may be perfect in some areas of the state, may not be the best fit in others.
The best types of grass for Virginia depend upon your local weather and the soil that your lawn will cover. Figuring this all out isn’t a difficult task, but will require a bit of homework.
Virginia USDA Gardening Zones
Growing a lawn is no different than growing a garden or fruit trees. The same principles apply. The garden zone you call home will help determine what grass variety you will need.
Your home will be in one of the four Virginia USDA plant hardiness zones that range from 5A in the western mountains to 8A on the eastern shore. This isn’t just a map, it’s a grass bible!
Best Grass for Northern Virginia, including Fredericksburg and Culpeper
Winters are cold in Northern Virginia, which means you need a grass that can stand up and thrive in this type of environment. A couple of good ones are:
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Fine Fescue
Best Grass for Western Virginia including Charlottesville, Roanoke, and Lynchburg
Some areas of Western Virginia can be just as cold as areas located further north. However, there are other grass types that do well with slightly warmer temperatures.
- Tall Fescue
- Creeping Red Fescue
Best Grass for Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond, and Chesapeake areas
These climates offer some of the warmest weather found in Virginia. Grasses designed to perform in cold weather areas can be planted here, but other varieties will do better.
- Zoysia Grass
- Bermuda Grass
- Bahia Grass (for sandy soils)
Best Grass for South Virginia, including Danville and Martinsville
- Perennial Ryegrass
- Fescue Mix
8 Types of Grass Perfectly Suited For Virginia And Why
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky Bluegrass, or KBG, is the number one choice for a lawn in colder northern areas because it offers the greatest tolerance to cold temperatures. It is most often found in northern climates where cool summer weather and cold winters are the norm. KBG prefers full sunlight but can also do well in lightly shaded areas.
Cold Tolerance: High
Where is KBG planted? Lawns, athletic fields, pastures, and landscaping areas.
Fine Fescue
Fine Fescue is a standard turf grass that is found in many northern areas. It is a bunching grass that grows quickly and is often found in grass seed mixtures to create a northern shade-tolerant grass that requires little fertilizer. This type of grass stays green throughout the year in most regions and is also drought tolerant. Fine Fescue grass is divided into five major species, which can include Tall Fescue and Creeping Red Fescue. These varieties are often blended into seed mixes.
Cold Tolerance: High
Where is Fine Fescue planted? Lawns, pastures, and other cool areas with plenty of shade.
Tall Fescue
Tall Fescue is a bunch type grass that has a dense root system and grows well in shady areas. It’s the number one choice for many homeowners because it stays green all year long, stands up to heavy foot and play traffic and is also resistant to drought conditions.
Cold Tolerance: Moderately High
Where is Tall Fescue planted? Lawns, golf courses, football, baseball, and soccer fields and anywhere a dense turf is desired.
Creeping Red Fescue
Creeping Red Fescue is a proven performer that is often used in northern regions. It features deep green and narrow blades and tends to do best in areas that offer lots of shade. Creeping Red Fescue grows very quickly and is one of the most popular lawn choices among home and business owners.
Cold Tolerance: Moderately High
Where is Creeping Red Fescue planted? Lawns, golf courses, sports facilities, and roadside landscaping.
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass is one of the best cool and cold season grasses in many areas. It germinates and grows quickly, has a long growing season, and tolerates lots of play and foot traffic. It is a proven performer in coastal regions that offer moderate temperatures. This variety thrives in full sunshine, but also does well in partial shade. It is not drought-tolerant, nor does it perform well in areas with long periods of extreme heat.
Cold Tolerance: Moderately High
Where is Perennial Ryegrass planted? Lawns, schools, parks, athletic fields, golf courses, and pastures.
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia grass resembles Kentucky Bluegrass. It grows quickly in warm areas, but will turn brown during its dormant season. Its fast-growing natural and deep root system can be problematic in that it will take over areas that have been set aside for flower beds or vegetable gardens. Zoysia grass thrives in full sunlight but will tolerate partial shade.
Heat Tolerance: High
Where is Zoysia Grass planted? Lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields thanks to its high tolerance for foot traffic.
Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass grows faster than Zoysia and is somewhat more disease and pest-resistant. It also grows well in sandy soils. It’s not cold tolerant and will turn brown when dormant. Bermuda grass loves full sunshine but does not do well in shade. It can also be invasive, and spread to areas such as flower and vegetable gardens.
Heat Tolerance: High
Where is Bermuda Grass planted? Athletic fields, lawns, parks, playgrounds, golf course fairways, roadsides, and cemeteries.
Bahia Grass
Bahia Grass is a proven winner in sandy soils thanks to an extensive root system. It tolerates drought well but can also turn brown during extended periods of hot weather and little rainfall. Bahia grass is not considered to be as attractive as Zoysia or Bermuda grass lawns.
Heat Tolerance: Moderately High
Where is Bahia Grass planted? Large lots or fields where appearance is not the biggest issue.
Conclusion
Selecting the correct grass seed or grass seed mix will help you prepare and grow the type of lawn that will be the envy of your neighborhood. Selecting the wrong grass type in Virginia, however, could result in a lot of frustration. It’s best to do your homework!
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