There are many residential and commercial horticultural services in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco that can take care of all your needs for lawns, trees and shrubs, from the choice of plants to the application of fertilizer and pesticides. Whether your needs be residential or commercial, it would be best to be able to discuss your choices intelligently with your horticultural service provider. To start with the most basic, you should at least have an idea about the various turfgrasses used on lawns.
Here are some of the turfgrasses often used on lawns.
Annual ryegrass is also called Italian ryegrass or wintergrass because it thrives in fall and winter, turning yellow and dying in late spring to early summer.
Kikuyu grass is sometimes considered a weed in certain areas in California because of its ability to spread quickly and its high tolerance for both heat and shade. It may be vulnerable to the cold but is able to recover fast.
Bermuda grass may be seeded or hybrid, differing in color. Both types are best suited to sunny climates where they grow hardy and use water efficiently. In extended cold weather, though, they turn brown.
Perennial ryegrass is a high traffic tolerant cool season grass that grows best in coastal areas with moderate climates and full sun.
Buffalo grass is a drought resistant warm season grass that cannot tolerate shade and is dormant all winter long.
Red fescue thrives only in cool shade. It has moderate wear resistance and is low maintenance, not requiring much irrigation, fertilization and mowing.
Colonial bentgrass is at its best in cool humid coastal areas, with moderate shade tolerance.
Rough bluegrass prefers cool wet shade and is often used in foggy locales.
Creeping bentgrass thrives in sunny areas of cool humid locales, with some tolerance for shade. It is a favorite for sports areas such as putting greens in golf courses, and lawn tennis and lawn bowling greens but is too expensive to maintain for homes.
Seashore paspalum is a warm season grass that can tolerate salt water even in areas by the ocean.
Dichondra is a perennial grass that thrives in the full sun of the warm season but adapts well to some shade even in cool coastal areas. It cannot tolerate heavy traffic, though, so it is not recommended for large areas.
St. Augustine grass is a warm season grass that grows best in full sun but adapts well to moderate climates and shade. It is water efficient and pest resistant but is dormant in late autumn and winter.
Hard fescue is a cool season grass that thrives in the shade, is tolerant of low fertility and does not require mowing. It does not tolerate hot temperatures, though, and does not recover easily once damaged.
Tall fescue is the most common turfgrass used in California. Though a cool season grass, it tolerates warm temperature and adapts well to sun and partial shade. It also has good resistance to weeds and disease.
Kentucky bluegrass is a cool season grass that thrives in sun but not in climates that are too hot. It grows best in fall, winter and spring but slows down in summer.
Zoysia grass is a warm season grass that grows best in full sun but has some shade tolerance. It has high water efficiency and one of its species even has drought tolerance.
Check out the lawns you see around Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco and identify the turfgrasses that look good to you. A combination of turfgrasses is often used. Knowing their qualities, you could discuss with your horticultural service provider the best types to use on your lawn.