What Is the Best Grass Seed for Georgia?

Luckily for Georgia homeowners, peaches aren’t the only plant that grows well in the sweltering summers and mild winters of the Southern state. Georgia’s climate is perfect for keeping a lush, healthy lawn throughout the year. However, there isn’t just one best type of grass seed in Georgia. The are several different grasses that will thrive in Georgia depending on your climate, sun exposure, and several other factors. Here are the best grass options for Georgia and what you need to consider before reseeding your lawn.

What Is the Best Type of Grass Seed for Georgia?

Ultimately, the best type of grass for your Georgia lawn will depend on factors such as the amount of sun and shade the area receives, the amount of foot traffic, and your personal preferences. Consult with a local lawn care professional or landscaper to determine the best option for your specific needs.

When it comes to maintaining a lush and healthy lawn in Georgia, choosing the right type of grass is key. But with so many options available, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are five types of grass seed to consider for your Georgia lawn:

Bermuda

A bright green, dense grass with fine to medium blades, Bermuda is a popular choice for grass seed in Georgia due to its heat and drought tolerance. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun, but it can tolerate some shade as well. It is also very salt tolerant, making it a good option if you live along the Georgia coast.

Bermuda grass holds up well to heavy foot traffic, making it ideal for families with young children and pets. However, it does grow quickly and requires more maintenance than most grasses. You may need to mow it frequently during the peak growing season. Also, it has high nutrient requirements and needs regular fertilizing to keep your lawn looking great.

• Season Type: Warm
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to very light shade
• Maintenance Level: Moderate to high
• Ideal Grass Height: 1 to 2 inches
• Pros: Resists heat, drought, and salt, great for high-traffic areas
• Cons: Requires frequent mowing, needs fertilizing regularly for peak appearance

Fescue

Fescue is a family of finely textured and fast-growing grasses. Generally low maintenance, it is known for its dark green color and durability in high-traffic areas. Fescue also tolerates shade better than most grasses. Although it is a cool-season grass, it is resilient to drought and fluctuating temperatures.

There are several different types of fescue grasses, including fine fescue, chewings fescue, hard fescue, sheep fescue, and creeping red fescue. While they are all adapted to grow well in cooler climates, most can withstand hot summers as long as spring and fall are milder. As such, it is only a good grass seed option for Northern Georgia.

• Season Type: Cool
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Maintenance Level: Low
• Ideal Grass Height: 3 to 4 inches
• Pros: Drought resistance, great for high-traffic areas
• Cons: Can brown during hot summer months

Centipede

Centipede is a medium-textured, low-maintenance grass. Because it grows slowly, Centipede grass requires less frequent mowing than other grasses, though it likewise takes longer to mature and fill in a yard after seeding.

It is also drought-tolerant and can handle a range of soil types, which makes it a great option for lawns with varying conditions. However, it is not tolerant of high foot traffic and will show wear in places that receive heavy use. Salt exposure can brown or even kill it, so it’s not recommended for coastal areas.

• Season Type: Warm
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to very light shade
• Maintenance Level: Low
• Ideal Grass Height: 1 to 2 inches
• Pros: Heat and drought resistance
• Cons: Not good for high-use areas or along the coastline

Zoysia

Zoysia is available in several varieties, with textures ranging from fine to coarse. Generally a dense, slow-growing grass, Zoysia requires periodic dethatching to look its best but does not need to be mowed as often as other warm-season grasses. It’s tolerant of foot traffic as well as high salt levels, meaning it can be planted on the coast.

It also has improved cold tolerance that is well suited to North Georgia and coastal regions. While it will turn brown during the winter, it stays green longer than most other warm-season grasses like Bermuda.

• Season Type: Warm
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to very light shade
• Maintenance Level: Low to Moderate
• Ideal Grass Height: 1 to 2 inches
• Pros: Resists heat, drought, and salt, cold tolerant, great for high-traffic areas
• Cons: Requires periodic dethatching

St. Augustine

A coarse, broad-leafed grass, St. Augustine is known for its rich blue-green color. It is extremely heat and salt resistant, making it ideal for areas along the South Georgia coast. However, it has a lower cold tolerance than other warm-season grass and is not often found as far north as Atlanta.

While it fares well in lawns that receive partial shade, it does require more maintenance than other grass options. Some varieties require more frequent fertilizing and above-average mowing to keep your lawn looking great.

• Season Type: Warm
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade
• Maintenance Level: Moderate to High
• Ideal Grass Height: 2 to 4 inches
• Pros: Resists heat and drought, high shade tolerance
• Cons: Not cold or salt tolerant

Bahiagrass

Bahiagrass is an excellent choice for grass in George because it can thrive in sandy, nutrient-poor areas where other grasses struggle. It also has higher salt-resistance and is a great choice for coastal areas in Georgia.

Originally as a pasture grass, it has since become a popular option for landscaping. Its deep roots allow it to withstand drought conditions and high traffic. This grass prefers full sunlight, but it can also tolerate limited shade. While the texture of this grass is coarse, letting it grow to 2 to 3 inches will create a softer-looking lawn.

• Season Type: Warm
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Maintenance Level: Low to Moderate
• Ideal Grass Height: 2 to 3 inches
• Pros: Resists heat, drought, and salt, great for high-traffic areas
• Cons: Coarse grass blades

How To Choose the Right Grass in Georgia

So, how do you pick the best grass? Well, there isn’t just one right pick. The best type of grass for Georgia depends on the specific use, your location, and several other factors. It’s also important to consider the amount of sun, shade, and water the area receives when selecting a grass type.

When choosing grass in Georgia, there are several factors to consider:

1. Climate: Georgia has a warm and humid climate, so it’s important to choose grass that can handle the heat and humidity. All of the warm-season grasses above are well-suited for Georgia’s climate, but only Bahiagrass, Bermuda, and Zoysia are good options for coastal areas.
2. Sun and shade: Different grasses prefer different amounts of sun and shade, so it’s important to consider the amount of sun and shade your lawn receives. Bermuda grass and Zoysia grass prefer full sun, while St. Augustine grass can handle more shade.
3. Soil: Different grasses prefer different soil types, so it’s important to consider the type of soil your lawn has. Centipede grass prefers well-drained sandy soils, while Bermuda grass can handle a wide range of soil types.
4. Water: Some grasses are more drought-tolerant than others, so it’s important to consider the amount of water your lawn receives. All of the grasses above are known for their drought tolerance, although their exact water requirements vary.
5. Maintenance: Different grasses require different levels of maintenance, so it’s important to consider how much time and effort you’re willing to put into maintaining your lawn. Bahiagrass grass and Zoysia grass are relatively low maintenance, while St. Augustine grass may require more water and fertilizer.
6. Traffic: Some grasses are more tolerant of heavy foot traffic than others, so it’s important to consider the amount of foot traffic your lawn receives. Bermuda grass and Zoysia grass are good options for high-traffic areas, while Centipede grass may not be as suitable.

If you Consulting with a local lawn care professional or landscaper may be helpful in determining the best option for your specific needs.

What Are Cool Season vs. Warm Season Grasses?

For the most part, turf grasses are classified as either cool-season or warm-season grasses, and where you live determines your lawn type. On the map, the region colored in blue suits cool-season grasses, orange suits warm-season grasses, and the green states in between perform best with a mix of both.

With average temperatures ranging from the low 30s in winter to the mid-90s in summer, the Atlanta area lies on the edge of the transitional zone, meaning both warm and cool season grasses are used. Warm-season varieties are most common, however, as they are more resistant to drought and heat.

Warm season grasses:

• Should be planted from late spring through early summer
• Grow during the summer and go dormant during winter
• Are drought tolerant
• Tend to have thicker, coarser blades
• Are generally mowed at a shorter height

Cool season grasses:

• Should be planted from late summer through early fall
• Grow throughout the spring and fall and go dormant in the summer
• Are cold tolerant
• Tend to have longer, thinner blades
• Are generally mowed at a taller height

In north and middle Georgia, cool-season grasses can be used to overseed a warm-season lawn, which helps maintain an attractive lawn through the colder months. For the sake of uniformity, however, cool-season grasses should only be mixed with fine- to medium-textured warm-season grasses.

Understanding Light Levels for a Healthy Lawn

All grasses need sunlight to thrive, but some tolerate shade better than others. Before you plant, determine the light level of your yard:

• Full sun: Eight hours of unfiltered sunlight per day
• Very light shade: Six hours of unfiltered sunlight per day
• Light shade: Six hours of sunlight filtered through sparse, scattered foliage
• Partial shade: Four hours of direct sunlight or eight hours of sunlight filtered through sparse, scattered foliage
• Shade: Three hours of direct sunlight or all-day sunlight filtered through moderate foliage
• Dense shade: No direct sunlight reaches the ground

The best grass for shade depends on location. In north and middle Georgia, tall fescue is the best grass for partially shaded lawns. For a lawn in south Georgia or along the coast, St. Augustine is also resilient in partial shade.

Of course, no grass grows well in shade or dense shade. Plant turf grass in the sunniest parts of your yard and landscape with mulch or pine straw around trees and shrubbery.

Georgia Lawn Care

Regardless of which grass seed you choose, you will need to do at least some regular lawn care. No matter where you live, basic lawn care comes down to three elements: mowing, watering, and feeding. As simple as it sounds, there’s a right and wrong way to approach all three.

Mowing

Mowing height depends on grass type, and mowing at the correct height is just as important for a healthy lawn as fertilizing. Refer to the recommended mowing height for lawn grasses in Georgia, and keep your blade sharp; a dull blade shreds grass rather than cutting it, causing the tops of the grass to turn brown.

Watering

Grass needs about one inch of water per week to thrive. Water your lawn in the morning once a week, so it has a chance to dry between soakings. Because a sodden root system increases the possibility of disease, avoid overwatering or watering at night when the soil dries more slowly, and always check the soil before watering. If it’s already damp, there’s no need to irrigate.

Feeding

Ideal nutrient levels vary slightly between grass types, but in general, using any plant food product at the right time of year is all that’s necessary to keep a fertile lawn. Bermuda, centipede, zoysia, and St. Augustine should be fertilized in April and June. Unlike the warm-season grasses, tall fescue should be fertilized once in September and again in November.

Find Lawn Maintenance Companies in Georgia

A lot of work goes into planting and maintaining turf grass. Beyond basic mowing, watering, and fertilizing, some lawns require regular dethatching, aerating, and weed or pest treatments to look their best.

If you don’t have the time for extra yard work but want to improve the health and appearance of your lawn, contact a local lawn care company. Best Pick landscaping and lawn treatment professionals are experts on regional grasses, and many offer maintenance programs catered to your lawn’s needs.