What type of grass in Austin? (Howe, Buffalo: renters, house, maintenance)

[CaseyRyan]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone could tell me the standard type of grass that is planted in newer communities in Austin. I'm from Kansas and our grass there is a different and I need to fill in/plant new grass around my yard. I just want to make sure I get the right type of grass seed to match the rest of the yard.

Thank you!

[austin-steve]

It depends on your soil and the amount of shade. Berumda and St. Augustine are common, hearty grasses found in Austin.

Steve

[centralaustinite]

People generally over-seed rye into their lawns in the fall. My yard is zoiysa. Buffalo grass is also common in some parts of Austin but I don't think developers put it in. You probably have St. Augustine unless the developer was building "green homes", city of Austin certification for green built requires another grass than St. Augustine.

[mimimomx3]

St. Augustine is so finicky. It requires constant watering and just the right combination of sun and shade. That being said, I love it. Buffalo grass is pretty, too, but different. You might want to look into having your front yard xeriscaped- very little to no maintenance.

[AGA]

When we first moved here, I had never been familiar with St. Augustine grass. I went through our backyard with a vengence trying to get rid of all the runners that were chioking my poor grass and preventing it from growing.
Come to find out the runners WERE my grass. I felt so dumb.
Well, luckily I did not totally ruin my yard, but personally I don't care for the St. Augustine.

[southdown]

My rental house 'lawn' has some very patchy St Augustine grass. Any ideas on how to improve it? Can I snip the runners and plant them elsewhere...?

[tibbar]

Originally Posted by southdown

Can I snip the runners and plant them elsewhere...?

I do this all the time. I rough up the soil where I want the grass then put down the trimings/runners and lightly cover (still see grass) with a bag of soil from a big box store. I water enough to keep the grass moist for a few weeks and have had very good luck doing this.

[southdown]

Originally Posted by tibbar

I do this all the time. I rough up the soil where I want the grass then put down the trimings/runners and lightly cover (still see grass) with a bag of soil from a big box store. I water enough to keep the grass moist for a few weeks and have had very good luck doing this.

Great - thank you - I'll be the one out there snipping tonight!!!

[TexasHorseLady]

St. Augustine is great for down near the coast and in parts of East Texas. Here, with our droughts, not so much, so I do have some patches in my yard out here in the country and had patches in my yard in town, and, yes, builders who aren't going for green certification will use it.

We did a test with our yard in town once. Planted buffalo grass, already had St. Augustine that was finicky except in serious shade, planted bermuda and zoysia. Zoysia stood the test of time best. Then we moved and the house was a rent house for about 10 years, and the renters didn't take the best care in the world of the lawn. When we went back, it appeared dead, but when we watered it, the zoysia came back full strength - only thing that did.

However, to answer the original question, chances are you've got St. Augustine or bermuda in your newly-built house's lawn.

[CaseyRyan]

So you actually have to PLANT grass here? In Kansas we just have to spread seeds, water and abracadabra! We have grass!

What are runners? This Texas grass thing is SO new to me. Instructions suitable for 1st graders would be appreciated. This all boggles my mind!