What kind of grass survives the cold weather the best ? (Niota: contractor, living in)

[FLORIDA TO NIOTA 2010]

I guess I should have asked this question before also.

What kind of grass handles the cold weather and grows the best? Or recovers the fastest? If that's possible.
I need everyones opinion. And I don't mean the kind that people smoke either. What kind of grass is usually used in TN?

[JoeCartpath]

Bermuda is the most commonly used grass by far - either common Bermuda or one of the many hybrids. Zoysia is great, but Zoysia sod is quite a bit more expensive. A Bermuda lawn can be established from seed, sod or sprigs. Zoysia can't be grown from seed. Both go dormant in the winter, but endure the hot summers well (as long as they receive reasonable care). Once estabished, Zoysia is wonderful because it's very think and tends to keep weeks from germinating.

Neither tolerates shade well at all. Fescue is probably the most commonly used for shady areas.

There really isn't a good grass that stays green all year. The cold season grasses (such as Rye) die in the heat, and the warm season grasses go dormant in the cold weather. Some folks overseed their Bermuda or Zoysia lawns in the fall with Rye so they'll have green grass year round. I perfer to take a break from mowing during the winter

[FLORIDA TO NIOTA 2010]

What do they use on the side of the roads? That kind seems to do fine in any weather.

[yarddawg]

Originally Posted by FLORIDA TO NIOTA 2010

What do they use on the side of the roads? That kind seems to do fine in any weather.

That's going to depend on the soil, the season, the slope and what the sub-contractor can get cheapest but around here it's usually mostly a mix of bermuda grass, fescue, rye grass and lespedeza. I've seen erosion control mixes that had things as crazy as crabgrass in them. On purpose. A DOT mix would make for a coarse, scratchy lawn.

[An Einnseanair]

I second what JoeCartpath and yaddawg said, with one exception. If you plan on installing sprinklers then a fescue will give you the best lawn; it'll green up earlier in the spring and stay green later in the fall. But if you don't water it regularly you'll lose a lot of it during the middle of summer. For minimal care stick to bermuda or Zoysia in the sun and fescue in the shade.

The grass on the side of the road looks good when whizzing past at 60mph, but it would make a horrible lawn.

[marmac]

The main purpose of road ditch grass is to prevent erosion.
( and to prevent it from being taken over with weeds )

[FLORIDA TO NIOTA 2010]

Originally Posted by jwkilgore

I second what JoeCartpath and yaddawg said, with one exception. If you plan on installing sprinklers then a fescue will give you the best lawn; it'll green up earlier in the spring and stay green later in the fall. But if you don't water it regularly you'll lose a lot of it during the middle of summer. For minimal care stick to bermuda or Zoysia in the sun and fescue in the shade.

The grass on the side of the road looks good when whizzing past at 60mph, but it would make a horrible lawn.

I guess you are right, it's hard to see what it really looks like when you are driving. Thanks.

[FLORIDA TO NIOTA 2010]

To everyone that posted:

Thanks, I really appreciate your help.

[TN Tin Man]

Try again.... Tennessee Grass Seed

[IngleDave]

Grass is tough and it's always hard for me to figure out what to do. My backyard was magnificent in the spring and first half of the summer with the fescue mix I put in last fall. Then, yuck, terrible. But I always expect that since I don't have the time or resources to water it as it would like. My front yard has a good base of bermuda and stays green all summer as long as drought conditions don't exist. It does turn brown in winter. My point is is that it's all part of living in a temperate zone. One of those things that make the coming spring after a long cool winter is the emergence of the green. It makes seasons seasons. It's similar to the fall as the leaves turn and then fall off. The cycles of the seasons are one of the reasons I love living here. Now's the time to start thinking about your lawn for next year and not worry about the poor grass that got its little butt beaten this summer by the heat. I mowed the dust last weekend and in the next week or so will lightly till my whole back yard and put in new lime, seed and starter. Enjoy what the seasons give you. Soon whatever season it is, it will change.