Is There Drought-Tolerant Grass For Lawns?

In Arizona's hot, dry climate, lawns can sometimes suffer despite the best efforts of the homeowners. These days, water conservation is on everyone's mind, and in our state, it can be vital to operate on a minimal water supply. Some grasses are more tolerant of drought conditions than others, but before you lay your sod or plant any seeds, check out our tips to ensuring the happiest grass in dry conditions.

Yes, drought-tolerant grasses do exist. These blades tend to require less water than other types of grasses. In fact, they can use less than 25% of the amount of water traditional grass lawns use on average.

When you’re shopping for grass in a drought-prone area such as Arizona, keep in mind that water isn't the only thing to consider. To get your grass to grow to optimal potential, you need to factor in the time of year, seasonal attributes, soil, lighting, and maintenance.

Types of Drought-Tolerant Grasses

As with anything else in life, some species are just a better fit when it comes to fasting from water. The following grasses are more likely to survive without regular hydration than traditional choices:

• Bermuda Grasses such as Tifway, Midiron and others.
• St. Augustine grasses.
• Ryegrass.

Secondary Options

The grasses mentioned above are the best options for drought-laden lands, but they're not the only possibilities when you're trying to produce a lush lawn. The following alternatives can create a green greeting when you look at your front yard, even when water is nearly non-existent:

• Moss
• Thyme
• Blue Star Creeper

Making the Most of Your Drought-Tolerant Grass

Planting the seeds isn't enough to nurture most plant life, and your lawn is no exception. To get the most benefit from your efforts, follow these steps:

• Cultivate Deep Roots. Several factors contribute to ensuring you cultivate deep roots. Among one of the most important is your mowing height. The depth of your roots will more likely than not be directly correlated to the height of your grass. Avoid cutting your lawn too short in favor of progressively mowing at a higher level each time you hit the turf. These deep roots will help your grass endure the heat, environmental stress, and problematic situations that would otherwise arise when a drought arrives.
• Fertilize. If you want a happy lawn, you should avoid coming home with any old fertilizer. Lawn nutrition and fertilization is much more of a science than many green landowners realize, but it pays to do your homework before you head out of the house to ensure that you return with the levels of phosphorous, potassium, nitrogen, and other elements that will best optimize your outdoor experience.
• Thatch. When managed properly, thatch can actually help keep a lawn healthy in the right conditions. Try not to let your thatch build up beyond 1/2", as it can inhibit growth and reduce the amount of oxygen your grass is able to receive at its roots. When kept under 1/2", however, thatch can actually retain any available moisture in the soil and provide insulation against the extremes in temperature occurring in the outside world. Thatch has been known to facilitate extensive root development, and when it's kept to a manageable depth, it provides the home base of excellent deep root cultivation.
• Aerate. Aeration is a process through which air and water are able to penetrate beyond any built up thatch and nourish the soil and roots beneath the ground's surface. The process avoids starvation to the roots which ultimately will dehydrate grass during droughts.

Need help getting your grass growing just right? Check out our Evergreen Turf Lawn Selector tool to help you choose the optimal grass ingredients.