Turfgrass

When designing your landscape include turfgrass in areas where it will have a specific function and in areas where there is plenty of soil.

orangehorizontaldivider

Turfgrass

In South Texas, turfgrasses are warm season grasses used primarily for lawns, highway right-of-ways and sports fields. These include Bermuda grass, Zoysia, St. Augustine grass and a native mix of buffalo grass, blue grama, and curly mesquite. Cool season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass and fescue are not appropriate for South Texas.

Drought-Tolerant Grass

  • All new homes or commercial buildings that receive services from the San Antonio Water System must select turfgrass from an approved list of drought-tolerant varieties. Turfgrass is not required by any landscape ordinance and local homeowner associations cannot require grass to be planted or irrigated.
  • When designing your landscape include turfgrass in areas where it will have a specific function and in areas where there is plenty of soil.
  • Check out the Plant Establishment information on the best way to water it without overwatering.
  • Limiting the turfgrass to only areas where you need it will limit your carbon footprint when compared to less intensely managed plants.
  • In many parts of San Antonio turfgrass can be grown with minimal inputs.

TURFGRASS CHARACTERISTICS

  • Herbaceous (i.e., without wood)
  • Perennial
  • Thin bladed leaves
  • Low growing (1 inches to 6 inches tall)
  • Can be grown from seed but usually spreads by roots and stolons (i.e., horizontal stems).

CUT BACK ON TURF

  • Turfgrass takes more water than most other landscape plants to keep green in the summer.
  • Most turf grass is not native to San Antonio and may take fertilizers and pesticides to maintain in a “perfect” condition.
  • Mowing adds to CO2 emissions.
  • It is a monoculture that has limited wildlife benefits.

Related Video

green-horizontal-divider

Related Article

green-horizontal-divider

Transform Your Yard

Turn turf into gorgeous landscape beds with help from our Landscape Coupon. Bonus: You’ll save money and water!

SAWS residential customers can apply for the $100 coupon each spring and fall.

WaterSaver Patioscape Coupons are also available.

ladybug

Get a Landscape Coupon

Find a Plant

orangeicon

Have any questions?

Start typing and press Enter to search

Red oak leaves, showing typical pointed lobes as they redden in early autumn.An old-fashioned garden composed of colorful, long-lived perennial plants.