Turfgrass
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.
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.
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.
An Outdoor Living Rebate to install a new deck or patio is also available.
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.