Around the world, there are about 12,000 species of grass and they narrow down into 12 classifications of subfamilies including Pooiedae which is the grass family of Bamboo. Believe it or not, Bamboo plants are actually grasses that could grow 90 ft and get as thick as 30 cm in diameter. However, this article is more about the grass we are trying to grow on our lawns at home, not so much fast-growing bamboo.
Grass grows differently in different climate zones. The fastest-growing grass in warm climates is Bermuda grass, as it can germinate in less than 7 days. While the fastest-growing grass in cold climates is perennial ryegrass, as it can germinate in less than 10 days.
Anyways, just like Bamboo, all plants need sunlight, water, and soil. However, changes in either one of those could affect the plant’s growth. Aside from these basic needs, the climate zone could also change the possibility of the grass growing in a certain place, how fast or slow it could grow, and so on.
Climate Zones and Grass Types?
Climate zones play a special role in keeping these grasses alive as how hot or how cold the soil gets can affect them. A brief explanation of why climate zones are crucial to a grass’s life expectancy is that the warmth or coldness absorbed by the air surrounding the grass and topsoil can greatly affect the germination for seeding adult grass.
How strong the air blows could also explain how much land grass covers, as the wind carries the seeds from the ground and spreads them around rather quickly. If the soil they land on is healthy and their basic needs are met, the grass will thrive and grow from there. Otherwise, it will either live a short life or not grow at all.
Fastest growing grass in warm climates?
The fastest-growing grass in the world in warm climates is Bermuda grass.
You might have walked past your school’s athletic field, your neighbor’s yard, or maybe in the park and noticed the green and shiny patches of grass. They’re called Bermuda Grass. Bermuda grass is very commonly grown and used in lawns as they could tolerate warm weather and drought very well. Even with minimal irrigation or watering, they could live up to 90 days while maintaining their bright green color. This makes them perfect for residential lawns and parks.
Growing and caring for this type of grass is very easy. They can be left without water for a long time, and they grow faster than they wither.
However, the problem with Bermuda is that they come from a very invasive species which is Poaceae, meaning it has a tendency to spread quickly. This explains why they easily scatter from an area to another. Their invasive attribute is both useful and harmful. They can also continue growing on areas that they’re not native to and without nutrients like pavement or cemented ground.
We say harmful as it tends to grow over another type of grass (St. Augustine for example) and grow on the same soil with the intent of stealing the nutrients. We also say they’re useful because in the event that you lack seeds to cover a plot, leaving them well-watered for a couple of days can already result in the grass spreading. What’s also great about this grass is that they withstand traffic.
Other Types of Fast-Growing Grass in Warm Climates
Another grass that is perfectly grown in warm climate zones is St. Augustine. Just like Bermuda grass, they grow fast under extreme heat. Unlike Bermuda grass that can easily be grown from seed, starting a St. Augustine lawn from seed could put up a challenge as they can only be easily grown from leftover strips of turf.
Some homeowners prefer to use St. Augustine grass over Bermuda since they can not only tolerate extreme heat, but they grow well under the shade, too. This grass is perfect for those who live in areas that are mostly hot, but partly cloudy most of the time.
However, they take a lot of work and patience in growing and maintaining them. This includes regular watering, using a fertilized and composted topsoil, frequent mowing, and weeding.
Make sure to reuse your St.Augustine clippings into compost to help them grow healthier and quicker. They are also best placed in an area of the lawn that has little to no traffic as they easily wither and die when immediately cared for after mowing or heavy traffic.
2 Other Well Known Warm Climate Grass Types
- Zoysia
- Centipede
Fastest Growing Grass in colder climates?
The fastest-growing grass in the world in cold climates is Perennial Ryegrass.
Common misconceptions about growing grass in a cold climate zone are that they will easily wither.
Both myths are busted by Perennial Ryegrass or simply Ryegrass.
Ryegrass has been described as perennial, which means it has a long life expectancy. For most lawns that homeowners grow in the northern part of America, Ryegrass is commonly grown. This grass is the counterpart of Bermuda: fast-growing, easy to maintain, and has a long lifespan.
Just like Bermuda grass, they grow fast with a potential 5 to 10 days of short germination, and the seeds are easily obtained and planted. There’s no need to seed a sod of turf from a farm as long as they are planted in a cold and dry area.
Don’t be confused between annual and perennial ryegrass. Annual ryegrass is as beautiful as perennial ryegrass, but the difference is that the latter is for lawns rather than annual which is for foraging. They could grow up to 12 inches, which makes them perfect to feed to livestock or farm animals.
Other people still use Annual ryegrass for their lawns since they are more glossy, softer to touch, and can tolerate flooding due to its fast water absorption. On the other hand, perennial ryegrass is just as glossy, but stiffer and is as tough as Bermuda grass which means they can withstand traffic as well.
Ryegrass is perfect for those who live in a cold climate zone because, during winter or extremely cold weather, they will grow at a slower pace and will remain dormant until the temperature drops. This saves the homeowners some trouble having to mow during winter! Really helpful for locations with snow!
Kentucky Bluegrass
Another type of grass that is commonly grown in cool season is Kentucky Bluegrass. Though is says “blue” and “grass” in its name, it doesn’t really grow in the color Blue.
This grass also grows fast in cool places but requires more details in care. However, despite the meticulousness required by this grass, it still is very popular among homeowners and gardeners due to its ability to heal itself when it has been damaged as opposed to other grasses that wither and die when stepped on, or flooded with water.
What Makes Grass Grow Fast?
Fertilizer, proper care, appropriate climate conditions, and patience. All of those will surely help you cover your lawn with a beautiful green carpet. It is important to understand that grass does not grow overnight, it is a process that you must take somewhat seriously.
Following proper instructions for your climate zone and listening to the correct steps to growing a green grassed lawn will take you one step closer at a time. If either step is not followed, this could result in your lawn withering or unevenly growing.
Fertilizer and soil type plays a big role in how fast grasses grow, so keep that in mind. Aside from using fertilizer, growing grass that suits the climate in your area could help you understand why the grass you’re caring for grows too fast or too slow.
Though other homeowners prefer not to use fertilizers because they’re unnatural, they can actually improve the color and lifespan of the grass. At the same time, misusing fertilizer could kill your grass and turn them brown. See the reasons why your grass is brown here!
Conclusion
Overall, we learned that grass is different all around the globe. The fastest-growing grass in the world totally depends on where you are in the world. To grow a beautiful green lawn take the correct steps and make sure you understand your grass type, your climate zone, and follow correct instructions for seeding or fertilizing.
Grass, in general, is a tricky but critical part of your home’s curbside value. If you want the best looking lawn you might want to consider hiring a lawn specialist, which can cost $50 to $500 dollars a week. Of course, lawn size will determine costs and other factors as well, but you will have someone who knows what they are doing.
Thanks for reading in and I hope your grass is green!
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.