19 Types of Grass in Georgia

When it comes to caring for and planting grass in Georgia USA, there are several factors to consider. The thing is, Georgia has a lot of different climates and regions mixed into the state. Some parts are humid and hot and other parts of the state have mountainous areas.

It’s a good idea to first understand your area and the climate that you plan to grow grass in. It’s also a good idea to know how to care for the various types of grass so you understand whether or not you will be able to properly maintain it.

We’ve put together a simple guide to cover the most common types of grass in Florida. We will share a little bit about each type of grass and even some basic care and climate details as well.

Georgia is one of the states that probably has the widest range of grass types in it. Take a look at these different types of grass in Georgia, complete with basic details about maintenance and where they thrive.

1. Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass is one of the easiest types of grass to maintain. It thrives and it spreads and if you aren’t careful, it can overtake your garden too. Bermuda grass really loves the sun and it grows quickly. It’s a popular choice for both golf courses and lawns.

If you’re in the Atlanta area, you will see Bermuda grass all over the place. It can work well in other parts of Georgia as well. It likes warmth, it handles foot traffic well, and it doesn’t need a whole lot of water to thrive.

2. Tall Fescue

Tall fescue is perhaps one of the most popular choices in Georgia. It is a grass that adapts well to just about anything the weather can throw at it. It handles drought just fine and it handles extreme temperature changes. It’s pretty tough, although it prefers cooler weather.

You will have to mow fescue pretty frequently to keep it between 1-2 inches tall. It grows best in bunches and you will most likely notice this in planting. For this, it’s a good idea to re-seed every 3 years. Tall fescue does need a lot of watering so keep that in mind.

3. Bahiagrass

Bahiagrass loves sunshine and heat and even likes saltwater and sand too. It’s pretty tolerant and really easy to maintain. It’s one of those grasses that will thrive in areas where it’s really hard to get grass and plants to grow, like sandy areas.

This grass will live well through drought and it roots very deeply so it lasts. You can let it grow to about 2-3 inches for the best visual, this makes it softer than if you cut it more frequently.

4. Centipede Grass

Looking for something really low maintenance and easy to grow? Centipede grass might just be the answer. It likes heat and it doesn’t mind shade. It’s common for all-purpose use, particularly with residential lawns.

Centipede grass doesn’t need a ton of fertilization but it will definitely need iron either from fertilizer or the soil. You won’t have to worry too much about pests or weeds and it even handles traffic well. It’s a winner for homes!

Centipede grass grows very slowly so it won’t require frequent mowing and won’t escape to places it shouldn’t be without you knowing.

5. Zoysia Grass

Zoysia grass is pretty unique because it likes warm weather and yet it does ok in cold weather. It’s a little bit on the fragile side as far as the texture. While the texture seems fragile, it’s still pretty hearty and will hold up fine against foot traffic in the yard.

The kicker for Zoysia is that while it is tolerant of drought and dry weather, it still requires quite a bit of water to thrive. You will need to plan to water quite a bit, particularly when it’s warm and dry. It can handle salty areas and isn’t picky about the water source, though.

You will need to mow on occasion to 1-2 inches tall but it needs mowed less often than some grass types in Georgia.

6. Bluegrass

No, we don’t mean the music, although that’s fine too! Bluegrass gets its name because it has bluish hues to the color and even blue flowering tips. You probably won’t actually see a flower on it but will notice the color on the tips.

This is often referred to as Kentucky Bluegrass as that is the most common style. Bluegrass likes cool seasons the best. It’s popular for lawns and golf courses. We will mention that this particular grass is best for the Northern areas of Georgia because of the climate it prefers.

7. Switchgrass

Switchgrass is most likely not a type of grass that you will just plant over your entire yard. This is a bunchgrass. In most cases, it’s meant to be grown in bunches and it grows tall as an accent look. This is not always the case but that is the common look, with being allowed to grow to 3-6 feet in height.

This is really pretty as a supplement in certain areas. It could also be used in a pasture or an area where the grass is meant to get tall.

8. St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine is a grass that is popular in most of the 50 states. It grows lush and looks nice and it is overall pretty versatile. St. Augustine grass is relatively easy to grow and maintain and it’s not as picky as some types of grass when it comes to the climate.

This grass is often known as carpet grass because it carpets the area and gives really great coverage. The biggest challenge is fighting weeds and pests because it’s just too welcoming to those things sometimes.

9. Timothy Grass

Timothy grass is another type of grass that you probably won’t let just run rampant in your background. It can make a great grass for fields and pastures where you let it grow a little bit higher. It makes the perfect meadow appeal.

This is a grass that is commonly used for hay. It takes about 50 days to grow for harvesting but it sprouts up pretty easily with little effort after seeding.

10. Sorghums

Sorghum is typically raised for grain or foraging purposes. It grows really well in areas that are tropical or even subtropical in climate. Sorghum grass grows is chopped the first time around 18 inches tall but is not fully harvested until about 40 inches.

With proper care, it can grow anywhere from 5-12 feet tall. It grows in stalks that are fairly thick and also has sturdy roots.

11. Eastern Gamagrass

Another great bunchgrass to look at is the Eastern gamagrass. It likes warm weather and will grow in bunches. It can grow as tall as 8 feet, which is pretty substantial. Deer and other wildlife love these grass bunches. It has an elegant appearance when it grows tall.

12. Big and Little Bluestem

Bluestem is often referred to as beard grass. It’s most commonly found growing wild as a prairie grass but it can also be planted and it’s popular throughout the United States for prairie use or to jazz up a garden area.

The bunchgrass is dense in bunches and will typically grow about 18-24 inches but could reach a full 3 feet tall. It likes dry areas, especially places like hills and slopes.

13. Pearl Millet

As the name suggests, pearl millet is a type of millet. It’s used for grain and is the most common type of grain used for things like flatbread and dosa or even porridge. You might find it in multigrain cookies.

This is a harvested crop that grows best in warm weather climates that don’t get much rainfall.

14. Indiangrass

Indiangrass is most commonly found in areas with prairies, particularly tall grass prairies. If you’ve ever driven through protected prairie land, you most likely have seen it. It almost looks like wheat and has bright yellow on the heads.

This is a tall grass for the warm season that reaches up and curves almost like a fountain.

15. Johnsongrass

Johnson grass is a tall grass that spreads its seeds and then grows some more. Farmers don’t like to see it in their crop fields but don’t mind it in hay fields and other areas. It often grows wild in fields, meadows, and prairies.

This grass has a pretty aggressive root system that really digs in to make it last.

16. Dallisgrass

Dallisgrass sometimes gets a bad name. A lot of people frown on it and think of it as a weed. It’s actually a grass but it’s just not pretty or appealing. Dallisgrass has sticky leaves and will just grow in a bunch. It’s pretty hard to remove and it spreads quite rapidly.

17. Rescuegrass

Rescue grass is the bright green you see amongst all of the brown grass. It gets its name because it actually will grow green in the season that most other grass is dormant or brown. Unfortunately, this is another grass that is often considered to be a weed because it just sprouts up where it pleases and isn’t always welcome.

18. Sudangrass

This is another type of grass that is actually raised for grain and harvested. It’s very similar to sorghum grass and grows well in both tropical and subtropical regions. Many farmers will use it specifically for foraging or even when they just need a cover crop in between their regular crops.

19. Crabgrass

Finally, we leave you with crabgrass. This grass grows in clusters and it spreads quickly. It’s another grass that is usually considered to be a weed. It likes tropical and subtropical climates. It can be hard on your lawn because it will just take over and it grabs all of the nutrients that your other grass might really need.

Final Thoughts

Some of the grasses we shared here are considered to be more like weeds and others are crops for harvesting or prairie grasses. It’s a good idea to know what grasses are around you and the grasses that you can plant for your residence or business.

If you plan to plant some grass in your area, just remember to be mindful of the best climate and the maintenance needs of the grass first.

Check out the different types of grass in other locations:

Jamie

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.

19 Types of Grass in Georgia