Best Grass Types for Lawns in Sacramento, CA

It is no secret that Sacramento California experiences beautifully long growing seasons. Although the lawns are sometimes too exposed to the hot summers, your lawn can actually still thrive under the heat if you choose the right grass. Here are some of the best grass types for Sacramento.

St. Augustine Grass

Perfect for Sacramento’s hot seasons, this broad bladed, medium green grass covers lawns in dense green coats, effectively choking out almost any weeds in the area. This grass is water efficient, and has very few pest problems.

It also grows in excess during hot summer months and becomes dormant during cool autumn or spring days. Having a high tolerance for heat, shade, salinity, and foot traffic, this grass is perfect for any northern California soil. Just be sure to add enough nitrogen fertilizer throughout the growing season, as this grass requires more of the nutrient than other grasses.

Mowing height: 1 to 2 inches

Bermuda Grass

This medium to coarse textured grass is a reliable bet for surviving the heat. With a high tolerance for drought, salinity and foot traffic in the summer, bermuda grasses can have leave lawns looking beautiful when in season.

However, these grasses tend to brown during winter months, as they are not very cold resistant. This browning can cause the grass to thin out, allowing weeds to grow rampantly during the cooler months of the year. Unfortunately, this grass does not have very high shade tolerance, so ensure that your lawn receives 6 to 8 hours of daily direct sunlight.

Mowing Height: 1 to 1.5 inches

Tall Fescue Grass

Tall Fescue grasses tend to grow well in most climates, and Sacramento is no exception. This grass is tolerant of most conditions, including heat, cold, drought and shade. While this grass is usually considered a cool season grass, it can withstand heat enough to handle most heat waves hitting Northern California.

Since this grass is also shade tolerant, your lawn really only needs about 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily in order to keep its dark green color. Tall Fescues are always a safe choice when growing lawns and are incredibly low maintenance compared with other grasses in the area—perfect for beginner lawn care enthusiasts or for those who want low maintenance grass.

Mowing Height: 1.5 to 3 inches

Perennial Grass

Perennial Ryegrasses are another type of grass that are well suited for most climates. This durable grass is highly resistant to foot traffic and grows incredibly fast. In most areas, Perennial Ryegrasses are used for overseeding or patching dirt spots in already existing lawns.

However, when used in a blend with other grass types, this grass can add extra resistance against damage.

Mowing Height: 1.5 to 2.5 inches

Kentucky Bluegrass

This national favorite unfortunately does not withstand the heat as well as the other presented grasses. However, when blended in with other grasses, Kentucky Bluegrass has been known to add shade tolerance to otherwise shade intolerant grasses.

When blended with bermuda grass for instance, Kentucky Bluegrass becomes more heat resistant, while also giving the lawn its beautiful dark green color. However make sure your lawn does not receive more than 6 to 8 hours of daily sunlight or else your lawn may turn brown.

Mowing Height: 1.5 to 2 inches

Need help preparing your lawn for summer? Visit our Sacramento lawn care page to get in touch with a professional! In addition to Sacramento, we provide lawn care services in other cities including Los Angeles and Riverside.