Arizona is known for its dry climate. Most of the state has an average annual rainfall of 10 inches or less. This makes it challenging to grow grass in Arizona. However, there are some varieties of grass that are best suited for the desert climate of Arizona and they will thrive without much effort from you. I will tell you about these grasses and how to plant them so that you can have a beautiful lawn.
Best Grass Seed for Arizona
Here are the 5 best grass seeds for Arizona:
1. Zoysia Grass Seed
Zoysia grass is an excellent choice for Arizona’s climate. Zoysia grass is a warm-season perennial grass that can handle the extreme heat of Arizona. Zoysia grass also has a very dense root system, which helps it tolerate the hot, dry summers of Arizona. The roots of zoysia grass also help prevent erosion. It is also drought-tolerant and requires very little water. It is also low-maintenance, with a dense growth habit that shades out most weeds.
Note however, that despite its reputation for being durable, zoysia grass does not do well in Arizona’s hot summers and freezes to the ground during cold winters. To help protect it from the heat, mow it every two weeks during the summer or if it gets more than 1 inch tall and fertilize it twice a month with a slow-release lawn fertilizer.
Fertilizing your zoysia grass will promote new growth and keep it green all year long.
2. Buffalo Grass Seed
Buffalo grass is another excellent choice for Arizona’s climate because it is very drought tolerant. It can also be used as a lawn in areas where the winter temperature does not get below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Buffalo grass has a coarse texture and provides a nice dark green color, but it is not as dense as some of the other types of grasses.
Buffalo grass grows well in the shade and will tolerate partial shade. It also grows well in hot, dry areas that are exposed to full sun all day long. It does not grow well in heavy clay soils or sandy soils with poor drainage because it needs good drainage to thrive. If you live in an area with poor drainage, you might want to consider using sand instead of soil for your planting area..
3 . Perennial Rye Grass Seed
Perennial rye grass is another excellent choice for Arizona’s climate because although it is considered cool season turfgrass; perennial rye tolerates high temperatures better than Kentucky bluegrass or fine fescue when grown on southern California golf courses (Baldwin et al., 2004). Perennial rye requires less nitrogen fertilizer than other cool season turfgrasses and may be able to tolerate infrequent watering due to its deep rooting habit (Baldwin et al., 2004). Perennial ryegrass should be planted between October 1st and April 30th in order to avoid excessive winter injury (USDA NRCS 2003). Perennial ryegrass requires full sun exposure and prefers loamy soils with good moisture content (USDA NRCS 2003).
4 . Kentucky Bluegrass Seed
Kentucky bluegrass seed may be used as an alternative cool season turfgrass species for areas where perennial ryegrass proves unsuitable (USDA NRCS 2003). Kentucky bluegrass may be difficult to establish due to its shallow rooting habit (USDA NRCS 2003). Kentucky bluegrass prefers loamy soils with good moisture content (USDA NRCS 2003), but can tolerate clay soils if they are irrigated regularly during establishment (Baldwin et al., 2004). Kentucky bluegrass should be planted between October 1st and April 30th in order to avoid excessive winter injury (USDA NRCS 2003). Kentucky bluegrass requires full sun exposure but can tolerate partial shade once established (Baldwin et al., 2004)..
5 . Tall Fescue Seed For Lawns In Northern States
Tall fescue seed may be used as an alternative cool season turfgrass species for areas where perennial ryegrass proves unsuitable (USDA NRCS 2003). Tall fescue may require supplemental irrigation during establishment due to its shallow rooting habit but once established tall fescue will perform adequately without irrigation under normal precipitation conditions (Baldwin et al., 2004).. Tall fescue requires full sun exposure but can tolerate partial shade once established..
Arizona Climate & Soil for Grass
Here are 2 tips (explained in detail) you should know about Arizona’s climate and soil conditions if you’re interested in growing a lawn:
1. Arizona’s climate is hot and dry.
This means that the soil is usually not moist enough to grow a lawn without watering it. In addition, you should also know that the soil in Arizona has a high sand content and is very hard to dig up. This makes it difficult to plant grass seeds because they will have difficulty growing through the hard ground.
The best time of year to plant grass seeds in Arizona is from October to February.
Tips for Growing Grass in Arizona
Here are 3 tips explained in detail for growing grass in Arizona:
1. Planting for the season
The best time to plant grass seed in Arizona is in the fall or winter, when temperatures are cooler and there is less evaporation. If you plant your grass seed in the spring, you’ll need to water it often so that it can grow quickly and establish itself before the hot summer months arrive. Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass thrive in Arizona’s warm summers, while buffalo grass does well during cooler winters.
2. Fertilizing
Grasses in Arizona flourish in 60°F to 70°F weather. Even if it’s sunny, the ground temperatures don’t start rising until mid-late April. In general, start fertilizing your lawn in late May until late August or early September. You’ll want to apply a fertilizer that contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and other nutrients like iron and sulfur that will help your lawn grow green and strong all summer long.
3. Watering
Arizona is hot, dry, and sunny. To grow a lawn that can withstand the heat and still look green, you’ll need to water your lawn often. Use an irrigation system to water your lawn so you can be sure it gets enough water. The best times to water are early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler; this will also help prevent fungus from forming in your lawn.
When to Plant Grass in Arizona
Plant grass in the spring or fall.
Keep your lawn watered and mowed regularly.
Water grass deeply, but infrequently. Watering too frequently will cause shallow roots to develop.
Mow your grass short to prevent weeds from growing.
FAQs
Is there a grass that grows year round in Arizona?
No. Most grasses will die when the temperature drops below freezing. Some grasses are more tolerant than others, but none will survive a hard freeze.
Is there a way to keep my lawn from turning brown in the summer?
Yes. There are many things you can do to help your lawn stay green longer in the summer months: Water only at night or early morning so that evaporation is reduced and less water is lost through evaporation. Mow your grass higher to reduce water loss through transpiration (the process by which plants lose water). Use a shade-tolerant variety of grass. Use a low-water-use, drought-tolerant turfgrass mixture that includes Kentucky bluegrass and/or perennial ryegrass with fine fescue and/or tall fescue. Follow these tips carefully for best results!