While our job at Sprinkler Doctors is to make sure the right irrigation system produces the best amount of water for your plantings, we do notice a few things about yards. There are some common grasses in Arizona that appear to do better than others. One thing’s for sure, a well-designed, well-maintained irrigation system will ensure that your grass looks its best.
Buffalo Grass Pros and Cons
Buffalo grass is the rare native Arizona grass that spreads out like a typical turf grass. Experts recommend it because it is drought tolerant. It likes native soil and is more likely to grow if planted.
I guess you could say its rough texture is a disadvantage when compared to the more cultured varieties offered today. It is slower to grow back in the spring than some other types of grass. You will need to pick a winter grass for when it dies back.
Bermuda Pros and Cons
Bermuda is one of those grasses that makes a picture-perfect lawn. That’s why you will find it on golf courses. It demonstrates a high heat tolerance, but it definitely needs to stay watered to look its best. In the winter, Bermuda stops growing, but it doesn’t die off.
For some, the biggest disadvantage is that it must be mowed often when it’s growing. Another disadvantage is that Bermuda grass needs more water than native Buffalo grass. This can be handled with the right irrigation system.
Winter Grasses
Winter GrassesRyegrass is a perennial, and it is commonly used as a winter grass. In the fall, homeowners should overseeding with ryegrass. This will give it time to grow as summer grasses die back. Also for winter planting, fescue grass is a good cover for shady areas. Compared to rye, it uses the same amount of water, but it tolerates the heat better.
Alternative Year-round Grasses
Kurapia is a Japanese hybrid. Yet it has been shown to handle Sonoran Desert winters. It stays green even without irrigation. Small white flowers bloom when spring gets hot and may not stop all summer. Since it doesn’t get very tall, you may not feel the need to mow it often. The biggest drawback to this grass is that it is patented. It can’t be bought as seed, only sod or plugs.
Dichondra, which is a groundcover, is a perennial. It spreads like grass and holds its own throughout all four seasons. This could be used in sections of your yard where there isn’t much traffic. It needs only light watering, compared to turf. There’s no need to mow it.
Clover is another groundcover that can stay all seasons. It is a thirstier plant in the summer than many grasses however.
Synthetic Grass
While this may be a tempting option, scientists will tell you that this is less desirable than the thirstiest grass. First, it’s not natural. The process of making it isn’t environmentally friendly. Second, it absorbs heat, and that’s the last thing we need on our Arizona lawns.
Call Sprinkler Doctors
Remember a well-designed irrigation system is the key to a beautiful, healthy yard regardless of which grass you choose. . Give us a call for maintenance, repairs or upgrades.