Troubleshooting Lawncare in Decatur, AL: What Kind of Grass can Handle the Heat?
At the time of writing this blog post, it is currently 98-degree weather. For the umpteenth day in a row since mid-July. While we have gotten the sweet reprieve of rain every once in a while, it barely puts a dent in the blistering hot Alabama summer. And the sad truth is that it will most likely stay that way until late October. Most people who live in the town know better than to stay outdoors when the sun is at its peak. They even go so far as to make sure to keep their animals and children inside until it is not so high in the sky.
But what about the grass on your front lawn? It’s not like you can take it inside the house to keep it nice and cool. Also, with heat in the Deep South, often comes drought, which means water restrictions. The best option for your lawn and your sanity is to find a grass that can withstand the heat and water restriction. What kind of grass is tough enough to withstand the 100-degree temperatures and possible water deficiency?
Today, we are going to be talking about two types of grass that are not only common in the Deep South but are also hardy enough to not die on you over the summer.
Bahiagrass
This type of grass has all the great qualities required for handling the year-round weather patterns of the Deep South. It has a naturally deep root system that makes it withstand a rougher soil environment. It is also hardy enough to withstand low amounts of shade and can withstand the drought weather that is so famous in the South East. This type of grass, when conditions become unfavorable goes dormant instead of dying off. Once conditions become favorable again, it will spring back to life.
The seed itself is abundant and relatively inexpensive but it still takes time to germinate and take cover. While the soil is slow-growing, but once the root system firmly establishes itself, there is little to stop it. It requires little fertilization and prefers slightly acidic soil.
The grass itself was originally South American. It was brought over to North America from Brazil for pasture purposes. Bahai still serves as feed-grass in the South East and is used for large amounts of acreage because it eliminates the need for an irrigation system in the soil. It is also hardy enough for conservation and erosion control programs.
All these reasons and more are the reason why most lawn care specialists in Decatur, AL, swear by it.
Centipede Grass
This is the other type of grass that can withstand heat conditions. It has the same love of sun exposure, a tolerance for soils with limited nutrients and acidic soil at levels that most grasses can’t handle. Its growth pattern is less about growing upward and spreading outward. This means that there is not much of a need for fertilizers or mowing compared to other types of grasses.
This species of grass initially came from South China and was introduced to the United States in 1916. Frank N. Meyer, a man who was working for the United States Department of Agriculture at the time, brought them over after an expedition. From there the seed took off in popularity.
Centipede grasses also lack a true dormant period in warm climates, so they stay green nearly year-round except in extremely cold conditions. Centipede’s low growth and density help it endure foot traffic.
However, it does have a few disadvantages. The first is that it is not drought resistant. While it doesn’t need much watering to delay dormancy, it still has a shallow root system, meaning that it can’t withstand drought conditions for too long. Luckily, the natural humidity of the South East climate can oftentimes offset it. As long as someone deeply waters it once a week, instead of shallowly watering several times in a week, it will still thrive in places like Florida, the Gulf Coast, and Hawaii.
Another is the possibility of nematodes. Nematodes are an invasive species of worm that attack grassroots. If untreated, the lawn will thin and eventually die. Again, all it needs is deep and less frequent watering, as well as less nitrogen.