Last month, we discussed how public perception of natural lawns is often shaped by irrigation practices and misunderstanding rather than the performance of properly managed turfgrass.
Growing attention on water use has brought renewed focus to one of the most important decisions in any landscape: turfgrass selection.
Not All Turfgrasses Perform the Same
Landscape professionals know there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to turfgrass. Site conditions, irrigation availability, maintenance expectations, traffic levels and regional climate all play a role in determining which grass is the best fit.
Yet many clients still view turfgrass as interchangeable. In reality, selecting the right variety can influence everything from water use and maintenance requirements to overall landscape performance. A lawn struggling to meet expectations may not always need additional inputs; it may simply need a turfgrass better suited to the site.
Turfgrass selection influences more than appearance. Improved varieties such as Cobalt® Hybrid St. Augustine can help support lawn performance while reducing water demand.
Turfgrass Science Continues Advancing
Ongoing advancements in turfgrass science and breeding programs are expanding the options available today. Varieties such as Lobo® Zoysia, Cobalt® Hybrid St. Augustine, Celebration Hybrid™ Bermudagrass, NorthBridge® Bermudagrass, CitraBlue® St. Augustine and Sola® St. Augustine were developed to help address many of the challenges facing modern landscapes while providing more flexibility when matching turfgrass to site conditions and management goals.
While no turfgrass is maintenance-free, today's improved varieties give you more flexibility than ever before. Whether the priority is water use, maintenance requirements, shade, traffic tolerance or overall appearance, selecting the right turfgrass can help set realistic expectations from the start.
Resources like Sod University can also help support conversations on turfgrass selection, irrigation practices and lawn management.
Supporting Long-Term Landscape Success
Water use is only part of the equation. Clients are also asking how landscapes will perform over time and what it takes to maintain them successfully.
By matching turfgrass varieties to site conditions and management goals from the beginning, you can help reduce unnecessary inputs and create landscapes that better meet client expectations over time. In many cases, better outcomes start not with adding more water or fertilizer, but with choosing the right grass from the start.
As expectations around water use, maintenance and landscape quality continue evolving, improved turfgrass varieties provide more tools than ever to help you match the right grass to the right site and set clients up for long-term success.
